Happy Tuesday!

Independence Day (Itsenäisyyspäivä) in Finland is held on the 6th of December to celebrate Finland's declaration of independence from Russia in 1917.

As Finland is quite a young country, some of the war veterans are still alive and most of the celebrations are related to paying respects to them and to those who were lost during the war. Therefore there is an annual televised military parade of the Finnish Defence Forces and student torch parades all around Finland where they visit graveyards to place wreaths on war graves.

ISYY also organises a student torch parade every year in Kuopio and Joensuu. In the parades, we celebrate the independence of Finland which gives us freedom to study, come together and be who we want to be. In the Torch Parades, we also want to commemorate the part students played in the creation of the independent Finnish state. The Torches bring light to the dark December night. You are warmly welcome to join the Parade as a participant or a spectator this year!

The highlight of the day has traditionally been watching the broadcast of the glamorous Presidential Independence Day reception (Linnanjuhlat)! The reception has been an annual tradition since 1919 and roughly 2000 guests receive an invitation to the event, such as members of the government and parliament of Finland, war veterans, diplomats, and other public figures and skilled individuals the President chooses to invite. 

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs and Administration

ISYY offices are closed 11.12.2025–6.1.2026

This year the offices are open for the last time on Wednesday 10 December from 12 pm till 4 pm.

If you need to visit ISYY offices before the holidays, please do so during the first weeks of December. The offices will be open again on Wednesday 7 January 2026.

This year's last newsletters will be send next week on Tuesday 9 December. Weekly Feed returns from a short winter break on 13 January 2026, when the first newsletter of 2026 is published.

NB! ISYY office in Kuopio has shortened opening hours from Thursday 20 November till 10 December:

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

ISYY's Chairpersons and Executive Board 2026 has been elected!

In their meeting last week, ISYY Council elected the Chairpersons and Executive Board 2026 for our Student Union.

Emilia Koskinen was elected as the Chair of the ISYY Board and Lassi Valli as the Vice Chair. Other Board Members include Antton Gustafsson, Maria Rossi, Elviira Soljala, Eeva Ylikoski, Sofia Lindström, Bharath Kannan, Reetta Venäläinen and Piritta Pennanen.

Janina Gunnar (DeeKu) was elected as the Chair of the ISYY Council, Nox Herranen (Itä-Suomen Vihreä Vasemmisto) as the 1st Vice Chair and Ilmari Mäkelä (Kylterit) as the 2nd Vice Chair.

Read the announcement and feelings of the Chairpersons right after the election from the ISYY website.

In the photo, there are some members of Board 2026: on the screen from the left Emilia and Eeva. Front row from the left: Bharath, Antton, Lassi, Piritta, Maria and Reetta.

Apply for a band shift at Studentia Band Rehearsal Space by 14 December!

You can now apply for a shift at Studentia Band Rehearsal Space for spring 2026 by filling an online application form. The application period ends on Sunday 14 December at 23:59. All who have applied for a shift will be contacted on week 51. Spring shifts are valid from 2 January until 31 May.

One shift is max. 2 hours. On workdays (Mon-Fri) Studentia is open and the shifts can be applied from 8:00 to 21:00. Weekend shifts are available from 8:00 to 20:00.

ISYY club meetings

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

• Sun 7.12. at 1 pm UEF Student Bible Club
• Fri 12.12. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game club)

Schedule in the beginning of December

• 6.12. Independence Day of Finland. Sports facilities are closed.
• Beginning from 8th of December there are more free shifts and ball sports at reservation calendar.

SYKETTÄ goes Joulu 

 Enroll via reservation calendar.

Tuesday 9.12.

• 12.00-13.30 Family badminton, Studentia
• 13.30-15.00 Family badminton, Studentia
• 12.00-13.30 Volleyball, easy-going, Studentia
• 13.30-15.00 Volleyball, experienced, Studentia
• 16.10-17.05 Pump -class, Studentia
• 17.15-18.00 Body maintenance45’, Studentia
• 18.00-18.55 Basketball, Studentia
• 19.30-21.00 Floorball, Luola

Wednesday 10.12.

SpinningMaraton at Kunnonsali from 18.00 to 20.30  Price:  with SYKETTÄ membership 9 € and without membership 13 €.

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

Opening hours of Kuopio campus restaurants for Christmas and New Year 2025

Check out the opening times via the link below. In addition, the traditional Finnish Christmas meal is served on 10 December in the Snellmania restaurant and on 11 December in the Canthia restaurant.

Registration for language studies!

Registration for language and communication courses for spring semester opens December 1st. You can find the courses included in your degree in your PSP or in the study guide, register in Peppi through you PSP. Check out also the new Minor subject in Finnish: Minor Subject in Finnish as a Second Language.

Registration for the 3rd period ends on 4.1.2026 and later in the spring the registration for courses starting in the 4th period ends on 1.3. or later, depending on when the course starts. Read the further information of each course unit carefully!

Welcome to our language courses!

Exceptions in the library opening hours due to the Finnish Independence Day

Joensuu and Kuopio Campus Libraries are open on Friday 5th December 2025 8am–1pm (Customer Service 10am–1pm) and KUH Medical Library is closed. On Independence Day 6th December 2025 all our libraries are closed. The library’s 24/7 self-study facilities are open despite these exceptions.

Welcome to the UEF Global Development Day 2025!

The event will be held under the theme “From Knowledge to Impact: Co-Innovation for Global Development” at the UEF Kuopio campus, Snellmania SN200, and online (Teams) on 11 December 2025 at 9:30–12:00 (EEST).

The engaging two-hour event showcases how collaborative innovation can lead to practical solutions in global development. The programme features an inspiring keynote, a discussion with experts from diverse fields exploring how multistakeholder partnerships can transform research to real-world impact, and the finals of the UEF Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, where emerging doctoral researchers will present their work.

The event brings together academia, policy, and practice to encourage dialogue and advance sustainable development.

Please register by 4th December 2025.

Study psychologists’ telephone consultation hours in 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.

#KPOWEEK

Open art workshop, Thu 4.12 at 14-16.30

• Kuopio Museum's workshop space, Museokatu 1
• We will explore art and its methods through various themes. No previous experience in drawing or painting is required. The workshop will be led by Johanna Rossi. Free admission, art supplies will be provided on site.

Independence Day celebration, Sat 6.12 at 13-14

• Kuopio Music Center
• A celebration open to all residents and free of charge. Guests are requested to wear dark suits. The celebration is organized by the City of Kuopio in cooperation with the Kuopio Conservatory.
• Kuopio250-event

The most beautiful Christmas carols at Puijo, Sun 7.12 at 14

• Puijon Maja, Puijontie 135
• The most beautiful Christmas carols will be sung at the red Puijon Maja restaurant, and you can also sing outside (outdoor speakers). Free admission.

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.