NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

Specialisation options allow the student to choose his/her specialisation. All options comprise 20 credits of compulsory studies
and five credits of optional professional studies. The specialisation options are management of hotel and restaurant operations,
management of food service operations, management of tourism operations and environmental management.
The studies in management of hotel and restaurant operations go deeper into various segments and business operations in the
field: food and beverage cultures, hotel and restaurant operations and related financial aspects. The studies in management of
food service operations comprise more advanced studies in the operation processes and financial aspects of various food
service enterprises. The studies in management of tourism operations aim to provide the student with a comprehensive picture
of tourism operations, and familiarise him/her with various theories and practices of tourism. There are courses in
management, marketing, regulations, history, sociology, geography, as well as environmental and societal effects of tourism,
i.e. studies which will help the graduate to operate in managerial posts both nationally and internationally. The course
description for environmental management was published during 1996/97.
Students can choose their optional professional studies (5 credits in specialisation options) and the additional free-choice
courses (10 credits) from a selection of courses in financial management, human resources and strategic planning (16 credits);
hotel and restaurant industry (18 credits); tourism industry (10 credits) and marketing and business planning (9 credits).
The practical training periods (a total of 20 credits) i.e. industrial placements or internships, are completed in three periods:
during the first
academic year, and during the next two summers.
In addition, students have to prepare a degree project (opinnäytetyö, 10 credits), which prepares them for research and
development work in the tourism industry.