Happy Tuesday!

Winter break is almost here! The sun has been showing its face more often lately, which is a guaranteed sign that spring is on its way. This Saturday, we fly the flag for Kalevala Day, also known as the Day of Finnish Culture. You can read more about the topic here.

Kind regards,
Timi
Membership Service Specialist

P.S. This week's newsletter covers weeks 9 and 10. The Weekly Feed isn't published next week because of the winter holidays.

ISYY offices are closed next week 2.–8.3.2026 

Because of Finnish Winter holiday, ISYY offices are closed next week (2.–8.3.). The loan periods for all sports and hobby equipment loaned during this ongoin week will be automatically extended to the next opening day, Monday 9 March.

This week we are at your service with our regular opening hours:

• Mon, Tue and Thu: 10–12(noon), 13–15
• Wed: 12(noon)–16
• Fri: closed

During winter holiday week, emails and phone calls will be answered with a delay.

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 27.2. at 5 pm Kärmes (Board Game Club)
• Sun 1.3. at 1 pm USBC (University Student Bible Club)
• Sun 8.3. at 1 pm USBC (University Student Bible 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

You must have a valid SYKETTÄ membership when using sports services!

• Buy the membership from the SYKETTÄ website's store or from ISYY office.
• You will also have access to nutrition and physical activity counselling.
• Find out more about our diverse services on the Member sevices webpage.

Week 10,  2.-8.3, is a winter holiday week. 

• These group exercises are organised
  • Fitness boxing Tue 3.3. at 5 PM
  • Practical Self Defense Tue 3.3. at 6 PM
  • KickFit Wed 4.3. at 5 PM 
• Ball games and gyms run during opening hours!

Registration for swimming and skiing courses is ongoing.

Reserve your place via the SYKETTÄ reservation calendar!

• Skiing technique lesson: Skating 24.2. at 17.30-19.00 (15 € / person).
• Swimming technique course 2, 10.3.-7.4. (55 € / person)

Announcement to students: The Moodle provider for the University of Eastern Finland is changing – new Moodle to be launched in autumn 2026

The provider of the Moodle learning environment (elearn.uef.fi) at the University of Eastern Finland will change. The aim is to improve the reliability and usability, as well as to increase its potential for use.

The new UEF Moodle is aimed to be launched in August 2026. The change will be made as smooth as possible for students. All previous course completions and assessments will be automatically transferred to the new Moodle, no action is required from students.

True Cost - call to find International Students to Interview for SYLs advocacy campaign around international student employment and livelihood

Are you an international student in Finland? Share your experience. SYL is looking for international students to take part in the True Cost campaign, highlighting real experiences of studying, employment, livelihood and integration in Finland. The interviews will be conducted remotely in March–April, last 30–45 minutes, and are fully anonymous. SYL will raffle a set of noise cancelling headphones among the participants to the interviews.

Sign up by 6 March – find more information and the link to the form below.

What is Zoola and why is it used? 

Zoola is a learning analytics tool connected to eLearn Moodle that helps teachers monitor students' progress in a course. It compiles existing data from Moodle into clear summaries. Zoola does not generate or collect new data. The purpose of the tool is to help teachers identify where and when students need support. For students, Zoola appears as a timeout: if nothing is done on the eLearn page for about 20 minutes, a pop-up window appears

How is your living experience impacting your wellbeing? Take part in our Student Living Survey & win EUR500

Dear Student, we want to hear from you! Your student living experience plays a big role in your well-being, and by taking just a few minutes to complete our Student Living Survey, you’ll help shape the future of student housing while also getting a chance to win €500!

This survey is completely anonymous and focuses on key aspects of student life, including housing, finances, mental health, and social well-being. Please note: At the end, you’ll have the option to provide your email if you wish to enter the prize draw.

3 days. Real challenges. Multidisciplinary teams. Mentors who push you further.

This is where design, business, and technology collide. This is the Sprint 2026, Finland’s largest design sprint.

You’ll be placed in a small, multidisciplinary team, stay at a hotel, and work on a real-world challenge set by one of our amazing challenge partners. The themes span culture, health, technology, finance, and AI, so whether your background is in design, business, engineering, research, medicine, or something else entirely, there’s a challenge for you.

And yes: the winning team from each challenge will take home a 1 000 € prize. 

• The Sprint 2026
•  Valo Hotel, Helsinki 
•  March 27th–29th, 2026

Stricter criteria for social assistance as of February – what does it mean for customers?

Degree students:

All students applying for social assistance are required to apply for a student loan – Kela can no longer use discretion. More information and answers to common questions can be found from Kela's website.

Today at Coffee & Friends: Speed friending

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 27 January forward at 3-5pm at Lukema. 

Coffee & Friends programme:

• 24.2. Bingo 

• 3.3. Winter Holiday, no Coffee & Friends this week

• 10.3. Students’ Mental Health Week

• 17.3. Equality and Inclusion week 

Students’ Mental Health Week: Pop‑Up Events on Campus

Students’ Mental Health Week will be held this year during week 11 (9–15 March 2026). The theme of the campaign this year is faith in the future. UEF will take part in the campaign by organizing a mental health week pop‑up event on both campuses:

• Kuopio: Tuesday 10 March, 11:00–13:00 in the Canthia lobby
• Joensuu: Thursday 12 March, 11:00–13:00 in the Carelia lobby

Come join us for coffee and conversations about your thoughts related to the future. If you wish, you can also visit the accessible exam room.

The event features UEF guidance and student wellbeing services (study psychologists, career counselling, special education teacher), the Language Centre, the Library, campus pastors, FSHS student health services, ISYY Student Union, and Sykettä sports services.

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.