SYKETTÄ – Wellbeing for the Kuopio University Community
SYKETTÄ – Kuopio University Sports offers a comprehensive range of sports services for students and staff of Savonia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus. Students from the University of the Arts in Kuopio can also access these services.
We began operations in Kuopio at the start of 2014 and expanded to Joensuu in early 2015, thanks to project funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture’s grant for physical activities promoting adult health. The universities support the wellbeing of their communities through funding allocated to sports services.
Kuopio University Sports reaches over 11,500 members of the higher education community, with approximately 2,800 active users of SYKETTÄ services in spring 2019.
Our Goal: An Active, Social, and Wellbeing-Focused University Community
The organization of sports services follows these principles:
- A diverse range of sports activities, with options for all types of participants.
- Accessible, affordable sports services that are easy to approach.
- A user-centered approach that evolves based on feedback received.
Guided by Campus-Specific Management Teams
The organization and oversight of university sports are directed by campus-specific management teams. Their responsibilities include:
- Overseeing and guiding the provision of sports services
- Approving the operational plan and budget, as well as monitoring their implementation
- Evaluating services based on regularly collected feedback and making decisions on improvements
- Monitoring the implementation of university sports recommendations
Management Team Members 2024
- Tuija Pasanen, University of Eastern Finland, Chair
- Anne Kauppinen, University of Eastern Finland
- Pirjo Venhovaara, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Mari Tuppurainen, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Mirka Nieminen, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
- Helena Kansanen, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
- Jari Smolander, Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Henri Heininen, Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Tiitta Raatikainen, Sports Planner, Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Sirpa Risto, Sports Planner, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
- Jenni Löppönen, Sports Secretary, Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences
Management Team Members 2023
- Tuija Pasanen, University of Eastern Finland, Chair
- Anne Kauppinen, University of Eastern Finland
- Pirjo Venhovaara, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Mari Tuppurainen, Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Eetu Hyvönen, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
- Helena Kansanen, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
- Sonja Komonen, Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Jari Smolander, Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences
- Tiitta Paajanen, Sports Planner, SYKETTÄ Sports Services
- Sirpa Risto, Sports Planner, SYKETTÄ Sports Services
- Jenni Löppönen, Sports Secretary, SYKETTÄ Sports Services
Honors and Awards
YTHS Honorary Mention 2021
The Find a Workout Buddy project received an honorary mention for student collaboration by YTHS (Finnish Student Health Service). The idea behind the project was to create a space on the Discord app where students could find workout partners and where sports services could share information about physical activity events. The project’s community involvement was exceptional, as it was carried out in collaboration with local university sports services and the Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences (SAVOTTA). This model is easily transferable to other locations and student communities.
You can visit the SYKETTÄ Kuopio Find a Workout Buddy page here.
YTHS Priority Project 2018 Honorary Mention
The Kaverikahvila (Buddy Café), created and launched by the YTHS Kuopio health working group, received the YTHS Priority Project 2018 honorary mention.
Kaverikahvila is an informal, low-threshold gathering place offering expert presentations on themed evenings and discussions on topics relevant to students. SYKETTÄ Kuopio has been involved in the initiative from the beginning.
The Kaverikahvila continues its activities to this day. For more information, click here.
Kuopio City Service Award 2017
The Kuopio City Service Award 2017 was awarded to SYKETTÄ – Kuopio University Sports in recognition of the high-quality organization of sports services aimed at students and staff.
OLL-MALJA 2014
The OLL-Malja is a traveling trophy donated by YTHS, awarded annually as a recognition for outstanding achievement in sports activities.
The inscription on the trophy reads:
“Liikkuen elämää vuosiin” (“Moving Life into the Years”).
The OLL-Malja is awarded to a member organization of the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) for their exceptional contributions to sports activities. Each year, the acronym of the awarded organization is engraved on the trophy. The OLL-Malja has been awarded since the 1970s.
In November 2014, the SYKETTÄ Savilahdella project received the OLL-Malja. This project was aimed at coordinating university sports services in Kuopio and was carried out in collaboration with the Student Union of Savonia University of Applied Sciences and the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). The award was presented to Saara Hanhela, the project planner for the SYKETTÄ Savilahdella project, and Olli-Pekka Sartanen, a representative of ISYY.