Bachelor's Degree Programme in Service Business
Key learning outcomes
At the core of the service business degree programme are future services, sustainable business competence, and customer-oriented development in the catering sector. The degree programme promotes the UN's sustainable development objectives and operating models in line with them as part of competitive service business in the catering sector.
A Bachelor of Hospitality Management graduate is able to develop the quality of catering services and, manage sustainable and profitable business in the field. As managers, Bachelors of Hospitality Management guide multicultural work communities sustainably both in Finland and abroad. At the centre of the education are the development of new services by listening to the customer, using creativity and new ideas.
Education content and professional growth and know-how
As a student, you are an active learner and develop your transferable skills as part of your vocational studies. Your expertise and competence also develop from basic competence to more in-depth professional competence. In advanced studies, you will focus on the conceptualisation of services, digitalisation as part of the development of services, and the latest research in the field. Towards the end of the studies, you will write a thesis based on your interest and career plan.
Working life skills and working life networks are gradually built on an annual basis. The working life path is presented to you at the beginning of your studies so that you can make a career plan accordingly. Working life connections are an important tool for learning throughout the degree programme and as part of almost all courses.
The competence areas of the service business degree programme are divided into sustainable gastronomy, sustainable service business, and management of food and restaurant services together with common basic competences.
At the beginning of your studies, you will prepare a personal learning plan (PLP) and discuss your career goals with your tutor teacher. Career guidance supports you in building a personal career path throughout your studies.
Flexible studies
The day studies take place on campus. Blended learning can be completed independently of time and place as online studies. At the beginning of the training, the recognition of prior learning will be carried out under the direction of a tutor teacher and the possibilities of studification of work will be assessed. It is possible to use your workplace as a learning environment.
The degree can include studies from 'online offerings’ of other universities of applied sciences (CampusOnline offerings), an international exchange higher education institution or another Finnish higher education institution in the field, and they can be used to substitute courses included in the degree. You may also choose alternative or elective studies from EduFutura partner institutions (University of Jyväskylä and Gradia).
Working life oriented learning
Working life-orientated learning is included throughout the UAS studies such as practical training promoting professional skills, the thesis and various working life projects. At JAMK, the operating model for working life-orientated and student-orientated learning is JAMK Future Factory®. It brings together business actors, students, JAMK specialists and working life-orientated LAB and other learning environments. In addition to transdisciplinary and working life-oriented project studies, it offers you the opportunity to develop your future working life skills, career paths and working life networks.
Studification of work is also an opportunity for working life-orientated learning, which means combining work, project studies, Future Factory or similar activity with studies. As agreed with the teacher, you will draw up and document a plan for studification.
Career opportunities and employment
Bachelors of Hospitality Management are employed in the sector very well. The field of Bachelor of Hospitality Management is extensive, and the field of service business offers all graduating Bachelors of Hospitality Management individual career opportunities. The most common jobs within catering services are shift supervisor, restaurant manager, service manager or sales tasks. New job descriptions are constantly being created in the field, and especially digital competence combined with an understanding of service attitude guarantee the graduating Bachelor of Hospitality Management good opportunities for career advancement. Problem-solving skills will be important in the future, and efforts will be made to practise them in a multidisciplinary manner from the beginning of the studies.
Qualifications
There are no specific degree-related or statutory qualification requirements in the field.
Further studies
Students may, after graduation and a working career of at least two years, apply for studies leading up to a master’s degree. Studies can also be continued by applying for a university master’s degree programme or similar programmes as well as professional teacher education. After a bachelor’s degree from a university of applied sciences, it is also possible to continue studies at higher education institutes abroad on master’s degree level programmes. A university of applied sciences also provides opportunities for continuing education in the form of specialisation studies, open studies, an online study portal (CampusOnline) and working life based continuing education.
A student who completes a master’s degree at a university of applied sciences may apply to continue on to postgraduate studies in science or arts at universities (Act 558/2009, Section 37).
The bachelor of hospitality management degree allows you to apply to graduate studies for a master's degree of hospitality management after two years of work experience. At the University of Helsinki, the degree directly qualifies the application of the master's stage for food sciences programs.
Education planning
Education is developed in active dialogue with the industry and students. The curriculum is reviewed annually, and it is considered a flexible tool for workplace development, producing the most relevant competence in the field.
Contact Information
Väisänen Karoliina
Senior Lecturer, Tourism and Service Business
+358408656879
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi