Degree Programme in Service Management

Degree: Bachelor of Hospitality Management
Extent: 210 ECTS credits, 3.5 years
First-preference applicants/intake 2011: 183/49
Intake 2012: 49

In the Degree Programme in Service Management, you acquire skills for the production of customer-oriented consumer, catering or facility management services. You will also learn to manage service and production processes and develop services in an international environment. In addition, you will focus on entrepreneurship and responsible service business.

Content of Studies

All the students of the degree programme undertake studies in communication and management. You will also learn to manage and develop the service systems of the field.
In your professional studies you can focus on:

• catering services
• consumer services
• facility services

In the studies of consumer services you will focus on the production and development services in such a way that you understand the needs of the consumer, the functions of the market and societal control in consumer issues.

In the studies of catering services you will learn about the management and development of various catering services.

In the studies of facility services you will learn about the planning, management and development of facility management.

You can build your degree based on your personal selections from our extensive provision.

Implementation of Studies

The studies include lectures, learning tasks, exams, group assignments and online studies. You will also work at the School’s service facilities in the lobby, meeting and restaurant services. During your studies you will create networks and important business contacts in the field by participating in the working life projects organized by the School’s Mara Business Clinic. You can participate in, for example, customer satisfaction surveys of various companies, the development of catering products or the development of facility services in a hotel.

The practical training included in the programme can be completed in two parts. During the first part you will become acquainted with the operations of a company of the field. During the second practical period you will learn about the expert and management duties in a business company or an organization. Your thesis will be commissioned by a company.

You can also participate in our international exchange programme either by doing practical or theoretical studies in one of our partner institutions of which there are ca. 30 in Europe and Asia.

Eligibility Criteria

Genuine interest in services and their development in multicultural working contexts is a prerequisite for studying in the Degree Programme in Tourism. Furthermore, the studies require interest in the development of one’s business skills and willingness to adjust to alternating working hours in constantly changing environments.

Employment Prospects

After your graduation from the Degree Programme in Hospitality Management, you can find work in a great variety of planning, development and management duties of the service field, depending on what kind of studies you have included in your degree.

If your focus has been on consumer services, you can work in consultant, information or expert duties in retail trade, in different organizations, banks or other service organizations.
With your specialization in catering services, you can perform management duties in catering companies either in the public or the private sector.

If you have chosen facility services as the focus of your studies, you can produce, plan and develop lobby, maintenance, security, environmental and cleaning services in, for example, hotels, malls, spas and hospitals.

The professional titles of the graduates of the degree programme can be, for example, shift supervisor, facility manager, customer service manager, restaurant manager, service consultant or entrepreneur.

The graduates of the degree programme have managed to find work fairly well. 72 per cent of the graduates had a job at the time of their graduation in 2007.

Admission Criteria and Applying

You can apply for admission if you have completed general upper secondary education, the matriculation examination or if you have a vocational qualification. If you will graduate during the spring in which you are submitting your application, please refer to your latest school certificate in your application.

The application period is in the spring. Further information on applying and on the admission criteria is available in the Applicant's Guides and in the Admissions Office.

Eligibility for Further Studies

After your graduation as a Bachelor of Hospitality Management you can continue your studies at a university of applied sciences. With three years of work experience you can apply for admission to a Master’s programme of the field. You can undertake professional specialization studies or continuing education that can be taken in addition to your regular work. If you are planning the career of a teacher, you can apply to the Teacher Education College.

Those with a Master’s degree in Hospitality Management taken at a university of applied sciences are eligible for university postgraduate studies. The university in question will decide separately in each case on the admission criteria.

Further Information

Minna-Maaria Hiekkataipale, Head of Department, +358 40 069 8174
Tiina Hartikainen, Office Secretary, +358 40 869 0643
firstame.lastname@jamk.fi
JAMK, School of Business and Services Management

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