Happy Tuesday!

This week's Thursday, 1 October, is a national reflector day. As I've written here before, it's almost impossible for drivers to spot pedestrians or people riding a bike without a reflector now that the evenings are dark so please wear one or two on your jacket and bag! If you want a useful memory of your time in Finland, consider buying a Hemmo reflector from the ISYY office. We have two types: Hemmo as a disco ball and as a dragon! Also, remember to have the white front light and red tail light on your bicycle. Read more about wearing reflectors and how they improve your visibility in traffic on Finnish Road Safety Council's website.

And don't forget that this week is the Wellbeing Week! Attend at least the Polar Night “Kaamos survival” lecture on Thursday afternoon.

Next week's Weekly Feed will cover weeks 41 and 42 since our newsletter won't be sent on week 42 (autumn holiday week). Please send the material you wish to be included in the next Weekly Feed by Friday 2 October.

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs

Hey student, your voice is needed!

ISYY is recruiting student representatives for the Faculty Council of Science, Forestry and Technology, Language Centre's Teaching Skills Assessment Committee and FSHS delegation.

Faculty Council of Science, Forestry and Technology

• 3 debuty representatives, position of trust will last until the end of 2027
• A meeting fee is paid for participation in the meetings, also maximum of 2 ECTS can be granted

Positions in Language Centre's Teaching Skills Assessment Committee and FSHS delegation require Finnish skills.

Interested? Read more from ISYY's website and send your informal application on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at 12 (noon) at the latest via email to Mikko Aaltonen mikko.aaltonen(at)isyy.fi. 

Wellbeing Week

Wellbeing Week will be held for the 13th time at the University of Eastern Finland from 28 September to 2 October 2026. The aim of the Wellbeing Week is to offer UEF students and staff a wellbeing promoting program throughout the week.

During Wellbeing Week, a variety of activities will be organised, for example, a lecture aimed at international students will offer tips on how to survive the Finnish winter and polar night. SYKETTÄ sports services will organise the traditional Sports Afternoon on Wed 30 September.

Compass Group offers throughout the Wellbeing Week

In Kuopio at Snellmania and Canthia restaurants:

• Morning porridge for only 1 € (from Monday to Friday from 7.45 am to 9.30 am)

In Kuopio at Cafe Snellari:

• Special coffees -20%

In all Compass Group campus restaurants:

• Overnights oats 2,50 €
• Mangomatcha 2,50€

You will receive the promotional price when you say 'Wellbeing Week' at the checkout. The offer cannot be redeemed at the self-service checkout.

Come and bake with ISYY!

Has baking Finnish treats been on your bucket list for your stay in Finland? You can cross that over after you have attended ISYY’s international sector’s baking night! We are organising an evening together with Martat (the Martha Association) during which you will learn how to make Karelian pies (‘karjalanpiirakat’ in Finnish, also known as Karelian pasties in English).

The baking evening is for ISYY members and it costs 10 € per person. The event includes baking, eating your homemade pasties and cleaning up afterwards together.

The event is organised at Martat office in the city centre (Haapaniemenkatu 23, B door) on Wednesday 21 October from 5 pm till 7:30 pm.

Please sign up to the event via Kide.app by 2 October 3 pm!

Photo: Marttaliitto ry

Welcome to ISYY's Interest Advocacy Coffee Break in Kuopio on Wednesday 7 October 2026!

ISYY's Interest Advocacy Coffee Break in Kuopio  is held on Wednesday 7 October 2026, from 4 pm to 6 pm in room SN101 (Snellmania building, Yliopistonranta 8).

Interest Advocacy Coffee Break is a relaxed discussion event open to all members interested in student advocacy. The event offers an opportunity to share thoughts and discuss current issues related to student wellbeing, rights, and everyday life together with a representative of the ISYY Executive Board. The aim is to provide a low-threshold space for students to voice their perspectives and contribute to the development of advocacy work. Light refreshments will be served. You don’t need to register for the event in advance.

This autumn's Interest Advocacy Coffee break's theme is based around student housing. We will also talk about inappropriate behavior and harassment. ISYY’s representatives want to hear about everyday life of students as well!

ISYY club meetings

Check the list of ISYY clubs in Kuopio on our website.

ISYY clubs' meetings at Lukema (ISYY office in Studentia, C door):

• Fri 2.10. at 5 pm Kärmes (Board Games Club)
• Sun 4.10. at 1 pm University Student Bible Club
• Thu 8.10. at 5 pm Kärmes (Board Games Club)
• Sun 11.10. at 1 pm University Student Bible Club

Free Sports Week 28.9.–4.10. and SYKETTÄ Appro

The autumn’s second free sports week will take place from September 28 to October 4, and at the same time, the sporty SYKETTÄ Appro will also be held at the Kuopio campus!

The free sports week offers you the chance to explore our wide selection at no cost. Our group fitness and ball sports offerings include classes for every taste—whether you are looking for peaceful body-care sessions, heart-pumping sweat workouts, or ball games with a group of fellow students, we have it all!

SYKETTÄ Sports Services

SYKETTÄ – Kuopio University Sports offers a comprehensive range of sports services for students and staff of Savonia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Eastern Finland's Kuopio campus. Please read the SYKETTÄ Kuopio information. You must have a valid SYKETTÄ membership when using sports services! Read more on the SYKETTÄ Kuopio website and follow SYKETTÄ on social media:

• Facebook: sykettakuopio
• Instagram: @syketta_kpo
• TikTok: syketta_kuopio

• Discord 

• Youtube

New priest for international work

Hello! My name is Jouni Kovanen and I work as a priest for international work at Kuopio Lutheran Church. My job is to develop activities for immigrants in Kuopio and provide help and support for their lives in our city. I’m also actively cooperating with academies like UEF to support especially international students in their academic and everyday life. You can contact me if you are in need to talk with someone or require support in challenges in your life. Together we can look for the answers. You can also see and meet me at various events at the campus, and at UEF Coffee & Friends, where I visit regularly to meet students.

All discussions with me are confidential and I serve all people regardless of their background or religious stance. I am here to help everyone, so feel free to approach and talk to me.

Phone number: 0404848233
E-mail: jouni.kovanen@evl.fi
Instagram: @jounithepriest

UEF Library closed on Sports Afternoon 30 September

The library is also participating in the Sports Afternoon on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Joensuu and Kuopio Campus Libraries are open from 10 am to 12 pm (doors open from 8 am to 12 pm). Although we hope everyone takes the opportunity to get active, the libraries' 24/7 self-study facilities will be available for students with an access badge starting from 12:15 pm. 

Pathways to Career Competence and Networks course, 2 ECTS

Talent Hub Eastern Finland project is recruiting students to join Future Talents team. The main goal of the team is to foster cooperation between international study programmes, local companies, and organizations to create collaboration such as internships, project work, case studies and thesis topics.

Note! The course is organized in both Joensuu and Kuopio, so choose the right course unit when doing the registration. Enrolment happens in Peppi, enrolment time 21.9.2026 - 18.10.2026. The course is mainly targeted for students of international degree programmes (bachelor and master's), also doctoral researchers can apply (max intake 40).

Why apply?

• A chance to improve your employment opportunities
• Network with other students, local employers and organizations
• Get to know the Finnish working life and culture
• Improve problem solving, team working and negotiation skills
• Professional growth and guidance

Seminars in Kuopio

21.10. 14-16 Mic-D2022 (Savonia UAS), 9.11. 9-11 Mic-D2024 (Savonia UAS), 27.11. 13-15 Mic-H506 (Savonia UAS), 15.12. 9-11 Mic-H115 (Savonia UAS)

SYL and SAMOK on the act on student financial aid: Students’ livelihood requires investments, not additional cuts!

The Government proposal for an act on student financial aid fails to resolve the main issue with students’ livelihood – the inadequacy of the study grant and housing supplement. Although the main objective of the reform set forth in the Government Programme was to enable full-time studies, no measures have been taken to achieve this.

“The Government’s ‘cost-neutral’ reform turned out to be yet another cut, just as we have warned over the past year. Cutting costs at the expense of students must stop,” says Laura Heino, member of the SYL Board.

SYL issues a statement on the government proposal to improve the terms of the home savers scheme

The Ministry of the Environment requested a statement from SYL on the legislative proposal to improve the terms of the home savers scheme, also known as the ASP system. SYL supports the government proposal, which aims to decrease the self-financed share of the ASP loan from 10% to 5%, to increase the share of the state guarantee from 90% to 95%, and to extend the maximum loan period from 25 years to 40 years.

Project Green Challenge

Project Green Challenge is a 30-day climate action challenge that invites young people to explore issues that affect daily life and take meaningful local and global action. 350,000 students have taken the transformative journey over 16 years. Are you ready to join PGC?

PGC runs from October 1 until October 30. Every day, a unique challenge is unveiled at 8am PDT. Each challenge is live for 24 hours, inviting participants to complete actions and upload content to acquire points.

Introducing ErasmusCareers.org!

A new chapter for international traineeships in Europe has begun! After almost a decade of supporting international mobility, ErasmusIntern.org has evolved into ErasmusCareers.org, a new platform bringing jobs and traineeships together in one European ecosystem.

Now live, Erasmus Careers makes it easier for students to discover opportunities abroad and for organisations to connect with international talent, while introducing enhanced profiles, improved matching and new tools to support quality and transparency throughout the traineeship journey. The platform builds on Erasmus Student Network’s experience and research, including the DETAS project, to create a more connected, transparent and trusted experience for everyone involved.

Looking for part-time work or entry-level jobs in Finland?

Check out Emploi.fi - a free job platform launched on Sept 22nd that removes the stress of traditional job hunting! Over 200 job seekers have already joined, and employers start searching for talent on October 12th.

• No cover letters: Set up one profile in a moment.
• 100% anonymous: Employers reach out based purely on your skills and availability.
• You're in control: Employers send contact requests, and you decide who gets your contact info.
• Always free: 100% free for job seekers.

Create your free profile now to be ready for Oct 12th.

Today at Coffee & Friends: Dream Board Workshop & relaxation

Coffee & Friends event offers low-threshold hanging out after lectures and the opportunity to meet other students over coffee and a snack. All students of the University of Eastern Finland are welcome to Coffee & Friends. You can come to the café alone or with a friend. In addition, Coffee & Friends has a changing chill programme. Participation in the programme is voluntary and you can come for a while or for the whole time. Participation is free of charge and does not require pre-registration.

Coffee & Friends meets on Tuesdays from 15 September to 24 November at 3-5 pm at Lukema (ISYY office in the Studentia building).

Autumn's programme:

29.9. Dream Board Workshop & relaxation
6.10. SYKETTÄ
Autumn Holiday, no coffee & Friends this week 
20.10. Music bingo
27.10. Halloween
3.11. Crafts & making overall patches (make your own overall patches, sew patches onto your overalls, or bring your own craft project with you)
10.11. Quizzes 
17.11. Board games & colouring
24.11. Christmas party: Decorating gingerbread cookies

New arrivals. Fresh ambitions. A brand-new chapter in Kuopio.

The Kuopio International Student Council (KISC) warmly welcomes all newly arrived international students and returning scholars to our vibrant student community. To launch the autumn season and bring our campus communities together, we are pleased to host Kuopio International Football Championship 2.0!

Whether you are looking to compete, stay active, or connect with fellow students across Kuopio, join us for an afternoon of friendly competition and team spirit.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
• Time: 16:00 – 19:00
• Location: Lippumäki Football Pitch
• Entry: Free for all participants

Register individually or as a complete team via the link below. Limited spots available: Early registration is strongly recommended.

Interested in studying Finnish?

Join information event to learn about Finnish language study opportunities in Kuopio and online on Tuesday 6 October.

The Employment Service is organizing this event to help you explore available study options, Finnish language courses, and practical tips for learning Finnish effectively. Whether you are just starting or looking to improve your language skills, this event will provide valuable information and guidance.

• TyöNavigaattori, Asemakatu 7, Kuopio
• 6 October 2026 at 14:00
• Event in English

There’s no need to register in advance. Just come along! Welcome!

Welcome to English Book Club!

Venue: Main library learning space, 1st floor, at the back of the children’s section (”Koulutustila”)

We meet once a month to chat in English about a book, author, or literary theme we’ve chosen together. The gatherings are hosted by an English-speaking volunteer. Note: The books can be read in any language!

• Wed 14.10. 17:30–18:30 Susanna Clarke: Piranesi
• Wed 25.11. 17:30–18:30 (book to be announced later)

Feel free to ask for a copy at the 2nd-floor service desk even if the online catalog says all copies are checked out!

Weekly Feed is the English language newsletter of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). You are receiving this letter in your email because you are a member of ISYY and are studying at Kuopio campus or because you have joined the mailing list yourself.

Weekly Feed provides you with current information on matters related to the Student Union, UEF or other organisations close to students, such as FSHS. In addition, the newsletter provides you with information on events taking place at campus or the campus city.

Weekly Feed is published on Tuesdays during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and a few other days. If you do not want to receive the newsletter anymore, you can unsubscribe the letter via the unsubscription link located on the top of the letter.

You will find more information on ISYY's newsletters and data protection on ISYY's website.