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About us
Tombolo ry is the student organization looking after the interests of UEF students of geography, human geography, environmental policy and urban sustainability in Joensuu. The association was founded in 2015, combining the previously separate geography and environmental policy associations. In public we can be recognized by our bright green student overalls and our legendary signature penguin mascot Pingu.
In addition to looking after our members’ interest we organize various events and activities. To achieve these purposes, the association organizes various discussion and leisure events, provides information, and maintains good communications with the university, its own faculty and department, the student union, and other student communities.
There is a WhatsApp group for all international students studying geography, environmental policy or urban sustainability. If you wish to join, send an email to our international coordinator Heini (heinihuo@uef.fi). We would love to hear from you!
JOIN AS A MEMBER (degree students)
All students enrolled for a degree in geography or environmental policy at the University of Eastern Finland are eligible to join Tombolo ry as a full member. When joining, you must accept the purpose and rules of the organization. These can be found under ”Säännöt” -heading and translated according to the instructions above. The translation is not legally binding as the Finnish version is, but can be studied for guidelines. If there are questions about the rules, you can email the association board/secretary at tombolo@uef.fi.
To become a full member of Tombolo ry, you can join in the Kide.app application by paying a membership fee of 25 euros. The membership fee is a one-time payment. It is recommended that you join as a full member at the beginning of your studies. As a registered member you are entitled to participate in Tombolo’s events and activities that are organized with the funds of the Tombolo ry student organization.
The membership is only meant for active students in these degree programs, so in accordance with the rules of Tombolo ry, a member of the association is expelled from the organisation when the member’s right to study at the University of Eastern Finland ends. Typically these bachelors + masters degree studies stretch over five years, so members either inform the board of their graduation and are expelled, or are assumed graduated and expelled at the end of the sixth calendar year from the first academic year of the studies.
If your studies continue for more than six years your membership may be continued. If your studies end before six years, your membership needs to be terminated. In these cases, please inform the secretary: tombolo@uef.fi.
exchange students and Tombolo Events
We offer an exchange student membership. As an exchange student member all our events are open to you! We do not collect membership fees from exchange students studying at our department, so please register as an exchange student for free in Kide.app. Our annual events include a fall hiking trip, a Halloween party and traditional Finnish student events (such as ”sitsit”) among others. Follow us on Instagram to stay up-to-date on our future events!
Other information
You might also be interested in the group European Geography Association (EGEA) Joensuu. EGEA is an Europe-wide association for geography students and young geographers. Their Joensuu entity’s annual events include a Finnish Evening with going to sauna and familiarizing yourself with traditional Finnish cuisine, plus many other activities. To stay up-to-date on their events, feel free to follow them on Instagram.
(Updated on 15.9.2025)