English Medium Degree Program in Vaasa University of

English Medium Degree Program in Vaasa University of Applied Sciences Case: Degree Program in Hotel and Restaurant Business Elina Martin 11 September 2007 1

Hotel and Restaurant Business (HB) • • • Since 1996 Intake 22 (autumn 2008) Study time 3½ years 210 cr (ECTS) Degree: Bachelor of Hospitality Management 2

Multi-cultural group • Almost 50 % of students come from abroad • Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Israel, Japan, Kenya, China, Lithuania, Nepal, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Russia, Vietnam and Finland 3

Structure of studies ”Theory and practice in good balance” • Basic studies: business economics, professional studies, languages (110 cr) • Specialised professional studies: Tourism Management or Restaurant Management studies (45 cr) 4

Structure of studies • Tourism management: future-oriented expertise, practical project studies • Restaurant management: combination of food and restaurant studies • Optional studies (10 cr) • Practical training (30 cr) • Thesis (15 cr) 5

Strengths of HB programme • Broad base of studies • Close contact to small and medium-sized companies via Company Clinic (www. yritysklinikka. com): students, under the guidance of teachers, perform research and development assignments for companies – Updating of business plans – Marketing plans – Competitor analysis – Customer satisfaction surveys 6

Strengths of HB programme • Emphasis on business studies – Business Factory • Studies abroad – Asian Tourism and Hospitality Management 15 cr – Partner universities abroad • Virtual studies: HB 26 cr 7

Future Careers • Experts, managing and developing positions or entrepreneurs • Hotels, restaurants, food supplying industries • National and international tourism organisations, travel agencies, tourism companies, expert organisations within tourism industry 8

Studying in English • English is foreign language to all students • Contents is the main issue, language skills improve besides • Lessons interactive, small grammar mistakes occur, but it is most important to be understood • Also English language is studied: emphasis on writing and speaking skills 9

Experiences on multicultural groups ”Small is beautiful” • Good team spirit is important • Students learn from cultural diversity • Good discussions: topic of the lesson + cultural differences • Different temperaments are the spice of multi-cultural groups • Cultural collisions occur 10

Bachelors of Hospitality Management • Our aim is to educate professionals with good command of English and understanding of cultural differences 11