Master’s Degree Programme in Tourism and Hospitality Management

Key learning outcomes

The degree programme develops leadership competence in hospitality management, emphasising leadership and strategic thinking. Masters of Hospitality Management who have graduated from the Degree Programme in Tourism and Hospitality Management are capable of developing and managing future services in a responsible and profitable manner in an international and digital operating environment. They are capable of applying research knowledge in their area of expertise (e.g. tourism services, catering services, facility services, consumer services or other service business) and anticipating changes in their field of expertise and in working life.

Education content and professional growth and know-how

The competence produced by the Degree Programme in Tourism and Hospitality Management consist of the Shared Master Competence (20 cr), Expert Core Competence (50 cr) and Complementary Competence (15 cr). The Shared Master Competence comprises the Research and Development module (15 cr) and the Management module (10 cr). The Expert Core Competence includes the Service Business Management module (20 cr) and the master's thesis (30 cr). The Complementary Competence module (15 cr) will broaden and deepen the competence.

Flexible studies

The studies are flexibly implemented in the form of part-time studies that are mainly offered online, so studies can be successfully pursued irrespective of where you live or work. Competence-based study modules enable individual study paths and support the development of competence in accordance with the student’s personal plan and career development. Guidance and support services support the student during their studies with the aim of maintaining and strengthening their well-being.

The degree provides insight on how to utilise digital and interactive tools and social media. Online studies include, among other things, online discussions with your group or instructor, returning of assignments and reports to the virtual learning environment, video lectures, independent studying of the source material and participation in a webinar, for example. Online learning is suitable for self-directed students who are interested in developing their own competence. The wishes of the student group are taken into account in the implementation methods. Additionally, student groups will meet in web-based learning environments or may also independently agree on meetings if they so wish and, at their own choice, also participate in study trips subject to a separate fee.

Students have a choice of alternative or elective studies offered by partner universities in Finland and abroad, such as other universities of applied sciences (CampusOnline), universities and educational institutions involved in the EduJyväskylä collaboration (University of Jyväskylä and Gradia). The studies have been planned in such a way that they can be completed all year round by e.g. making use of the Summer School and CampusOnline course offerings and by writing the master’s thesis. The degree programme includes courses that are exclusively taught in English, and the courses involve the use of international English-language study material. Studies can be completed in our international partner institutions through student exchange, for example, or by taking a study trip of 1 to 2 weeks or participating in intensive courses arranged by JAMK. Flexibility and internationalisation are also offered in the form of Summer School course offerings in Jyväskylä.

The accreditation of existing competence and previously completed studies as part of the degree add flexibility to the studies (Degree Regulations, Section 17). At JAMK University of Applied Sciences, the recognition of prior learning is divided into accreditation of higher education studies (replacement and inclusion), identification and recognition of competence otherwise acquired, and studification at work and in project or voluntary activities. By accrediting university-level studies completed elsewhere, the student can replace entire modules or individual courses in their degree programme or include them as part of their degree. The student must have a certificate or some other document to prove that they have completed the studies. Skills acquired elsewhere can also be described and demonstrated to enable accreditation. The studies completed elsewhere must of the EQF 7 level. Further information is available in the Study Guide.

Working life oriented learning

The studies can be fully linked to the development of the student’s own work and organisation and/or completed by participating in RDI projects at JAMK. During the courses and in their thesis, the student will develop their own competence and work duties, organisation and working life. A working life development project will be implemented as part of nearly every course. A master’s degree student group, which consists of experts from different fields from different geographical areas, supports collaborative learning.

The degree enables the development of own entrepreneurship during individual courses, as part of the master’s thesis, and through the career and entrepreneurial studies at JAMK and the Startup Factory.

Career opportunities and employment

The students who have graduated from the degree programme work in challenging supervisory or expert positions, as well as entrepreneurs. They can work in the public or private sector. Some of the graduates have continued their studies with pedagogical studies at the Teacher Education College of the University of Applied Sciences. As a rule, they have found teaching positions in upper secondary education. Some have started new business activities while others have developed their existing companies.

Graduates' job titles include, for example, expert, planner, service manager, facility services manager, managing director of a public utility company, customer relationship manager, development manager or project manager.

Qualifications

A master’s degree from the university of applied sciences opens up new career opportunities as it qualifies you to apply for a public office or position to which a higher post-secondary degree is required.

Further studies

The graduate may apply to continue on to postgraduate studies in science or arts at universities (Act 558/2009, Section 37) and in the school of professional teacher education. Studies can be continued by applying for corresponding post-degree education at universities abroad, for example. 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.

Education planning

The Degree Programme in Tourism and Hospitality Management is developed in collaboration with partners from working life. The advisory board consisting of working life representatives supports the competitiveness of the UAS and the unit in the operating environment by, among other things, actively participating in education planning. The Advisory Board comprises key partners in the area. They provide input on developing degree-awarding education, specialisation studies, RDI activities and continuing education along with the weak signals from the labour market. At the advisory board, curricula are discussed on an annual basis in a process in which the members contribute to the identification of working life foresighting information and in the assessment of the curriculum. Master’s degree students who study alongside their work and alumni engage actively in dialogue that supports the development of education by, among other things, utilising different feedback channels. The views of master’s degree students on the competence needs of future working life have been gathered by means of interviews and a survey.

The learning objectives of the degree programme curriculum have been derived from the operating environment analysis compiled by the School of Business, JAMK's strategy, and the unit's core competence areas. In the development of a new competence-based curriculum, both national and international foresighting information has been utilised, along with the higher education evaluation materials (e.g. EPAS, FINEEC) and the joint Master’s Degree Development Forum of JAMK’s units. The Master of Hospitality Management degree programme has been developed as part of the ‘Work-integrated Pedagogy in Higher Education – Expertise, agency and working life skills’ project. The anticipation of international competence takes place by comparing the contents of the education at JAMK’s partner institutions and the expertise of visiting teachers.

Contact Information

Törn-Laapio Anne
Senior Lecturer, Tourism and Service Business and Master´s Degrees
+358406350609
firstname.lastname@jamk.fi