Happy Tuesday!

As you might have noticed, the Election Day of ISYY's Representative Council elections is almost here! ISYY members have the right to vote via the electronic election system on 6 November between 8 am and 4 pm. Vote for the student who represents you the best to ISYY's highest decision-making body, the Representative Council.

Not satisfied with just voting? Want to do more influential, hands-on work? Apply to the ISYY Executive Board 2026! Each member of the Executive Board has a specific area of responsibility and a sector they work with e.g. affairs of social policy, communications, or international affairs. As a board member, you have a chance to influence the activities of the Student Union and determine how the Student Union will evolve. You also have a chance to influence the issues at the university. During the year, the board members have meetings regularly, travel around Finland cooperating with other Student Unions, help to organise ISYY's events as well as represent ISYY in different events, meetings and committees. Read more about the application process to the Board on ISYY's website!

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs and Administration

P.S. In addition to the Election Day, this week also includes Father’s Day, known in Finland as Isänpäivä, which is celebrated each year on the second Sunday of November. While many countries have Father’s Day in June, Finland has chosen a unique date, which brings warmth and appreciation into the middle of the autumn season. This special day is for putting aside time to thank you fathers and father figures.

Cast your vote on 6 November!

The ninth ISYY Representative Council Elections are held on Thursday 6 November. During advance voting only 13.59 % of students voted, which means less than a fifth of ISYY members has impacted on who is deciding about everyone's matters. You have a right to vote if you are a member of ISYY and registered as a present student by 20 October.

Voting happens at ISYY's electronic voting system, and to vote you only need a computer, phone or tablet with internet connection. Super easy! Voting is open on actual election day Thursday 6 November from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. After you have voted, you can pick up an overall patch from ISYY office during our opening hours.

Still thinking who to vote? Get to know the candidates on Candidate Gallery or fill in the Voting Aid operetated by SYL.

Why you should use your right to vote?

You are paying the ISYY membership fee yearly, which was 73 € for this academic year. ISYY has over 15 000 members in total in Joensuu and Kuopio. With these elections you are choosing 39 students to represent all of our members in the ISYY Council for the next two years.

The ISYY Council decides e.g.:

• the amount of ISYY membership fee
• how the collected fee is used (ISYY's Budget)
• what ISYY does (ISYY´s Action Plan)
• who represents students in UEF administration
• what are ISYY's values in questions considering student's life (ISYY's Policy Paper)
• additionally the ISYY Council decides e.g. about ISYY's Strategy, Environmental Programme and Equality Plan which works as a base for all of our actions

Someone always decides. Use your right to vote and vote a candidate, who you want to be deciding about these things! Voting is open on actual election day Thursday 6 November from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

The Election Night celebrations take place this year in the ISYY offices in both Joensuu and Kuopio!

Join us on the Election Day 6 November to wait for the results starting at 4 pm! Who will get the most votes? Will the power balances shift between the lists and which new lists will rise to the Council? Which list will have the most votes? Join and you'll be first to hear.

ISYY's Election Night will be held on 6 November starting at 4 pm in ISYY offices. The addresses are:

• Joensuu, Suvantokatu 6
• Kuopio, Yliopistonranta 15 (Lukema, ISYY office)

All ISYY members are warmly welcome to join the occasion!

ISYY does not support organising orientation earlier

The University of Eastern Finland has planned to organise the orientation earlier in August. ISYY's Executive Board collected opinions about bringing the orientation forward from student associations through the Councils of Chairpersons. Based on this feedback, ISYY's Executive Board formed this opinion. The opinion has been forwarded to the UEF Education Management Group, which is preparing the possible change in orientation.

Opinion is published on ISYY's website.

Let's build a better ISYY together!

Are you ready to make an impact on students’ lives and build a community full of enthusiasm and opportunities? If that’s the case, there is a position open for you in ISYY's Executive Board!

A year on the ISYY Board is a unique opportunity to network across campus cities and study fields during your student years and have a tangible impact on both the student life at UEF and nationally. The Board is committed to advancing students’ interests, organising events, and fostering a sense of community among university students.

Being a part of ISYY Board allows you to develop your skills in the working life and team collaboration, create friendships and useful connections across disciplines, and influence decisions that affect all students. Join us in building a better ISYY together!

Apply by 17 November!

Extended Application Call: Student Representatives to UEF Administrative Bodies for the term 2026-2027!

Do you want to participate in UEF decision-making and represent us, students of UEF? Now we have a perfect chance for you! You can later apply for ETCS's from these positions and you will also receive a monetary compensation when attending the meeting. ISYY has published an extended call for Student Representatives aka Hallopeds (how we call them in Finnish at ISYY), for the next term 2026-2027 for the following bodies:

• UEF Collegiate Body: five (5) deputy representatives
• Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology: five (5) deputy representatives
• Faculty of Health Sciences: one (1) deputy representative
• Philosophical Faculty: three (3) deputy representatives

Interested? Read more from ISYY website, get to know the application calls and apply by 12 November 2025 at 12 (noon).

International Christmas Party

Christmas is approaching and elves will be peeking through the windows…Now is a great time to gather and share the Christmas spirit, as ISYY, ESN Savo and JEIS are organising an international Christmas party on both campuses!

The event details:

• Time: Monday, 17.11. from 5 PM to 8 PM
• Location: Lukema (ISYY office), Yliopistonranta 15, Kuopio

The evening's programme will include Christmas baking and treats, as well as playful competitions – not to forget amazing prizes! So grab your friends and, if you like, a Santa hat, and come spend this Christmas party with us. 

The event welcomes all UEF students, both Finnish and international! However, places are limited, so please register as soon as possible in Kide.app. The event is free.

Clothes Swap-event in Kuopio

Do you have clothes you don’t wear anymore? This is your chance to give your wardrobe a fresh update!

The Clothes Swap-event will be organised on both campuses in November. Bring a maximum of five (5) clothes you don’t use and exchange them for other pieces of clothing. The clothes must be in good condition. We will not accept broken or dirty clothes. This is a great way to promote sustainability and at the same time meet like-minded people!

At Kuopio campus, the event will be organised over three days:

• Tuesday 11 November at Snellmania main lobby at 11 am - 2.30 pm
• Wednesday 12 November at Lukema (ISYY office) at 11 am - 2.30 pm
• Thurdday 13 November at Snellmania main lobby at 11 am - 2.30 pm

Save the dates and spread the word!

ISYY club meetings

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

• Fri 7.11. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game club)
• Sun 9.11. at 1 pm UEF Student Bible Club
• Fri 14.11. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game club)

ISYY clubs' meetings at Studentia chapel (B door, 2nd floor)

• Wed 12.11. at 3 pm Itä-Suomen akateeminen shakki (chess club)

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. Read more on the SYKETTÄ Kuopio website and follow SYKETTÄ on social media:

• SYKETTÄ Kuopio webpage
• Facebook: sykettakuopio
• Instagram: @syketta_kpo
• TikTok: syketta_kuopio

KYY-liiga  - Floorball tournament

KYY-liiga is an interdisciplinary floorball tournament and it's to be held in the spring of 2026. The games will start on 21 January 2026.

The games of the Elite and Fun series are played in one or two blocks at Studentia. The games are played on Wednesdays from 5 pm to 7 pm on fields 1 and 2. The final tournament will be played on the whole court on 15 April at Studentia from 4 pm to 7 pm.

The team consists of at least 8 players (at least 4  present), one of whom is the so-called captain and one of whom is the so-called manager. All the team members need to have a valid SYKETTÄ sticker (ball sport or group class).

More information and enrollment here. Enroll before 30 November.

Fencing course for beginners

Join us for some fencing - A beginner's course on a discount with a SYKETTÄ membership.

• WHERE? At Kuopion Miekkailijat Fencing Club (Kemilänrinne 1)
• DURATION? 10 h
• WHEN? On Friday 14.11. at 18:00-20:00, on Saturday 15.11. at 9:30-14:30, on Monday 17.11. at 19:00-20:30 and on Wednesday 19.11. at 19:00-20:30.
• ENROLLING? Via SYKETTÄ reservation calendar. The enrollment will be open until 10 November at 12:00 (noon).
• PRICE? 65 €

November exchange application period is open!

In November, students may apply for exchanges during academic year 2026-2027. Application period is open from 1-17 Nov 2025.

Included in the application period are bilateral exchanges, ISEP exchange, and north2north program. More information about applying is in Kamu’s calls for applications.

More information about student exchange options is in Kamu’s Study Abroad pages. Apply and see the world!

UEF registration for spring semester 2026 is now open

Registration for spring 2026 started on 1 November 2025 and ends on 15 January 2026. Please, check in Peppi under “Attendance data” if you have already registered for spring semester as present or absent.

All bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students must register as being present or absent at the university within the registration period.

Coffee & Friends

This autumn’s Coffee & Friends starts today on both campuses! The café meets on Tuesdays at 3-5pm at Lukema in Kuopio.

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.

Upcoming themes in Coffee & Friends:

• 4.11. Crafts
• 11.11. Relaxation (led by UEF Study Psychologists)

#KPOWEEK

Game Week events in the city libraries 3.11. - 7.11.
Game Week is an annual theme week celebrating game education and game culture. Game Week is a part of the international Game Month.

• Tue 4.11., 3 pm–6 pm, conference hall (1st floor): Console games
• Wed 5.11., 3 pm–6.30 pm, 2nd floor: Board game nights for ages 15–200

Winter clothing repair and musician Anna Voutilainen-Veijonen, Wed 5.11 at 14-18.30 at Kuopio Museum multipurpose room
Come repair your winter clothing with a sewing machine or by hand. At 17:30 enjoy melodic embraces based on folk songs and themes. Free admission.

KISC's Football Championship

We’re excited to share that the Kuopio International Student Council (KISC), in collaboration with the City of Kuopio, is hosting the Kuopio International Football Championship as part of Kuopio’s 250th anniversary celebrations!

The event will take place on 10th November 2025 from 16:30 onwards at Kuopiohalli — an evening full of energy, teamwork, and fun!

Let’s come together to play, connect, and celebrate Kuopio’s 250 years in true international spirit!

Warm regards,
Kuopio International Student Council (KISC)

AG CS2 Masters 2025 is here!

Gather a team of friends and get ready to compete against the best teams in the Finnish student
Counter Strike scene for your share of the 800€ prize pool!

TEAM SIGN-UP HERE! The deadline for this signup is 17.11. or when 32 teams are reached.

Rules and more info on our website. All skill levels are welcome, but note that 3 out of 5 players are required to be university (or AMK) students!

• Qualifiers - Saturday 22.11
• Finals - Saturday 29.11
• Aalto Gamers Discord
• Streamed on twitch.tv/aaltogamers

Psst, You can look for teammates on our Discord!

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.