Student Union POKA of Karelia University of Applied Sciences is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year! To mark the occasion, an anniversary gala will be held on Saturday, 17 October 2026 at 5 PM at Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel, Sirkkala Ballroom.

The gala menu has now been published. The evening will include a gala dinner, speeches, awards, singing together, surprise entertainment and relaxed time together. The evening continues at Kimmel’s Las Palmas with a live performance by Dilemma. The gala ticket also includes a herring breakfast on Sunday, 18 October at Suvas.
The anniversary gala is not an annual event – POKA’s previous anniversary gala was held 10 years ago. This is a special opportunity to come together and celebrate POKA’s 20-year journey!

Gala details
Date: Sat 17 October 2026 at 5 PM
Location: Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel, Sirkkala Hall
Dress code: dark suit / formal dress
Registration and tickets: https://kide.app/events/271666a1-c576-4b70-ac0e-4fdece2d986b
Registration and ticket deadline: by 28 September 2026 at 12 PM

Join POKA and enter a raffle
Join POKA by 30 September 2026 and enter a raffle to win a hotel gift card or a ticket to POKA’s 20th Anniversary Gala. In addition, smaller prizes will be raffled among those who join between 15 and 30 September 2026.

As a POKA member, you get discounted tickets to POKA’s paid events, including the 20th Anniversary Gala, thousands of student discounts through Slice, access to free member events and the opportunity to participate in member raffles. Members also have access to free equipment and item rental service. By becoming a member, you support POKA’s work for student wellbeing, community and advocacy.

Membership costs 35 € per academic year or 25 € per semester. For first-year students, membership costs 75 € for the entire period of study. Join POKA by 30 September and enter the raffle – and register for the 20th Anniversary Gala by 28 September!

*Pathway students can join POKA, but Kela, VR and Matkahuolto student benefits are not available to them.