Happy Tuesday!

Have you noticed that you feel tired all the time in autumn and in the beginning of winter? The lack of sunlight may cause moodiness, tiredness, as well as cravings of carbohydrates and sugar (so all of your sugar binges are not necessarily stress-related). Then how can you help yourself to mentally cope with the darkness?

• Bright light lamps provide artificial sunlight which helps your body to create less melatonin so you feel more energetic. The best time to enjoy a “bright light bath” is in the morning right after you wake up.
• UEF has two Study Psychologists and Campus Pastors who provide mental health care for students if you feel like you need to talk to someone.
• Exercising helps to boost your mood! Fresh air wakes you up so instead of excercising indoors all the time, a short stay outdoors might cheer you up!
• You can boost your brain’s serotonin (the feel-good hormone) levels by eating foods that contain high levels of tryptophan, such as eggs, cheese, soybeans or dark chocolate. (In conclusion, eating chocolate is good for you!)
• Meet your friends! If you can’t meet them physically, you can always call them.
• Protip: sometimes taking a nap can save the day.

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs and Administration

P.S. We have updated the guidelines for the material to be provided for our newsletters. Please read them from our website.

Exceptions in opening hours of ISYY Kuopio office and Christmas break

ISYY office in Kuopio will have shortened opening hours from Thursday 20 November till the end of the year:

• Mon: 1pm - 3pm
• Tue: 1pm - 3pm
• Wed: 12(noon) - 4pm
• Thu: 1pm - 3pm
• Fri: closed

This year the offices are open for the last time on Wednesday 10 December. (Survival Packages can still be returned to offices until 17 December. Renters will get an email with instructions for returning the package later.) The offices will be open again in January.

Bouquets or brickbats? Either way, now is time to give feedback!

This week is ISYY's Smiles and Complaints week, which means Student Union is gathering feedback from students regarding many parties involved in students' life, like the Student Union, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service), Compass GroupWhat deserves a smile? What's wrong? What gives you grey hair? Tell us, and we'll take your feedback forward!

Feedback is given anonymously online via electronic form, or you can write your feedback to Post-it notes from Monday to Friday in either the Snellmania or Canthia lobby in Kuopio and in the Carelia, Natura and Metria lobbies in Joensuu.

ISYY’s candidate Emilia Enroth has been elected to the SYL Board 2026!

Enroth, 30, is a law student studying at UEF's Joensuu campus. Enroth has been the Chair of the Executive Board of the Student Union in autumn 2025, and formerly worked on sectors of academic affairs, environment and development cooperation as a member of the board. This is the first time ISYY’s candidate has been elected to the SYL Board two times in a row.

– I am extremely grateful for the trust and support I have received. It is a great honor to be able to advocate for a better future for university students. I am looking forward to next year and working with the new SYL Board, says Enroth.

On Friday the General Assembly elected Petra Pulli (HYY) as President of SYL 2026. Aada Aho (TYY), Marcell Breta (TREY), Laura Heino (TREY), Viena Pentikäinen (HYY) and Vilma Sippola (OYY) were elected to the Board along with Enroth on Saturday.

13 applicants for the ISYY Executive Board 2026

The Executive Board for the year 2026 is elected at the Student Union Representative Council’s organisational meeting on 27.11.2025. By the end of the application period ISYY received 13 applications to the Board. Motivation letters and possible CVs (in Finnish or in English) of the applicants are published on ISYY's website.

The Board is responsible for the daily activities of the Student Union together with the employees on both campus cities Joensuu and Kuopio. The Board consists of a Chair and Vice Chair, as well as 4-8 Board Members, each of whom has their own sector of responsibility within the board.

ISYY: No grounds for bringing forward orientation

The University of Eastern Finland has planned to organise the orientation earlier in August. Earlier ISYY’s Executive Board gave an opinion to UEF about organising the orientation in August but even with this opinion UEF has decided to go through with their plan. The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland does not support the planned move to bring forward the orientation period, which aims to prepare students for the start of their studies, to August.

– The university has not provided any reasonable justification for bringing forward the orientation. Instead, this would be yet another source of stress for both new students and tutors, on top of finding accommodation, securing a livelihood, scheduling studies, and juggling with summer jobs, says Chair of the ISYY Executive Board Emilia Enroth.

ISYY's breakfast 9.12.

ISYY’s breakfasts are relaxed and communal events open to all UEF students. Enjoy a nutritious start to your day and meet fellow students! This autumn’s last breakfast will be held in campus restaurant Snellmania on 9.12.

Registration for the breakfast starts on 25 November at 10.00 am in Kide.app.

Hobby Buddy service: buddies for these hobbies wanted

ISYY's Hobby Buddy serivice connects students with one another based on shared interest and hobbies. The service is for all students of the University of Eastern Finland who want to make new friends through common hobbies and interests. Right now we have people looking for one ot more hobby buddies in Kuopio for e.g. following activities: music and band activities, cosplay, latin dances, escape room games, poetry, nature and forest trips.

Fill out the application on our website and we’ll get in touch when the matching hobby buddy is found. Note! If you are looking for a friend to exercise with, please check out the Sport Buddy service of SYKETTÄ.

ISYY club meetings

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

• Sat 22.11. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game club)
• Sun 23.11. at 1 pm UEF Student Bible Club
• Tue 25.11. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game 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

The SYKETTÄ Kuopio November newsletter has been published

In this newsletter, you will find information about schedule changes in November, fitness tests, the SYKETTÄ goes Christmas event, and now you can give feedback about this autumn's services.

The University of Eastern Finland’s new Board has been elected

The members of the University of Eastern Finland’s Board have been elected for the term of office starting at the beginning of 2026. At its meeting of 7 November, the University Collegium confirmed the elected staff representatives and the student members appointed to the Board by the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). Social Sciences graduate Leevi Haavisto and Bachelor of Arts Lassi Oikkonen will represent the students.

UEF libraries closed on 27 November 2025

Campus Libraries and KUH Medical Library are closed on Thursday 27 November 2025 due to Staff Development Day. The 24/7 self-study facilities of Campus Libraries are open despite the exception.

Study psychologists’ telephone consultation hours in November and December 2025

For the remainder of the year, the study psychologists offer telephone consultation hours. You can send a call request via text message, and the study psychologist will contact you during the consultation hours. Please include your full name and student number in the message. You may also call the study psychologist yourself during the consultation hours. If the line is busy, please call only once – the study psychologist will return your call as soon as possible.

UEF Occupational Health and Safety Committee encourages moderate use of perfumes and fragrances

The university's occupational health and safety organisation has been contacted by people who have expressed a need for a university-level recommendation on the use of perfumes and fragrances at the workplace. One of the central tasks of the occupational health and safety organisation is to develop and ensure healthy and comfortable working environments.

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee reminds that the use of strong perfumes and fragrances may cause allergic symptoms. A small action can make the everyday life of people around you easier and also the entire university a more comfortable environment for us all.

Are you taking the SEB exam?

Remember to always update the Safe Exam Browser before the exam day! This way you will avoid unpleasant surprises and can fully concentrate on the exam.

Here's how it works:

1. Open the Safe Exam Browser website.
2. Install the latest version on your computer.
3. Done, good luck with the exam!

Instructions for updating are also available on the Teaching Pedagogical and digital Support website.

Wishing you stress-free exam times,
UEF's IT Support

New Mind Matters online course for students

How can you take care of yourself? How about your fellow students? How could you develop a stronger sense of connection with other students?

The new Mind Matters -online course offers tools and insights to help you promote both your own mental health and that of your fellow students. The course is free of charge, lasts only a couple of hours, and is suitable for all students. After the course you will:

• Understand what factors affect mental health and feel able to influence both your own and your peers’ mental health and well-being.
• Recognize situations where you can show compassion toward yourself and your fellow students.
• Gain tools for talking about difficult issues or concerns and for supporting your peers.
• Get tips and ideas for strengthening community in higher education,and recognise situations where you can help prevent loneliness.
• Understand that each of us can have an impact on our surroundings – and that your actions matter, too!

Your mind matters – join us to learn how even small actions can improve your own and other's well-being and make studying more meaningful for you and others!

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:

• 18.11. Climate Café (led by Nyyti ry)
• 25.11. Christmas Party

#KPOWEEK

Good Mood Day, Sat 22.11 at 10-16 at Shopping Center Matkus

• Kuopio250-event
• The day's program focuses on good vibes and well-being, featuring music, interviews and activity stations. For example, there is a station where you can write Christmas cards for elderly people in Kuopio. You’ll have the opportunity to meet many local organizations. The event is full of joy and experiences for all ages. Free admission.

Sustainability Studies Network

Sustainability studies network is a collaborative teaching network of 11 Finnish higher education institutions. The network is multidisciplinary. It offers courses related to environment and sustainability. The courses are open for all degree, doctoral and exchange students of the member higher education institutions. A student may choose courses based on their own interest from the course listing. There are courses available both in Finnish and in English. A student has an opportunity to broaden their knowledge on environmental and sustainability themes by studying courses through the network.

The call for applications is open until 30 November 2025.

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.