Happy Tuesday!

Wintertime (standard time) starts on this week's Sunday morning, so remember to turn your analog clock backward 1 hour on 25 October at 4 am (or when you wake up). If you're always confused which way to turn your clocks, always turn them towards the summer!

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs

Have you heard about ISYY’s Hobby Buddy service?

The service is intended for all students of the University of Eastern Finland who want to make new friends through common hobbies and interests.

The process works as follows: a student looking for a Hobby Buddy fills out a form available on ISYY's website, and we will get in touch when a matching buddy is found. You can search for a Hobby Buddy for one or multiple hobbies.

If you are looking for a friend to exercise with, please check out the Sports Buddy Service of SYKETTÄ.

Meet reading dog Tuikku

You are warmly welcome to come and practice your Finnish reading skills with reading dog Tuikku at Neulamäki library (Juontotie 6) on Thursday 12 November between 4 and 5 pm.

Tuikku has been trained to listen to students who read outloud so you can practice your Finnish at your own pace without anyone interrupting you and in a non-judgemental environment.

When you come to read to Tuikku

• choose a book you want to read.
• you have 10-15 minutes for reading.
• you can read alone or with a friend.
• you can pet or scratch Tuikku during reading or after it if you want.

Please reserve a free reading slot to the Neulamäki library by calling +358 447182351 or by emailing neulamaki.kirjasto@kuopio.fi.

Enjoy your reading time with Tuikku!

Photo: Neulamäki library

Interest Advocacy Sector reminds: Have you received a request from Kela to explain lack of progress in your studies?

This autumn, approximately 18,700 higher education students have received a request from Kela (the Finnish Social Insurance Institution) to provide an explanation of their academic progress.

If you have received such a request, remember to respond to it by 25 October 2026 at the latest! In your response, explain to Kela the reasons that have slowed down your studies. It is also worth checking your study record to make sure that all completed courses and credits have been registered. If anything is missing, ask your university to record the missing credits and mention this in your response.

If you are unsure about how to respond to the request or what to write, you can contact ISYY’s student advocacy specialists for help!

Please note that if you do not respond to the request, or if your reasons are not accepted, Kela may stop your student financial aid and housing supplement from 1 January 2026 onwards. So, if you receive a request, don't hesitate to write and submit your explanation!

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):

• Thu 22.10. at 5 pm Kärmes (Board Games Club)
• Sat 31.10. at 5 pm Kärmes (Board Games Club)
• Sun 1.11. at 1 pm University Student Bible Club

Buy a SYKETTÄ Kuopio membership!

We will raffle off one gift card for breakfast at Puijo Lodge (24,90 €) and one gift card for morning sauna and breakfast at Luoto (24 €) among everyone who purchases a membership during 20.10. - 31.10.2026.

Good to know!

• Memberships 2026-2027 are valid for another 10 months— until August 31, 2027
  • Group class membership 2026–2027, price €71
  • Ball sports membership 2026–2027, price €38
• Autumn memberships are valid until December 31, 2026
  • Group class membership, Autumn 2026, €41
  • Ball sports membership, Autumn 2026, €23
• A monthly membership is valid for 30 days from the time of purchase
  • Price €18

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

YUFE info session 22 October 2026 at 13:30 (Finnish time)

What is YUFE, and what’s in it for you? Study at nine other European universities as part of your degree, online from Finland or while studying abroad. Explore volunteering opportunities, language courses, international networks, and much more! Join us online to find out more!

UEF's International Week 26-30 October 2026

During the week, we will host online info sessions and info stands on campuses. Links to the sessions will be updated here closer to the events!

Online sessions will be mainly in Finnish, partly in English. Presentation materials will be in English.

All Saints’ Day opening hours in the UEF library

Joensuu and Kuopio Campus Libraries are open on Friday 30 October 2026 8am–2pm, customer service 10am–2pm. On Saturday 31 October 2026 the campus libraries are closed. The 24/7 self-study facilities of Campus Libraries are open despite these exceptions.

Influenza vaccinations available for students in selected fields and risk groups

Influenza vaccinations for 2026–2027 will begin at various FSHS service units in October or November. Social and healthcare students in higher education, as well as students belonging to a risk group can receive their influenza vaccinations from the FSHS free of charge.

If you are a social and health care student, you will receive a booking permission in YTHSDigi during week 42.

If you belong to a risk group, use the YTHSDigi chat function from week 42 onwards to receive a vaccination appointment.

SYL: Accessibility is a precondition for equality in studies and student life

The task of the National Union of University Students in Finland is to look after the interests of all university students, whether they have a disability or not. To be able to ensure that equality is realised on campuses, we need an assessment of the challenges and needs faced by students with disabilities. University should be a place where everyone has a real opportunity to study, participate and belong to the community. The possibility to complete a degree and participate in the activities of the university community must not depend on what kind of body, functional capacity or way of learning the student has.

How do you get around Kuopio city centre? Answer the survey and help improve the city centre

The City of Kuopio is mapping people’s travel habits, needs and experiences related to getting around the city centre. Now you have the opportunity to share your views by taking the city centre mobility survey.

The survey is open until 31 October 2026 and takes approximately 10–20 minutes to complete. Every response is valuable in planning the future of the city centre.

The survey results will be used as background material for planning the transport system in Kuopio city centre. In addition, the data will be used in a master’s thesis at Aalto University, which examines different groups of people who travel in the city centre.

Participants who complete the survey can also enter a prize draw to win a €50 City of Kuopio gift card.

Know Your Rights at Work in Finland webinar

Tuesday 10 November 2026, 15.00–16.00 on Microsoft Teams.

What are your rights and responsibilities as an employee in Finland? What is an employer legally allowed to require, and how can you recognise a situation that does not comply with Finnish employment law?

This English-language webinar is intended for people who have moved to Finland. The speaker is an occupational safety and health expert from the Finnish Supervisory Agency.

Topics will include:

• employment contracts
• working hours
• annual leave and holidays
• employees’ rights and responsibilities
• light entrepreneurship and the difference between self-employment and an employment relationship

General questions are welcome at the end of the webinar. Please note that individual cases and personal circumstances cannot be discussed in detail.

Register for the event by 9 November.

General meeting of Hyvät Kuvat film club

Welcome to the general meeting of the Hyvät Kuvat film club on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, starting at 6:00 PM at Hophaus. At the meeting, the club's action plan and budget draft for 2027 will be discussed.

The club has been active since 1981. We screen films on Thursdays at Kino Kuvakukko. A warm welcome to everyone who is interested in the club's activities.

Today at Coffee & Friends: Music bingo

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 at 3-5 pm at Lukema (ISYY office in the Studentia building).

Autumn's programme:

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

#KPOWEEKINENGLISH

Open rehearsal of the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Thu 22.10 at 12–13

• Concert Hall, Kuopio Music Centre, Kuopionlahdenkatu 23
• Conductor: Kolja Blacher. Come and enjoy a musical preview of the evening’s concert and see how the program is polished on the day of the final rehearsal. Free admission.

Synchronized skating season premiere, Thu 22.10 at 18–19:30

• Niirala Ice Arena, Hannes Kolehmaisenkatu 4
• During the evening, the KuLS synchronized skating teams will perform their new programs for the season. After the performances, a public skating session will be held on the ice and everyone is welcome to join. Free admission.

Water heroes, Sat 24.10. at 12-15

• Kuntolaakso swimming hall, Hannes Kolehmaisenkatu 4
• Free Family Saturday is open to all families attending the event. The program includes water games, canoeing, and a variety of fun water-themed activity stations.

Students for free to the Riisa Museum, Sun 25.10. at 11-15

• Riisa, Karjalankatu 1
• The Finnish Orthodox Church Museum Riisa offers free admission to students once a month on Sundays. The benefit is available upon presentation of a valid student card.

Kuopio International Sports Day 2026

Kuopio International Sports Day 2026 is taking place on 24 October, from 15:00–19:00 at Kuopio Hall.

Our goal is to bring Kuopio residents from different backgrounds together through sports and fun activities, promoting inclusion, integration and community connections.

The event is free and open to everyone!

Organized by Kuhoga in collaboration with City of Kuopio | Meidän Kuopio and North Savo Entrepreneurship Society (NSES).

Know Your Rights as an Employee in Finland

Have you started working in Finland or are you planning to enter the Finnish job market?

Join our next Monthly Sessions event and learn about employee rights in Finland. During the session, you'll receive practical information about employment contracts, working hours, salary, holidays, and other important rights and responsibilities at work. The session includes an expert presentation, opportunities to ask questions, and discussions with other participants.

• 28 October 2026
• 17:30 -19:00
• TyöNavigaattori - Asemakatu 7

The event is free of charge and open to everyone interested in working life in Finland.

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.