Study Guide

Descriptions

Bachelors of Business Administration in the Tourism and Wellness Business not only possess basic business skills, but are experts in the production, sale and management of products and services in the fields of tourism, leisure and the promotion of overall wellness. The graduates are experts in responsibly produced competitive tourism and leisure services that focus on the customer experience. Their wellness expertise also makes them highly employable, because the provision of health-promoting products and services that focus on various aspects of wellness is increasing rapidly in the fields of tourism, nutrition, housing and exercise, for example.

Graduates from this programme find employment in advising customers, mapping needs, providing services, and in marketing and sales, for example. Their work often includes managerial tasks such as the planning and implementation of marketing, product development, pricing, human resource management, and development projects.
Some of the study modules are in Finnish, while some are offered in English to enable exchange students from different countries to participate. Students are also encouraged to take part in foreign exchange programmes during their studies.

Structure and content of the studies

The planned duration of the studies is 3.5 years. The extent of the programme is 210 ECTS credits.

The basic studies (70 cr.) introduce business basics, including customer-centred business, sales and marketing skills, financial monitoring, as well as work community, language and communication skills, and the key concepts, service sectors and the customer service processes in the tourism and wellness business.

Extensive competence modules (140 cr.) consist of the following:
• professional studies in tourism and wellness as a business 60 cr.
• optional studies 30 cr.
• practical training 30 cr.
• methodological studies and bachelor’s thesis 20 cr.

During the second year of study, the focus of the studies is on the demand for tourism and wellness services, and the consideration of cultural differences in interaction with customers. Projects on working life assignments focus on product development from the perspective of both the companies and the travel destinations, as well as on the added value that a wellness experience and its responsible provision can bring to both the customer and the competitiveness of the company or travel destination.

Among other things, in the third year, the focus is on human resource management, sales negotiation skills, sales and distribution channels, revenue management, areas of sustainable development, and service supply management in an environment of fluctuating demand. The study module in research and development methods prepares students for the thesis they produce at the end of their studies. Each student finds a topical development or survey assignment in their field of study as the topic for their thesis.

Practical training is an important opportunity for students to build their skills and professional career. During the practical training periods, students learn practical tasks in which they can apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired during the theoretical study modules. Practical training usually consists of a few periods, which can also be carried out abroad.

Career opportunities

A bachelor’s degree with specialist skills in responsible, customer-focused tourism and wellness services acquired during the study programme, as well as experience gained in working life projects and practical training, opens the door to a wide range of employment positions, both in Finland and abroad. Good language, communication, international and project skills, combined with the core competences of service provision and the tourism and wellness business, provide a solid basis for career development, aiming for expert and managerial positions. Strengths of the graduates from this programme also include initiative, flexibility, and natural interaction skills with people.

Companies offering accommodation, transport, event and restaurant services are the main employers of our students, in addition to sales and marketing organisations. Careers can also be found in companies that support these service sectors, such as communications agencies, real estate services and equipment rental for activities. The supply of wellness services and products that promote physical, mental and social wellbeing and recreation is also growing rapidly and creating new employment opportunities.

The training can also prepare students for internationalisation. For example, they can use practical training as a steppingstone to an international career path through management trainee positions in international companies.

Our students can find work with job titles like customer service manager, hotel manager, congress secretary, spa manager, marketing assistant, travel advisor, sales negotiator, service manager, revenue manager, spa and wellness customer service representative, event coordinator, and shift leader.

Postgraduate study opportunities

Students can later continue their studies after gaining work experience by completing a master’s degree in Finland or abroad. It is possible to continue studies at universities in Finland or abroad in master’s degree programmes in business administration, tourism, service management or responsible business, for example. Master’s studies in wellness have also been launched in many countries in recent years.

Objective

After the studies the student is able to:

• specify the principles of the knowledge base of tourism, leisure, and wellness as well as concepts and key theoretical approaches
• explain the impact and significance of tourism, leisure, and wellness from the perspective of different customer groups and the society
• design, develop, deliver, market, and sell responsible, profitable and meaningful experiences and products
• recognise and foresee changes in demand and in the competitive position as well as take responsibility for developing the resilience and competitiveness of the company or the tourism destination
• understand the significance of strategic management, lead a team or an organisation as well as manage operative processes
• work and communicate in multidisciplinary, international teams, networks, and environments

Development

In accordance with the innovation pedagogy of the Turku University of Applied Sciences, the studies are characterised by projects based on working life assignments. Innovation pedagogy is further based on sharing of knowledge and combining different viewpoints. This learning approach enables the application of new knowledge in practice, and the learning of critical thinking and creativity. During their studies, students have the opportunity to network with experts working in their business, students of other study programmes, exchange students, and representatives of partner universities and RDI projects. The study modules comprise contact and online teaching, business visits, independent study and learning in small groups.

Further information

At the beginning of each course, students are informed on the assessment principles which are based on the course learning objectives. Performance requirements vary depending on the objectives, the content, and the method of the implementation. The courses are assessed on a scale from 0 to 5, where 5 is excellent, 4 very good, 3 good, 2 very satisfactory, 1 satisfactory and 0 fail. If the course implementation consists of several components, individual components can be assessed also by using other scales like pass or fail. The weight of each grading component in the final grade is explained in the implementation plan of the course. The aim is to assess both the learning process of the students as well as the outcomes of the student work. Besides teacher assessment self and peer assessment procedures help students to reflect on their own learning.

The study programme is developed according to the principles of continues improvement. In the development work, feedback from students and working life as well as their initiatives play a key role. Feedback is collected with, for instance, student questionnaires and group-specific development discussions.