History

The Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio merged together in 2010 to form the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). During the process, the Student Union of the University of Joensuu (JOYY) and the Student Union of the University of Kuopio (KYY) merged together and became known as the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY).

2009

Joensuu University Student Union (JOYY) and Kuopio University Student Union (KYY) launch Uljas, the student magazine of Eastern Finland. The first edition of the magazine is published on the 18th of February. Veera Järvenpää is appointed as the Chief Editor of Uljas.
39 members are elected to formulate the Representative Council, which is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union.
Mikko Taina is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Perttu Koistinen takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.
The logo of the new Student Union is launched in Kuopio on the 22nd of April. The triangle in the logo represents the locations of the three campuses that existed at the time. When placed on a map, the tips of the triangle point towards Kuopio, Joensuu and Savonlinna. The lyre at the centre of the triangle symbolises the history of the universities. The logo was designed by graphic designer Anssi Kuronen.

2010

The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY) officially begins its operations on the 1st of January. ISYY operates on three campuses: Joensuu, Kuopio and Savonlinna.
Janne Mertanen is appointed as the first Secretary General of ISYY.
The Representative Council decides for ISYY to join the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL).
Jarkko Kumpulainen is appointed as the Chief Editor of Uljas.
Sara Remes is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Maria Röykkä takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

2011

An anniversary party is organised to celebrate the first year of ISYY. From then on, the anniversary parties are held every other year.
ISYY’s second Representative Council Elections are held in the autumn.
Sara Remes is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Jukka Mähönen takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

2012

ISYY launches a new website in August.
Jori Voissalo is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Mikko Puhakka takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

2013

ISYY’s third birthday is celebrated with an anniversary party in Kuopio.
ISYY’s third Representative Council Elections are held in the autumn.
Jori Voissalo is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Marjo Turunen takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

2014

SYKETTÄ Sports Services are launched in Kuopio, and a year later in Joensuu.
Anna-Kristiina Mikkonen is appointed as the new Secretary General of ISYY.
Noora Kettunen is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Paula Martikainen takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.
Paula Martikainen is elected to represent ISYY at the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) Board.

2015

ISYY’s fifth year is celebrated with an anniversary party in Joensuu.
ISYY’s fourth Representative Council Elections are held in the autumn.
Noora Kettunen continues as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Noora Kettunen is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.

2016

Pyry Mattila is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Juho Ikonen takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.
The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) takes the decision to centralise its teacher education in Joensuu and close down the campus in Savonlinna.

2017

ISYY’s seventh year is celebrated with an Anniversary Party in Savonlinna.
ISYY’s fifth Representative Council Elections are held in the autumn: more members than ever before turn up to vote and the voting target of 30% is surpassed.
As a result of the long-running interest advocacy campaign by ISYY, UEF agrees to hire a second Study Psychologist, when previously there only was one.
Pyry Mattila is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Tahvo Kekkonen takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

2018

The teacher education unit of Savonlinna is relocated to Joensuu in its entirety. The ISYY office at the Savonlinna campus closes its doors for good.
Jussi Turunen is appointed as the Chief Editor of Uljas.
The Representative Council takes the decision to discontinue publishing the student magazine, Uljas. Hence, this is the end of a 40-year-long story of student newspapers in Eastern Finland.
Jonni Nykänen is appointed as the Chairperson of the Representative Council.
Juuso Sikiö takes on the role of the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

2019

ISYY's 9th year is celebrated with an Annual Jubilee in Kuopio. In future, Annual Jubilee will be celebrated every year.
The Chair of the Representative Council is Jonni Nykänen.
The Chair of the Executive Board is Susanna haverinen (from January to March) and Aleksi Kinnunen (from April to December).
Sanna Heinonen is appointed as the new Secretary General of ISYY.
6th Representative Council Elections are held. The voting acitivity is 27,5 percent.

2020

The Chair of the Representative Council is Olli Auvinen.
The Chair of the Executive Board is Aino Peltonen.
ISYY's 10th year is celebrated with an Annual Jubilee week on both campuses 9.–15.3.2020.
ISYY's 10th annual jubilee is canceled due to the coronavirus situation. The annual jubilee was scheduled to be held in Kuopio on March 14, 2020.
For the first time, ISYY's May Day traditions are organized digitally.
The Representative Council decides to close the ISYY kiosk.

2021

The Chair of the Representative Council is Ella Partanen.
The Chair of the Executive Board is Vesa Janhunen.
The reform of ISYY’s organisation will enter into force on 1st of April. The Sections and Campus Boards will be replaced by Teams and Councils for Chairpersons.
The 7th Representative Council Elections are held. The voting activity is 21,05 percent.

2022

The Chair of the Representative Council is Emilie Honkanen.
The Chair of the Executive Board is Sami Tanskanen.
For the first time after the pandemic ISYY organised May Day Traditions without restrictions.
This year there has been already 50 years of Student Union history in Kuopio. Former Student Unions are visible in the traditional events in Kuopio (May Day, Annual Celebration, Torch Parade).
Antti Natunen is appointed as the new Secretary General of ISYY.
ISYY's candidate Pauliina Ryökäs is elected to the Board of National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) for the year 2023.
The Representative Council invites Sirpa Risto as a first Honorary Member of ISYY.

2023

The Chair of the Representative Council is Jimi Viita-aho.
The Chair of the Executive Board is Eetu Hyvönen.
Helena Kansanen is appointed as the new Secretary General of ISYY.
The Vappu traditions of Kuopio, Immerse of the Professor and Capping of the Velj'mies statue, celebrates their 50th year.
In Kuopio the Vappu tradition, Rite of the Scholastic Passage, is held for the first time after the pandemic. Almost 600 students attended the Rite.
The 8th Representative Council Elections are held. The voting activity is 23,97 percent.

2024

The Chair of the Representative Council is Julia Lautala.
The Chair of the Executive Board is Mirka Nieminen.
May Day traditions are being updated as the titles Velj’mies and Siskotyttö are replaced with a shared title for student actives, Kunniankantajat (Bearers of Honor).
ISYY's candidate Mirka Nieminen is elected to the Board of National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) for the year 2025.

Isyy.fi, opens in a new tab: The history of the Student Union of the University of Joensuu and the Student Union of the University of Kuopio

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