The entire UEF will switch to using Teams as of May 3, 2021. Read more (new tab).
Category: Common
Closure of restaurants extended to North Karelia and North Savo
The Finnish Government’s decision to close restaurants to customers now applies to North Karelia and North Savo as well, which means that also restaurants operating on the university’s campuses are affected by it. In accordance with the Government’s decision, restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses will remain closed to customers until 18 April 2021 in areas where this is deemed necessary to curb the spread of the epidemic. However, sales of takeaway meals is allowed during the closure. Takeaway meals are available at Canthia, Carelia and Kampus Bistro.
Campus restaurants’ websites: https://www.uef.fi/en/campus-restaurants.
International degree student – UEF is eager to hear about your career plans
UEF is conducting a survey for international degree students and doctoral students. The University is eager to hear your thoughts about the career services provided to international students. Furthermore, the aim of the survey is also to find out what international students think about getting a job here in Finland.
The answers are highly appreciated. The data will be used when developing the career services of the University. Taking part in the survey takes only 5-10 minutes. You can find the Get Local! survey here.
Participate in a workshop for international degree students
While the survey aims to gather quantitative data, there is also a workshop for international degree students coming up. The aim of the workshop is to gain in depth data about international students’ career plans and views on integration.
In the workshop students will get an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences about getting a job in Finland and about career services provided to international degree students. The goal is to find 12 students with diverse backgrounds to participate in the workshop. The workshop is an interactive meeting which will be held in collaboration with UEF and Männikkömetsä Oy.
The workshop takes place on 7th of April 2021, starting at 14:15. If you are interested in taking part in the Get Local! workshop, you can sign up here.
Finnish Student Health Service´s FSHS-Week 22.–28.3.2021 and FSHS-Day 24.3.
During the FSHS week, we’ll be sharing with students exercise facts and tips on how to step up your everyday exercise under the theme Active everyday life. You’ll be given tips on sitting less, changing working positions and increasing your physical activity.
To make everything as easy as possible, we’ll gather all FSHS Week material on one website yths.fi/arkiliikkuu. Make a mental note of the address.
Did you know that if you have a sedentary job you should have a break every 45 minutes?
Let’s be more active in everyday life!
Peppi info sessions and question times for UEF students in March and April
University of Eastern Finland will deploy a new student data system in late 2021. WebOodi will be replaced by a modern data ecosystem called Peppi. The Peppi ecosystem includes a lot of diverse functions and plug-ins that will make every-day working and studying at the UEF easier. In addition to the student data system, Peppi will include functions for educational planning and facility reservation.
Peppi info session in March
All UEF students are welcome to join a Peppi info session to learn about the Peppi data ecosystem and its deployment at the UEF.
- Peppi info session for students in Finnish on Tuesday in Zoom, 23 March 2021 from 3.00 to 4.00 p.m. (15.00-16.00)
- Peppi info session for students in English on Thursday in Zoom, 25 March 2021 from 3.00 to 4.00 p.m. (15.00-16.00)
The info sessions will be recorded and distributed afterwards in Yammer.
Peppi question times for students
During the question times for students, you can ask questions about Peppi in Finnish or in English, and listen to what other students have on their mind. Before the question times, you can submit questions via the question time Padlet.
The question times will be arranged in the following times:
- Tuesday, 13 April 2021 from 3.00 to 4.00 p.m. (15.00-16.00) in Zoom
- Thursday, 15 April 2021 from 3.00 to 4.00 p.m. (15.00-16.00) in Zoom
The questions and answers will be published afterwards in the students’ section in the Peppi Handbook that will be published in April. The publication of the Peppi Handbook will be announced later.
More information about the deployment can be found on the students’ Peppi bulletin in Kamu. Peppi-related news, discussions and events can be found in the Peppi Yammer group and later in the Peppi Handbook. Peppi-related questions and ideas can be sent to the email [email protected].
20-person limit on gatherings continues on both campuses until 22 April 2021
The Regional State Administrative Agency for Eastern Finland has continued its order which prohibits, in the municipalities of its area of jurisdiction, all public events and general meetings, both indoors and outdoors, which have more than 20 people attending.
The order is in effect from 23 March 2021 to 22 April 2021 and it is applied to both Joensuu and Kuopio.
In accordance with the Regional State Administrative Agency’s order, all teaching and events on both campuses must be organised so that no more than 20 people at a time are present in the same room.
The University of Eastern Finland follows the orders given by the Regional State Administrative Agency. The Regional State Administrative Agency’s orders on restrictions on gathering are in force for one month at a time.
Bridges -project supports students wellbeing
The Ministry of Education and Culture has awarded the university a special grant for 2021 and 2022 to take the measures necessitated by the coronavirus epidemic to reinforce support for student counselling and student wellbeing.
The two-year Bridges -project aims to take action to strengthen the engagement and inclusion of students and prevent exclusion. The project will realise the digitalisation of student advice services/psychosocial support and support subject and peer tutoring by promoting collaboration between actors. The project supports the studying capacity and inclusion of students, and promotes wellbeing through peer activities, community support actions and activities.
The project involves several actors and smaller sub-projects.
- ISYY Student Union / Easy-to-access support and advice for students on day-to-day studies, preparing for working life, maintaining studying capacity, and coping. Contact person: Sanna Heinonen, Secretary General (email: [email protected]).
- Student sports services / Sykettä, Joensuu / Small group, active everyday activity for students suffering loneliness and for students facing challenges in everyday life management. Contact person: Heli Aalto, University Sports Coordinator (email: [email protected]).
- Student sports services / Sykettä, Kuopio / The gentle start group offers health and wellbeing promotion services for students with the aim of reducing the feeling of loneliness and receiving peer support in small groups, boosting a sense of community by providing easy-to-access services, and motivating students to look after their own wellbeing and develop their social skills. Contact person: Sirpa Risto, University Sports Coordinator (email: [email protected]).
- Student and Learning Services, international mobility services / International students in these exceptional circumstances, support activities. Contact person: Anna Jetsu, International Affairs Coordinator (email: [email protected]).
- Student and Learning Services, counselling and wellbeing services / Implementation of an easy-to-access digital contact point for students (TUUDO mobile app), as well as training and support to boost studying and wellbeing skills, activities and support measures to foster a sense of community, strengthening peer tutoring, and support measures related to tutor training. Contact person: Tuija Pasanen, Head of Student Services (email: [email protected])
- School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education / Better cooperation in the joint activities of peer tutors and teacher tutors (pilot: developing the tutoring programme in UEF’s teacher education). Contact person: Ville Tahvanainen, University Teacher (email: [email protected])
UEF actions in support of the Bridges project:
7. School of Educational Science and Psychology, career counselling / Initial counselling survey 2021 for new students and second-year students in autumn 2021. Contact person: Toni Kosonen, Project Researcher (email: [email protected]).
8. Language centre support courses for students (writing support groups: General Issues course, Bachelor and Master, as well as spoken interaction). Contact person: Lauri Tolkki, Language Centre Director (email: [email protected]).
9. Sporting activities to support peer tutoring (depending on the coronavirus pandemic in autumn 2021). Contact person: Tuija Pasanen, Head of Student Services, Student and Learning Services (email: [email protected]).
The progress of the project will be communicated in the university and ISYY channels, and the people responsible for implementing parts of the project will communicate their progress in their own channels.
Person in charge and additional information: Tuija Pasanen, Head of Student Services (email: [email protected]).
Students’ trip resulted in coronavirus infections – the university is taking precautions
A group of international students of the University of Eastern Finland went on a privately organised trip to Saariselkä between 28 February and 4 March 2021. At least 20 of the participants have been since been diagnosed with COVID-19. Neither the University of Eastern Finland nor the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland were involved in organising the trip.
“We took immediate action as soon as we were informed of the infections among students to identify those exposed as quickly as possible and, for our part, to cut off chains of transmission. Ordering students into quarantine will be done by the health authorities. The situation is very unfortunate, and we will do everything we can to keep infections under control,” Director of Administration Tuomo Meriläinen says.
The university is still investigating possible exposures on its campuses resulting from the trip. Some exposures are already known on the Kuopio Campus. As a precaution, the University of Eastern Finland’s Teacher Training School in Joensuu has moved all international student teachers to online mode of study until 19 March.
A total of 46 students from the university and the university of applied sciences attended the Saariselkä trip organised by a private tour operator. The university’s students from both the Kuopio and Joensuu campuses attended the trip. By 11 March, 20 coronavirus infections have been confirmed in Kuopio among people who went on the trip, or in connection with it. The health care services of the City of Kuopio have ordered all those who attended the trip into mandatory quarantine until 19 March, and to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test. People sharing a flat with those who attended the trip have been instructed to self-isolate and to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test.
The university’s Student and Learning Services learned about the planned trip earlier this year. The university does not have the authority to intervene in students’ leisure time activities, but students were repeatedly urged to abandon their travel plans due to the coronavirus situation. All international students were also invited to an info session held by an occupational physician, where they were instructed to avoid travelling also in Finland. The risks associated with travel in the current coronavirus situation were also explained. The Faculty of Health Sciences and Kuopio University Hospital stated that going on the trip is a deliberate risk and that travellers will not be given an opportunity to retake classes should they be ordered into quarantine as a result of the trip.
For further information, please contact:
Director of Administration Tuomo Meriläinen, tuomo.merilainen (at) uef.fi, telephone +358 40 355 2299.
Katri Hartikainen, Occupational Health and Safety Manager, katri.hartikainen (at) uef.fi, telephone +358 50 356 4029.
UEF info session on 18 March 2021 at 15–16
Welcome to a UEF info session on Thursday, 18 March, starting at 15.00. The topics of the info session include the coronavirus situation and student and staff well-being. Professor Markku Niemivirta will present the results of a survey on student well-being.
The info session will be led by the university´s Rector, Academic Rector and Director of Administration.
To join the info session, please go to https://www.uef.fi/live1/.
Questions and comments can be sent via Presemo during the info session in the address https://presemo.uef.fi/ueftietotori/.
A recording of the info session will be published on Yammer afterwards.
Opparin ja tietotekniikkapalvelun palvelutiski Joensuussa muuttaa väistötiloihin
Joensuun kampuskirjaston remontin vuoksi Opparin ja tietotekniikkapalvelun palvelutiski muuttaa väistötilaan Agoraan AG103 ma-ti 19.-20.4.2021. Palvelutiski on suljettu muuton ajan. Palvelu avataan uudessa tilassa ke 21.4.2021. Agoran tilassa on tietokoneita opiskelijoiden itsenäiseen opiskeluun, tulostin ja palvelutiski. Olemme avoinna arkisin klo 9–18, lauantaisin klo 10–14. Tarkistathan kevään ja kesän poikkeusaukioloajat Kamusta.
Väistötilassa toimitaan elokuun loppupuolelle saakka, tarkempi aikataulu muutosta takaisin kampuskirjaston tiloihin ilmoitetaan kesällä.