Author: Jatta Rautanen

What experiences does Finland have with higher education institution groups? What impact have they had on education, research, regional development and the activities of higher education institutions? What added value or challenges have group structures generated?

The Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER) of the University of Jyväskylä examines in its survey the strategic goals of Finnish higher education institution groups and their operational and economic impact.

Welcome to a webinar on Thursday, 5 November, 2026 from 10:00 to 12:00 to hear more.

The survey was carried out as part of the preparations for collaboration between higher education institutions in eastern Finland. Its aim is to produce independent research data on the activities, impact and economic implications of higher education institution groups to support preparations and decision-making.

The webinar will be held in Finnish. Participants can submit comments and questions during the event. A recording will be published of the webinar with English subtitles, and an English summary will be made available of the survey.

The research report, its English summary, and the webinar recording will be published after the event. The version with English subtitles will be published later.
The event is open to everyone interested in the topic.

Please join the event via this link (Vimeo)

Programme

Opening words
Tapio Määttä, Rector, University of Eastern Finland

Strategic goals of higher education institution groups, operational and economic impact
Terhi Nokkala, Research Professor, the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER) of the University of Jyväskylä

Comments:
Leena Pöntynen, Director of Skills and Competence, Technology Industries of Finland
Heikki Kuutti Uusitalo, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Finnish Education Employers
DSSc Jarkko Tirronen, higher education researcher

Summary and closing words

Have you already had a chance to explore the renewed Kamu website? Go take a look and enter the prize draw during September.

How to enter the prize draw
Choose a question from the prize draw form that interests you, find the answer on Kamu, fill in the form – and you will be entered into the draw.

The prize draw form is here

So do not learn the hard way – all the answers can be found on Kamu.

We will draw the winners on 1 October 2026. You may enter the prize draw only once. The winners will be notified personally. Any prize must be collected from your own campus.

Start your studies off on the right foot and get to know your best student buddy – UEF Kamu. What better way to take your first steps into the academic year than with a small Kamu challenge + giveaway?

How to participate:

• Pick a question from the entry form that interests you, find the answer in Kamu, fill in the form – and you’re in the draw.
• The entry form is here

So please don’t learn the hard way – you’ll find all the answers in Kamu.

The winners will be drawn on 1 October, 2026 so make sure to participate during September! You can enter the draw only once. Winners will be contacted personally. Please note, the prize must be collected from your own campus.

Did you know that career guidance is also available during the summer? In a career guidance session, you can confidentially discuss any questions on your mind with a career counsellor, whether they concern your future plans, study choices, or job search.

You can find available appointment times with the career counsellors in UEF JobTeaser also during the summer: http://uef.jobteaser.com/

The Kamu online service for students has been reformed, and the new and improved website will be published on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. The address is the same as before: kamu.uef.fi/en.

Kamu continues to bring together the instructions, tools and links to different services that are needed in the studies, but the website has been developed based on student feedback to make it clearer and easier to use.

Focus on finding information

Kamu has been developed especially to make finding information easier. The content has been rewritten to make it clearer and more concise. The structure and navigation are also more consistent.

The search function has also been improved to provide more relevant results and the visual look of the website has been updated. Long lists of links have been removed, and the content has been structured more clearly.

Target groups presented more clearly On the front page, the user now selects their target group, which makes it easier to find information that is relevant to them.

– Special attention has been paid to the content aimed at doctoral researchers. It was previously scattered all over Kamu, but now all the information relevant to them can be found in one place, says Päivi Peltoperä, Head of Academic Affairs.

Kamu’s content has been divided into two sections:

• The Student tools and facilities section contains links to programmes and support services that are needed in the studies, as well as information related to the campuses and facilities.
• The Databank section contains general instructions related to studying.

The contents of the databank are grouped by target group for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students, doctoral researchers and continuous studies students. The English-language version also includes content for exchange students and interns.

As before, field-specific information can be found in study communities and course-specific information, such as course descriptions and schedules, in Peppi.

Bulletins aimed at students continue to be published in Kamu. The UEF Students community in Viva Engage is still the main channel for day-to-day student communications.

Give feedback on Kamu!

Your feedback is important for the development of Kamu. You can leave feedback, comments and development ideas at the bottom of each Kamu page.

The Joensuu and Kuopio campus libraries are closed during Staff development days 21–22 May 2026. In addition, the Kuopio Campus Library is closed on every Saturday in May.

The library’s 24/7 self-study facilities are available with an access badge also during the exceptional opening hours.

The library will move to summer opening hours from 1 June.

The UEF Career Services course offering for the academic year 2026–2027 includes courses taught in both Finnish and English.

Self-study courses

• Career planning – self-study course, 2 ECTS
• Jobseeking – self-study course, 1 ECTS
• Basics of Finnish Working Life – self-study course, 1 ECTS (teaching language: English)

Practice groups

• Career portfolio building, 1 ECTS
• Jobseeking – practical exercises, 1 ECTS

Registration opens on 10 August 2026 in Peppi

Information on the courses offered in the academic year 2026–2027 and their scheduling by semester has been published in Peppi’s study guide.

More detailed information on teaching, including schedules and classroom locations (course implementations), will be published by the end of July.

There will be changes to the library’s summer opening hours. This coming summer, the Joensuu and Kuopio Campus Libraries will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8 to 15, with customer service available from 10 to 15. On Wednesdays, we will be open as usual from 8 to 18, with customer service from 10 to 18.

For the first time, we will experiment with a summer closure at the Kuopio Campus Library during the quietest period in July, 6–26 July 2026. However, you will still be able to access the facilities with a 24/7 access badge. If you do not yet have an access badge, please make sure to get one in advance!

The Joensuu Campus Library will remain open throughout the summer. Loan periods at both locations will extend beyond the Kuopio closure. Whichever campus library you use, please note that materials will not be transported between the Joensuu and Kuopio libraries during the closure. We encourage you to reserve any books you need well ahead of time.

You can find detailed opening hour information on our website. We will provide broader updates on how the summer will affect our services in May. We welcome your feedback on opening hours and other services through our online form.