Jutut kategoriassa In English - Page 19 of 30

The Faculty of Humanities moves to new premises in August, the students and staff of educational studies at the end of the year

By the end of the year the faculties of Humanities and Education in the University of Oulu are no longer using the northern end of the Linnanmaa campus. The Faculty of Humanities is moving in August, and the Faculty of Education in December.

In English

TEKSTI Anni Hyypiö

KUVAT Anni Hyypiö

In Finnish.

In August, a great number of moving boxes will move on the Linnanmaa campus. The Faculty of Humanities is moving from the northern end of the campus to new renovated premises on the old side of the campus.

The Faculty started their move on the 1st of August, and the old premises must be emptied by mid-August.

The relocation affects both the students and the staff of the faculty. Together with the faculty, subject societies and the Humanities Guild, cafeteria Humus included, move to new premises.

New premises mean shared rooms

The new guild spaces will include three shared guild rooms and one common storage room.

One room will be shared by Gieku and Verba, one by Suma, Communica, and Index, and one by Tiima, Kultu, Timppa and Meteli. The new guild spaces will be accessible between 6 am and 10 pm without the 24/7 Campus Card, and also around the clock with the 24/7 Campus Card. The guild corridor will also include one locked exterior door.

The premises are bright: everything is clean and dazzling white. The change has been extensive – everything apart from the load-bearing structures and the exterior walls has been redone, says Jarmo Klytseroff, the account manager of Temotek.

“New surfaces on the floors, new windows, new ceilings, new roof, new doors. The metal doors are old.”

New guild rooms are meant to be shared. One room will serve two or more student organizations. — New guild rooms are built to be shared. One room will serve two or more student organizations.

The new premises of the faculty staff are located a few floors above, on the third floor.

The staff premises are divided into two lamellas, or in other words, corridors. The eastern lamella is now renovated on behalf of Temotek, and the other one was already renovated about two years ago. The faculty’s new workrooms are mainly shared between several individuals, and their sizes vary from twelve square feet to about forty square feet.

Like in the case of the guild spaces, the general impression consists of dazzling whiteness and brightness. According to Jarmo Klytseroff, the rooms will look very different after furnishing.

The premises in the third floor will host the teaching staff, management and the administration of the Faculty of Humanities. The study affair services of the Faculty of Humanities has moved to Opintokatu, to the premises of the former Student Center (KE1020).

Now the local services of the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Education and the Oulu Business School (HuTK-KTK-OyKKK-local service team) and the local services of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Technology (LuTK-TKK-service team) can be found there. Matters such as study certificates, transcripts, extension of study rights and academic year enrollment are taken care of in these service points.

Although chairs and tables will be placed on the corridor as well, the new Humus will contain less seats for customers than previously. Humus was open for the last time in its previous location on June 15th. — Although chairs and tables will be placed on the corridor as well, the new Humus cafe will have less seats for customers than previously. Humus was open for the last time in its previous location on June 15th.

No sounds, no odors permitted

Jarmo Klytseroff states that the worksite has been very challenging. When the renovations are conducted next to spaces that are continuously in use, disruptive sounds or odors should be avoided.

“Additionally, a lot of communication is required: weekly announcements have had to be constructed very carefully.”

But everything has gone well, and in schedule, even slightly ahead of schedule.

The renovated premises were handed over to the University Properties of Finland (SYK) on Wednesday, the 20th of June. Before the premises were handed over, final cleanings, electricity measurements and automation adjustments were conducted.

The representatives of humanist subject societies visited new premises on the 11th of June. Pictured: the Chair of the Board of the Student Union Kalle Parviainen, Outi Niemi, Heli Paaso-Rantala, Miriam Putula and Emilia Käsmä visiting the Humus cafe's new kitchen. — The representatives of humanist subject societies visited new premises on the 11th of June. Pictured: the Chair of the Board of the Student Union Kalle Parviainen, Outi Niemi, Heli Paaso-Rantala, Miriam Putula and Emilia Käsmä visiting the Humus cafe’s new kitchen.

The Faculty of Education will move in December

While the new premises of Faculty of Humanities are complete, the situation is different in the future premises of the Faculty of Education.

In June the renovations were three weeks behind schedule. The project will be completed on time, promises Timo Haverinen, the facilities engineer of the University of Oulu.

“The renovations are complete by the end of October.”

What has made staying in schedule difficult is the fact that the time between the planning of the renovations and starting the renovations has been very short.

“The time between the planning period and starting the renovations has been incredibly tight. When you are planning at the same time, the chance of any surprises increases”.

The students and staff of the Faculty of Education will be able to move to the new premises in the beginning of December. The old premises must be handed over to the University Properties of Finland (SYK) by mid-December. When the premises have been emptied, SYK will start the arrangements for the University of Applied Science’s move to the northern end of the campus.

Changes in restaurants ahead

The future move of the Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oulu UAS) will have an effect on restaurants on the Linnanmaa campus. As the number of customers grows by thousands in the future, more restaurant spaces are required. This means that Foodoo and Mara, restaurants located in the northern end of the campus, will be renovated.

Foodoo will be renovated this year and Mara and the first floor of the zoological museum will be renovated during the Oulu UAS’ moving renovations between 2019 and 2020. The renovations will add over 600 customer seats to Foodoo and around 300 customer seats to Mara.

Foodoo and Mara will close their doors due to the renovations in two phases. The restaurant Foodoo, located opposite the zoological museum, closed its doors around Wappu, and the renovation of its kitchen is currently ongoing. The basic renovation of the restaurant will be completed in spring 2019. Before that, the customers on the campus are served by a temporary kitchen on the first floor of the zoological museum. The museum’s exhibition area will also be furnished as a temporary restaurant hall.

The temporary kitchen in the zoological museum will open its doors in the beginning of the autumn semester, on the 3rd of September.

Mara will close its doors as Foodoo is opened. The renovations for the new premises of the Oulu UAS will begin in phases around the northern end of the campus, starting this September.

Oulu University of Applied Science will move to Linnanmaa in autumn 2020. After the move, over 20 000 people will study and work on the shared campus.

Translation: Joonas Pelttari.

Julkaistu 2.8.20181.2.2023

Anni Hyypiö

Oulun ylioppilaslehden entinen päätoimittaja. Twitter: @AnniHyypio

Lue lisää:

Hi, 5 interesting facts about Finnish sauna

Few things are as characteristic of Finland as the sauna. For thousands of years, sauna has been of great importance to the Finnish folk. It is said that the first thing to build when Finns were moving was the sauna. Thus, it is no secret that sauna holds a special place in their hearts. Whether you are a Finn or a foreigner, here are five interesting facts that will make you appreciate Finnish sauna.

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

There is one sauna per household or half-a-sauna per person

A home without a sauna is not a home, or so they say. In Finland, there were more than 2 million saunas by the end of 2017. Finland has about 5.5 million inhabitants, which translated to a bit less than half-a-sauna per person. This number is just an approximation, so the actual number of saunas could be much larger. This also means that it’s closer to one sauna per household, given that there were about 2.6 million households by the end of 2017.

(Sources: Finland.fi, Stat.fi, visitfinland.com)

Word ‘sauna’ is Finnish in origin

It is believed that the modern word ‘sauna’ comes from the proto-Finnic ‘sakna’ which itself was derived from the proto-Germanic ‘stakna’, a forefather of the English word ‘stack’. Additionally, there is a proto-Sami word ‘suovńē‘ which means pit in the snow. It is believed that the first saunas were what we today call smoke saunas (Fin. savusauna), originally used for protection from winter. These saunas were actually pits dug into a slope where a fireplace equipped with stones would heat them up to increase the temperature of the dwelling.

After the industrial revolution, the saunas developed to include a metal stove and a chimney. The first electric sauna stove was introduced in 1938 in Vaasa. Nowadays, there are several types of saunas commonly used in Finland: the aforementioned savusauna, the wood-stove sauna, the electric sauna, and even the mobile sauna. Mobile saunas are equipped with wheels for transportation, and some of them are floating saunas instead.

(Sources: Kallio (2008), Häkkinen (2004), Itkonen (2000), Kotimaisten kielten keskus, Suomen Saunaseuraa, Suomen Saunaseurab, A-Sauna, Iltalehti, Saunaregion.fi, Metos, Visitfinland.com)

Sauna is the poor man’s pharmacy

As the old Finnish saying (roughly translated) goes: if booze, tar, and sauna do not help, you are probably going to die. Anything from the flu to arthritis and back pain was believed to be curable by the panacea which is the sauna. This is not completely false, as the warm steam could actually relief joint pain and have positive effects on your flu and sinuses.

Nevertheless, this is not a cure, but more of a short-term treatment. Naturally, we have modern medicine which can help us with our ailments. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose one over the other, you can combine sauna and medicine to your best benefit. Just remember to stay hydrated and consult your doctor if you have a heart condition before you go to sauna.

In the past, mothers gave birth in sauna to make sure the baby and the mother made it out alive. This was due to sauna being practically the cleanest place in the house, and thus the most sterile environment. To this day, there are apparently still people alive who were born in saunas. However, nowadays it’s just better to give birth in a hospital where proper care measures can be taken for both the mom and the baby.

(Sources: Culture Trip, Helsinki Times)

It’s okay to wear a swimming suit

If you’re a foreigner and have not been in Finnish sauna before, you might be confounded at the idea of being in an enclosed space, sweating with strangers in the nude. That’s perfectly normal, it takes some getting used to depending on your personality and upbringing. In the meantime, you can opt to use a bathing suit if it makes you feel more comfortable.

And fear not: Finns are very accommodating when it comes to sauna and they understand that people from different countries might be uncomfortable undressing in front of strangers. The worst thing that could happen is that you give yourself away as non-Finn, which might actually pique the interest of your peers and cause them to ask you about your background. You might be surprised by how open and talkative Finns can be in sauna.

Naturally, when you find yourself in a mixed sauna, where both men and women are allowed, it is possible that even some Finns will prefer to wear some cover. That is why there are normally turns for women and men in sauna. In families, the whole family might go together, or they might also take turns, especially if the sauna is not very large.

The Sauna Elf

In ancient times, the sauna elf (Fin. saunatonttu) was believed to live in the sauna. This elf was not an invader, but a friendly helper who took care of the family and warned them of impending danger. This, however, came at a cost, as the elf would have to be treated with respect and you even had to ask permission from the elf to enter the sauna. This also meant warming up the sauna sometimes just for the elf and occasionally leaving food outside for the elf to eat.

The sauna elf could also be angered by misbehavior, such as drinking too much, mistreating your animals, or just being a bad person. The elf would then show you its anger by making noises, throwing things, and jinxing you so your hunt went wrong. In worst case scenario, the elf could kill the person. Fortunately, as there have not been any murders by sauna elf, we must be doing something right.

(Sources: Finnish Myth)

Julkaistu 20.6.20181.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

Lue lisää:

Hi, 5 great Finnish festivals to visit during the summer

Summer is right around the corner. Not only have we survived the wet autumn, but also the long and harsh winter. Finally, it is time to be outside and enjoy the sun. But the sun is just the beginning. In Finland, summer is a truly magical season and it needs to be experienced to the max. There are few better ways to accomplish this than to visit some of the amazing festivals that Finland has to offer.

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

Ruisrock (July 6-8)

Perhaps one of the best rock festivals in Europe, Ruisrock takes places at the Ruissalo island in Turku. Big Finnish names like Cheek and Sanni will be present, as well as internationally renowned group N.E.R.D. Ruisrock offers popular music for all tastes, as well as art exhibits and performances.

Nummirock (June 20-23)

If you’re into metal music, Nummirock is the place for you. Taking place at the Nummijärvi lake in Kauhajoki (near Seinäjoki), this legendary festival is not only a pleasant music experience, but also a great chance to camp and chill with your friends. Finnish and international bands play at several stages, so there is enough variety for all types of metal enjoyment. At the place, there is space to park your car and place your tents. There are day tickets, as well as 2- and 4-day tickets.

Pori Jazz (July 14-22)

If jazz is more your thing, you can enjoy the tunes of the great Pori Jazz festival, which will not only include talented jazz artists, but also popular artists like Alanis Morissette and James Blunt. This festival has been taking please since 1966, and its audience has grown considerably over the years. Check out the program and artist line-up at porijazz.fi.

Midnight Sun Film Festival (June 13-17)

Music is not the only thing you can enjoy in Finnish festivals. If you’re a fan of cinematography, the Midnight Sun Film Festival is for you. Founded in 1986 by the Finnish Kaurismäki brothers, the festival takes place about 120 kilometers above the Arctic Circle in Sodankylä. There will be films being shown in 4 venues all day and all night. You will find all information at the Midnight Sun Film Festival website.

Tampere Theatre Festival (August 6–12)

Many people don’t think of theatre when it comes to festivals. However, this festival promises to blow your mind with all types of theatrical performances, ranging from classical to contemporary, from drama to circus. Taking place in the beautiful city of Tampere, the Tampere Theatre Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary, so you can expect a particularly enticing programme.

If none of these festivals tickle your fancy, you can always check festivals.fi for a large list of all types of festivals in Finland.

Julkaistu 1.6.20181.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

Lue lisää:

Vulcanalia moves indoors – this year’s event is set to take place at the Areena Oulu

Vulcanalia is moving again. Last year, the party was held at the Linnanmaa campus on the 2T parking lot, before that, in Ouluhalli.

In English Yleinen

TEKSTI Anni Hyypiö

KUVAT Anni Hyypiö

In Finnish.

Vulcanalia, organized by the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY), marks the beginning of a new academic year.

This year’s event will be held on Wednesday the 12th of September at the Areena Oulu in Limingantulli. It’s yet another new venue for Vulcanalia: last year, the party took place in 2T parking lot in Linnanmaa campus, year before that in Ouluhalli.

While the location of the Vulcanalia’s evening party may be changing, the traditional Student Fair will remain on the Linnanmaa campus and will be open from 10 am to 2 pm on the same day.

Asta Salomaa, Event producer and Community Specialist of OYY, says that the transition to the Areena was the decision of the OYY’s Student Council.

“Organizing Vulcanalia indoors also facilitates the use of human resources, as there has been a lot of work on the construction of the venue and licensing issues. Now there is less bureaucracy and construction work.”

According to Salomaa, Areena also offers a better user experience: “It is a huge space with good light and sound technology.”

AREENA ONLY HAS THE CAPACITY TO HOST 2000

Moving the event indoors means that the number of visitors will be lower than last year. Areena only holds up to 2,000 people, whereas last year about 2,500 tickets were sold for the event.

Salomaa can’t say for sure how much Vulcanalia’s entrance tickets will cost. “I’d say that the ticket will cost roughly the same as last year.” In previous years, the presale ticket cost three euros, while those who bought their ticket at the door paid five euros.

Last year, Vulcanalia was held in Linnanmaa for the first time. According to Salomaa, the 2T parking lot received good feedback from guests. Even though lighting the space caused problems, the parking lot was felt to be at the heart of everything, close to the students.

“The parking lot was a surprisingly functional venue,” Salomaa explains.

Last year, the event was co-organized by the University of Oulu.

Salomaa says she would like this partnership to continue. “We haven’t reached a cooperation agreement for this year yet, but we would certainly like to continue the cooperation that has just begun last year.”

This year, Vulcanalia will be held a week later than the previous year. Salomaa gives two reasons for this. Firstly, a five-day UArctic 2018 conference will be held at the University of Oulu during the first week of September.

Another reason is to give students more time to buy tickets.

“Last year, classes began on Monday and Vulcanalia was on Wednesday of the same week.”

WHO WILL STAND ON THE AREENA STAGE?

Last year, Vulcanalia’s main performers were Musta Barbaari (James Nikander) and Prinssi Jusuf (Iyouseyas Belayneh). This year’s performers will be announced in August.

“September is a really difficult time to get artists, because everyone is on holiday after the summer festivals”, Salomaa says.

Last year, there was a persistent rumor on Jodel that the main performer of the evening would be Tommi Läntinen, Finnish singer known for hits Kevät ja minä and Via Dolorosa.

So I have to ask: Asta Salomaa, will Tommi Läntinen be performing at Vulcanalia this year?

“If it were up to me, yes! [laughs] but no, the board of OYY decides.”

The first Vulcanalia was held in front of the restaurant Rauhala in 1995. The venue remained the same until 2003, when Vulcanalia moved to Kuusisaari. In 2012, the celebration moved from Kuusisaari to Toppila.

Finnish version originally published in 27th of March. Translation: Mariah O’Mara.

Julkaistu 22.5.20181.2.2023

Anni Hyypiö

Oulun ylioppilaslehden entinen päätoimittaja. Twitter: @AnniHyypio

Lue lisää:

Hi, 5 tips on how to stop procrastinating and finish your degree

We have all been there: there is an important task at hand and we do everything in our power to avoid it by doing literally anything else. This is known as procrastination. This behavior can be especially troublesome when we are struggling to finish that pesky degree. Hopefully these tips will help you along the way.

In English

TEKSTI Marcelo Goldmann

KUVAT Marko Heikkinen

Make a list

Start by making a list of all the things that you need to finish your degree. List the courses you need to complete, how many other ECTS you have to obtain, and your thesis. Next step is setting up priorities to each entry on your list. Mark with ‘A’ the entries that are important and urgent, mark with ‘B’ those that are urgent but not that important, mark ‘C’ those that are important but not urgent, and finally ‘D’ for those things that can still wait. This is a way to prioritize your time and effort. First do the A’s then the B’s and so on.

If the priority of any of the items on your list changes, be sure to update it. And once you have completed a task, make sure to scratch it out. This will give you a sense of accomplishment which will make you feel good about your progress.

Set reasonable goals

Let’s be realistic: You are not going to write 10 pages of your thesis every day, so making unreasonable goals will be detrimental to your progress. Instead, keep achievable goals that you are sure can be completed at your normal pace. Extra tip: Put them on a list so you can visualize them.

Carrot and stick

Carrot and stick refers to using reward and punishment as motivators. In this case, I recommend you only use the carrot (the reward). Give yourself rewards for your progress. If you write several pages of your thesis, reward yourself with your favourite TV show or a nice walk outside. Maybe there’s a pair of running shoes you really want, with which you could reward yourself if you get really good grades during an academic year.

Put down the phone

I know, I know. The internet will explode if you are not there sharing the latest meme and liking that cute picture of a kitten doing a backflip. However, neither of those things will help you finish your degree. Treat your degree like you would your boyfriend or girlfriend: give them your undivided attention when you are with them.

I’m not saying that you should quit social media cold turkey. However, when you are studying or writing your thesis, you could try to keep the social media distraction away and save it for break times.

Do it for you

You should be your own number one fan and be compassionate with yourself but also somewhat strict. What would you do if you had a friend who you cared about very much and they were struggling to finish their degree? You would likely want to motivate them and tell them that you know they are capable of doing it. Do that for yourself.

Instead of thinking that you won’t make it or won’t make it on time, tell yourself (out loud or in your mind) that you can do it, that you are capable, and that you will finish your degree.

Julkaistu 15.5.20181.2.2023

Marcelo Goldmann

A Doctor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Oulu. "Life is like a rubber duckie, you gotta keep it afloat to see its splendor." Instagram: @marcelogman

Lue lisää:

Party in a bus and Club 16 – Is there Wappu for international students?

If Wappu would be an exam you’d get full points just for showing up. Then how come international students are a rare sight at Oulu’s Wappu parties?

In English

TEKSTI Marko Heikkinen

KUVAT Anni Hyypiö

International students might have noticed how the atmosphere at University starts to feel more relaxed at the end of April. Finnish academics wear their student overalls in the open and they might even crack a smile or engage in small talk. This unusual behaviour is nothing to be worried about though.

It’s just Wappu.

For Finns, Wappu is an integral part of student life. Traditionally Vappu is celebrated on May Day with a hint of politics, as people march on the streets and hold public speeches. Student Wappu is a whole different kind of creature with over two weeks of varying events and mischievous behaviour.

In Oulu the students can have a party in a bus, attend to a event where students of Humanities use a huge crane to put a hat on the statue of Frans Mikael Franzén or just be outside and enjoy the occasionally smiling Finnish spring sun and the company of their fellow Wappu-goers.

For any weird social conduct you might see during these weeks it’s good to remember that ten or so years back your professor might have been the one who tried to open a wine bottle with a toothbrush before bursting into an emotional song about bourgeoise.

Although it might seem like it’s from a different planet, not all international students find Finnish Wappu alien.

Mihaela Ivanova is a international Master’s student in Education and Globalization. Currently, she works at Erasmus Student Network that provides opportunities for cultural exchange for international students.

”This is going to be my second Wappu”, she says. ”I was queuing for Wesibussi overnight. Other than that, I want to attend day events like Teekkaritalo barbeque.”

Oulun ylioppilaslehti 2018. — Mihaela Ivanova is a big fan of Wappu. “I would encourage everyone to try Wappusitsit. Even if you don’t know Finnish the songs are easy to read and sing.”

Originally from Bulgaria, Ivanova has lived two years in Finland, and before that, she did an exchange two years ago.

The best part of Finland? How inclusive the country feels for international students.

”I haven’t had a situation that I didn’t feel welcome at Wappu celebration”, she says.

Is Wappu a closed event?

Although Ivanova finds Finnish Wappu inclusive, happy and special, it can be confusing to international students. The lack of information doesn’t exactly help the situation.

As the recent ISB survey reveals, students are dependent on the information their kummi tutors share. The problem is, the quality of kummi students vary a lot, and not all of them are active in the student life.

”When international students see the Wesibussi line at the campus, they are asking, why is it so serious?”

Ivanova thinks it’s a big problem that the largest and the most important events of Wappu are not advertised.

Organizers think that because their events will be sold out anyway, the extra effort isn’t worth it. Word of mouth will do.

”Wappu is such a Finnish thing so very often all the information is in Finnish”, Ivanova says.

Finnish students might think everybody knows when tech student freshmen jump in the icy river and when it’s appropriate to make a toast in public while wearing overalls, but it’s not as easy to understand for international students who are not used to two weeks of Wappu.

When the knowledge of biggest events is taken for granted, the events become invisible.

”I haven’t seen any advertisements for Wesibussi. Maybe that’s why I and my flatmate were the only international students queuing overnight”, Ivanova says.

What’s this tippaleipä?

The lack of knowledge and the feeling of being left outside gives birth to a shadow Wappu. International students prefer their own unofficial parties where there’s no entrance fee, no cloakroom, and the students can bring their own alcohol. Cheap and cosy.

Some of those secret events have been hosted at legendary Club 16, the nickname for the student parties held in Yliopistokatu 16.

”Years ago Club 16 was really crazy but now I think the parties have shifted towards Tirolintie”, Ivanova says.

Although Ivanova has an active and positive attitude towards Finnish Wappu, she tells her fellow international students are not so impressed. They are left alone to solve this complicated puzzle of marching Wappu people and the sugary pastry that looks like dried up tentacles, tippaleipä.

The lack of interest shows it clearly: Finns are really good at Wappu but they don’t speak about it enough.

Julkaistu 30.4.20181.2.2023

Marko Heikkinen

Äärimmäisen vakava kirjallisuuden pääaineopiskelija, joka kutsuu itseään "muoti & lifestyle" -toimittajaksi.