YEARBOOK SAVONIA INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
2022
SAVONIA CAMPUS LIFE IN KUOPIO
BEING INTERNATIONAL
IN SAVONIA
CREDITS International students yearbook magazine 2022
CONTEXT
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Life as an international in Savonia Thijs Giesbergen, Koen Rovers, Kaitlin Jupp, David Scherder, Yoonseo Choi
WRITERS Students create yearbook content during spring 2022 in the Digital marketing communication project course.
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Life in Kuopio Francois Seminel, Damien Juvenal, Erwann Simon, Alexy Ramet, Laura Purkunen
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Sneak-peek into students life Haneen Noman, Elisa Frerk, Oluyemisi Alabi
PRINTED Library Savonia campus, Kuopio, Finland
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Students Personal Experience 2022 Haneen Noman, Elisa Frerk, Oluyemisi Alabi
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Services in Savonia Polina Gritsay, Martin Fidransky, Mathis Perez, Corentin Cognard
DIGITAL https://issuu.com/savonia
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Sneak-peek to the teachers´ territory Natalia Romanova
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Teachers and Staff Thijs Giesbergen, Koen Rovers, Kaitlin Jupp, David Scherder
COPYRIGHTS
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Kirill Popov, Lucie Roux, Zoé Gomichon, Jeremie Geneau, Lorena Raffa, Matvei Kozlov
Savonia University of Applied Sciences Digital marketing communication project students and teachers
Typical day of a Savonia
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Our campus Natalia Romanova
t n e d n u a d t n s s a a l l n i e a F f n i n L o i i t a n r e t n i Living as an international student in Finland is an adventure... But how do exchange students experience Finland? We chose to study in Finland because...
The nature is beautiful!
Good education!
I want to see the Northern Lights
What we like the most about Finland...
The snow, freedom, food, people The craziest thing we have experienced during our study in Finland is...
Husky ride, going to the sauna, riding on a snowmobile & a barbecue in the snow!
Our favourite Syketta class is...
1. Water exercise 2. Zumba 3. Basketball
What shocked us most about Finland is.. - How shy some Finnish people are - Price of alcohol - How early they eat
Our favourite Finnish food is... Our favourite Finnish songs are... Cinnamon rolls
Fazer Chocolate
Salmon
Sami songs Follaa - Kuba Samla gamla vanliga
The biggest difference between our countries and Finland is...
The weather
The people
Authors: Thijs Giesbergen, Koen Rovers, Kaitlin Jupp, David Scherder, Yoonseo Choi
The language
Life in Kuopio In Kuopio, it is possible to do various activities. Here are the typical activities to do in this town. Ice skating is a very regular activity for the people of Kuopio. There are several places where you can practice this sport. You can also run a 50kilometre marathon. There are many places where you can rent skates for very little money. We were able to rent them for free from Studentia and it was a great experience.
One of the most famous activity in Finland and in Kuopio is of course the sauna. The place we recommend is called Kuopio Saana. Saana means sauna in Savonia (the language of the region of Savonia). The tradition requires that once you have entered the sauna, you must, for the most courageous, jump into the frozen lake to cool down. From our personal experience, the frozen lake is not cold for people like us. Cross-country skiing is a very popular activity in Finland. There are 600 kilometres of trails in and around Kuopio. Every year, when the lakes are frozen, hundreds of people approach them on skis. This provides opportunities to experience the Finnish landscape in a different way. This experience was very rewarding although extremely tiring. We really enjoyed discovering this sport which allows us to discover nature in a different way.
Ice hockey is the national sport in Finland. Kuopio has an ice hockey team "Kalpa". This team is a part of life in the city of Kuopio. There is a real euphoria around this team. In addition, in winter, it is possible to play ice hockey. We did not have the opportunity to play ice hockey. However, we saw games of Kalpa and we really liked the atmosphere in the Olvi Arena.
Another big place to visit in Kuopio is the Puijo tower. It's a 75 metres hight observation tower. The view is really astonishing especially in winter with the snow covering the landscape and the light shinning in the night. There is a restaurant which is very good., we really enjoy chilling with a coffee or a hot chocolate admiring the landscape. We enjoyed a lot reaching the tower following the country side ski track. at the bottom of tower there is also a fun attraction which consist of sliding on snow track in a buoy. . Going out was also part of our daily life. Indeed, as students, we like to go out a lot but the nightlife in Kuopio is not the best. We still go out almost every weekend to bars like Nousu, Gloria, Apteekkari and others. We meet a lot of people despite the fact that the music is not to our taste. Indeed, there are a lot of foreigners but the music is not commercial enough for us because we don't know Finnish music. However, some of the evenings are more suitable for Erasmus students.
Studentia is a room available to students where you can practice different sports, it's a place that we really appreciate because we shared unforgettable moments with other students of the university. We really like this place to play the different sports that we like. It is really interesting to play sports against and with people from all over the world.
In Kuopio, the fireplaces are great places to spend time with family and friends. It is a time when you can have a barbecue, enjoy the beautiful landscapes and meet many people. During our semester, we organized multiple barbecue with our friends and we really enjoyed it. Even if sometimes it was really cold, the fire keep us warm and the time was flying. Moreover, we were very surprise about the rules concerning the waste and the protection of the environment. Recycling in Finland is very strict and we had to learn how to do it correctly.
Sneak peek into student life student life KUOTRA
KUOTRA which was founded in 2009 is Savonia’s Business Administration association. The board which is selected annually oversees the daily activities, finance, events, cooperation, and promotion of interests of all business students. KUOTRA free time events include Sitsits, Kuotra goes Tahko, bowling, laser tagging, and hangout evenings for students to break the ice. Find more about KUOTRA by scanning the QR code
ESN KISA
ESN KISA is a non-profit International Student Association part of the Erasmus Student Network, the biggest student association in Europe, it provides a platform for international and Finnish students to integrate in Kuopio. ESN KISA organizes local activities based on focal areas such as education & youth, social inclusion, culture, health & well-being. ESN KISA is fully funded by the ERASMUS+ Program of the European Union and has regularly upcoming activities such as excursions, game nights, parties, food festivals, and much more. Find more about ESN KISA by scanning the QR code
SAVOTTA SAVOTTA the Student Union of Savonia UAS was founded in 1999 and its goal is to make students’ life easier, cheaper, and more fun. Students’ academic life is made easier with student tutor services and a PIVO student card with which a student can access about 4000 student benefits nationwide. Cheaper transportation and food are equally available through student discounts. Find more about SAVOTTA by scanning the QR code
Students Personal Experience Experience 2022 This year started wonderfully when kuotra organized the first event of the academic year “Fuksiaiset” to welcome Savonia business Freshmen. the event was followed with a punch of legendary sitsits such as Fuksisitsit, Fantasiasitsit, Fiesta de sitsit. ironically all starting with the letter F to say F YOU once and forever to Covid-19 our lifetime enemy. Kuotra’s new board members were elected in January and Kuotra’s event Committee is BACK after a 5-year break. Thanks to Kuotra this year was full of memories and i got to know so many new friends from other business programs in Savonia.
Also this year ESN KISA has organized plenty of trips and activities to make the international student´s life more fun. Activities like a hike with a BBQ after it, a day in the trampoline park, a karaoke night, a bowling night, a trip to Koli, an international food festival, or the easter sitsit were organized and planned by the organization. In addition to that, ESN once again organized an amazing trip to Lapland and the Pirates of the Baltic Sea cruise to Stockholm took place. From my own experience I can tell that those events were so much fun and helped to make new friends here in Kuopio. A semester without activities organized by ESN KISA is truly not imaginable. Savotta’s board led by Iiris Kettunen ,the Chairman of Representaive council , Mikko Sipilä, with their team have rolled out great activities since being elected. Exciting events so far this year are Winterfest snow football tournament, Pre-Vappu Karaoke Boats, Valentine celebration and Tahko Ski Lift Pitch in cooperation with the business center. The joy will be ramped up with the upcoming Savotta anniversary and the teacher of the year award. Vellu, Savotta’s mascot beams a smile already. I have personally enjoyed each and every one of savottas event as they bring students from all study programs under the same roof and allows you to socialize while having the joy of your life.
SERVICES Savonia UAS is a university that always cares about students
For your convenience Savonia has services for all occasions!
S E T R E E D? T IN WATC H AND R EAD O N!
Savonia Student Union Savotta trains student tutors who will be helping you especially at the beginning of your stay. Your tutor will be contacting you before your arrival and greet you when you arrive to campus
Head Student Tutor is Haneen Noman
BBA TUTORS 2021-2022
Each Each study study field field has has an an International International Coordinator Coordinator who who mainly mainly helps helps international international exchange exchange students students in in their their study study related related issues issues such such as as Learning Learning Agreements Agreements This spring term we had this 15 business, 4 nursing, 12 design, 15 engineering, 3 tourism and 2 music exchange students
Each degree programme has teacher tutors. Teacher tutors will provide assistance in academic and study related issues especially for degree studentsfrom the start of the studies – you will meet them during your Orientation Day
BBA Teacher turors are Virpi Oksanen, Abdelazim Hannoura and Özerk Göker
This are the companies that provides accommodation for students and their families in the Kuopio area. You can rent a room, a studio or a 2-3 room apartments there
Survival kits for exchange students Savonia Student Union Savotta rents domestic item kits, so called Survival kits, to exchange students
You need to pay a deposit: 60 you get 30
€
€
for the kit, out of which
back at the end of the exchange period if the kit is in good condition.
As a Savonia student you will get your own Savonia account and email. You will be able to connect to the Savonia wifi, email and study environments after having received your student user name and password.
Eduroam - the Wi-Fi network that you can use in every part of the world with your Savonia credentials
At the beginning of your studies you are entitled to download and install the Office 365 Pro Plus software on your computer for free by using your student user name and password. Savonia IT service desk is at your disposal for your questions related to Savonia learning tools and platforms. Have problems with Savonia email, Moodle, Teams, MS Office365, Skype, Wilma, Zoom or Exam? We got you covered.
Savonia degree students in Kuopio can get basic health care services from the Finnish Student Health Care system (FSHS / YTHS) FSHS’s services are available for all degree students on Savonia’s campuses including Iisalmi and Varkaus Unfortunately, during the spring 2022 students were unhappy with this service. It was difficult to book an appointment and get good advices
Health care and oral health care services for exchange students are provided by the cities of Kuopio, Iisalmi and Varkaus. Visits to the nurse at city health care centers are free of charge All present degree students (Bachelor and Master) must pay for the FSHS healthcare fee
Natalia Romanova
EXCLUSIVE
SNEAK-PEEK TO THE TEACHERS' TERRITORY Did you notice the closed door for students on the third floor? Have you wondered what is hidden there? Have you ever thought where teachers spend their free time on campus?
TEACHERS' WORK SPACE Our dear teacher Ozerk gets ready for lessons
Look how cozy it is!
#SavoniaUAS
I took a walk around the teachers' work space. They are given a huge territory for their use. Our teachers have 2 kitchens-dining rooms, an office-style places with tables and computers, isolated rooms of different sizes. There are very small rooms! According to teachers, staying in them is comparable to going to a sauna. I really like the space. I wish we also had something like that!
Interview Sinikka 'Voted best non-teaching staff member' From 2 weeks to 24 years... What it's like to work in Savonia:
Number Helping hunderds of students a week is something that makes Sinikka the best non-teaching staff member at Savonia! Student quotes: 'Sinikka always helps you'
'My favourite Finnish food is Poronkärsitys.'
'What motivates me are all the different kinds of students.'
'Sinikka is so hardworking and kind. She made me feel very welcome as an exchange student, and I feel like I can go to her with any questions.'
'I recommend my exchange students to visit some Finnish night clubs, and experience the Finnish music.'
'Best exchange students helper.' 'She is there for us.'
Authors: Thijs Giesbergen, Koen Rovers, Kaitlin Jupp, David Scherder
Markus and Özerk 'The best teachers according to exchange students'
'Good for his students'
'Markus is very kind and inspiring. I enjoy his lessons, he makes them interactive and interesting' 'Always positive and laughing with his students'
'He is always willing to give more information, he prepares us for the real world and best of all he always makes sure that we understand and keeps us motivated to continue'
'His courses are interesting' 'Has a lot of knowledge of the workfield'
TYPICAL DAY OF A SAVONIAN TRANSPORTS
SAVOTTA CAFÉ
THE COURSES
SCHOOL RESTAURANT ANTELL
€
OPUS LIBRARY
REPPU / MOODLE
€
SYKETTA
€
CHILLING
ESN KISA
#SavoniaUAS
https://www.savonia.fi
Studying on campus
Monday, 11 April 2022
In our campus on the second floor you can find a lot of space for selfstudy. An egg-chair in which you can "isolate" yourself from others and not hear distracting noise; Smart boxes with televisions for teamwork; Comfortable and soft armchairs and sofas, tables with charger ports. There is cafe-bar Savotta and new wine room downstairs. Grab a coffee or a glass of wine while studying! Students enjoy using this place. You can always meet friends there and spend your time with a pleasure.
Microkatu Campus Scan the QR code on the top of this page and have a virtual walk in our Campus. Meet all the new facilities and places here!
Natalia Romanova