Degree Programme in Wellbeing Management
Objectives
Are you interested in business and wellbeing? During your studies in the Degree Programme in Wellbeing Management you learn to develop and produce data-based wellbeing services utilizing state-of-the-art technology.
The goal of wellbeing services is to promote people’s quality of life, health and ability to work. The demand for wellbeing services is increasing, which has created the need to be able to assess the suitability and effectiveness of different services in various situations and for different target groups.
Physical exercise and health have an important role in people’s functional capacity. With the help of technology, it is easier than before to measure and assess the effectiveness of wellbeing. Measuring produces data that helps to create new services that support wellbeing, health, and functional capacity, together with new business opportunities.
In order to meet this demand, the Degree Programme in Wellbeing Management was established. The language of instruction is English .
The Degree Programme in Wellbeing Management provides skills for measuring wellbeing and health with the help of state-of-the-art technology. You learn how to use this information in developing and producing services for wellbeing. The studies combine this information with business topics.
Commercial and business aspects are essential in the Wellbeing Management studies. You learn how to utilize wellbeing and health promoting technology in business environment. The studies provide you with a solid basis for becoming an entrepreneur or working in expert position after graduation.
After your graduation, you will be able to:
- identify and coordinate the service needs for promoting wellbeing
- develop and implement data-based wellbeing services
- acquire and assess wellbeing services based on data
- identify the opportunities of profitable wellbeing business
- operate in an entrepreneurial manner and start your own business
- operate in an international working environment.
The studies are implemented in close cooperation with companies and they include projects commissioned by companies. This creates networks that will be beneficial after your graduation.
Studies can be accomplished mostly online.
Wellbeing Management studies can be completed either in Finnish or in English. All courses are taught fully bilingually, so you can study in either language.
The first year of study is implemented entirely online, focusing on the basics of measuring wellbeing. It also develops your business management skills and knowledge in the area of wellbeing environment.
In the second year, the students study in Mikkeli, Finland, as full-time students. The lectures are arranged on Mikkeli campus, also utilizing the unique Active Life Lab environment. During the second year, you work with different customer groups, perform wellbeing measurements with them and assess the effectiveness of wellbeing services. This way, the first-year studies in business management skills and knowledge are accompanied with measurements done at Active Life Lab and assessing the effectiveness of wellbeing services. In addition, you have the opportunity to complete your practical training period at Active Life Lab and participate in RDI activities.
The third-year studies are flexible and can also be completed entirely online. During the last year of studies, you can do your practical training and write your thesis either in Mikkeli or in another location that suits you and is reasonable from the perspective of your studies.
Active Life Lab
Active Life Lab is a leading research and development centre of wellbeing services operating at Saimaa Stadiumi, a new and inspiring study environment designed specifically for group work and commissioned assignments.
The wellbeing premises measure the user's level of activity by utilizing location-based technology and react, for example, to long-term passivity. The premises include a virtual reality space which enables measuring the effect of nature and culture on wellbeing.
Smart gym equipment measures the individual’s development and offers the optimal exercise load in order to achieve and ensure development.
Equipment in the exercise test area are brand new, featuring physiological measurement equipment and virtual reality. In these premises, there’s a treadmill and a screen, onto which different obstacles and gamification content can be reflected.
Degree programme description
The first year of studies makes you familiar with the concepts of wellbeing, the operational environment of wellbeing services, and the management of wellbeing data. The studies also involve different areas of business operations, and the marketing and sales of wellbeing services.
During the second year you learn more about the effectiveness of wellbeing services, the development of user-driven services, and the operation of data-based business. In addition, you become familiar with international business operations, project work and the methods of research and development.
The third year studies include practical projects in producing services and events. You also become familiar with the management of wellbeing services and business operations.
The practical training period (30 ECTS credits) takes one term. The bachelor’s thesis covers 15 ECTS credits.
Implementation of studies
Flexible learning tracks utilizing both online and offline studying environments offer a new way of studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. The content of the Wellbeing Management Degree Programme has been renewed and the studies now focus more on how measuring wellbeing and assessing the effectiveness of wellbeing services can be utilized in business and commercial environments. The degree programme provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to become an entrepreneur or work in an expert position in wellbeing environments.
The first year of studies is arranged entirely online, focusing on the basics of business management skills and knowledge in the field of wellbeing.
The second year consists of full-time studies at Saimaa Stadiumi in Mikkeli and, specifically, in the Active Life Lab study environment. The studies are mainly arranged from Monday to Thursday, and involve practical wellbeing measurements and follow-up utilizing technology in different commissioned assignments.
Active Life Lab is a unique technological study environment, in which you can perform measurements with different customer groups in a concrete way. Xamk is one of the leading research, development and innovation (RDI) operators in Finland, and during the second year you have a chance to expand your RDI skills with these leading experts and take part in RDI activities. You will work with real and concrete work assignments in national and international projects. Your studies include working in small groups from the beginning.
The third-year studies can be completed flexibly, fully online. During this last year of study, you can choose to complete your practical training and write your thesis either in Mikkeli or in another location anywhere in the world, provided that it suits you and meets the objectives of the Wellbeing Management Degree Programme. The practical training always includes working in an expert position in the wellbeing field, and the professional networks built during your studies will help you find a suitable practical training place. In addition, the thesis should also be commissioned by a company, organization or some other non-profit party involved with the wellbeing environment. When deciding the topic for your thesis, you can utilize the practical training commissioning company, and the RDI knowledge and skills you have gained during your second-year studies.
Xamk has extensive partner networks all around the world and our international experts will help you find suitable practical training or international exchange options in case you wish to go abroad as part of your studies at Xamk.
The aim is to gain 30 ECTS credits every term.
Language of instruction
All courses in the Wellbeing management Degree Programme are implemented in English and Finnish. In other words, you can study in either language. If you are interested, you can take some individual courses in English or in Finnish.
The bilingual implementation of the degree programme gives you the opportunity to flexibly improve your language skills as the studies progress.
Career opportunities
The need for wellbeing services is increasing all the time, and there is also an increasing demand for service providers.
Good communication and interaction skills are essential in producing wellbeing services, together with understanding the possibilities of promoting wellbeing, customer-oriented thinking and an entrepreneurial attitude.
As a BBA in Wellbeing Management, your career opportunities may include the following fields:
- companies that offer services in physical activities, nutrition or health care
- companies that develop health and wellbeing technologies
- event production planning and producing wellbeing services
- human resources or insurance.
After graduation, this international bachelor’s degree offers you interesting job opportunities all over the world.
Professional positions include the following:
- companies offering exercise, nutrition or wellbeing services
- companies utilizing and developing health and wellbeing technology
- wellbeing event production companies; planning and developing wellbeing events
- human resources management or
- insurance companies.
Learning environments
During the first year, the study environment is Xamk’s versatile online environment, in which you study under the lecturer’s guidance. During the second year, you study on Mikkeli campus. In addition, the unique Active Life Lab premises will be utilized in your studies. ?Active Life Lab is a leading research and development centre of wellbeing services operating at Saimaa Stadiumi, a new and inspiring study environment designed specifically for group work and commissioned assignments.
Active Life Lab includes the following:
- The wellbeing premises measure the user's level of activity by utilizing location-based technology and react, for example, to long-term passivity. The premises include a virtual reality space which enables measuring the effect of nature and culture on wellbeing.
- Smart gym equipment measures the individual’s development and offers the optimal exercise load in order to achieve and ensure development.
- Equipment in the exercise test area are brand new, featuring physiological measurement equipment and virtual reality. In these premises, there’s a treadmill and a screen, onto which different obstacles and gamification content can be reflected.
Active Life Lab premises and equipment are utilized as the studying environment especially during the second study year. This way, the business management skills and knowledge acquired during the first study year can be combined with the development and commercialization of wellbeing services offered by Active Life Lab.
During the first year, you will learn the basics of measuring wellbeing and acquire business management skills and knowledge needed in the wellbeing business. The second year of studies includes performing wellbeing measurements with different customer groups. These start and follow-up measurements enable monitoring the effectiveness of wellbeing services. This way the core competence learned during the first year can be combined with measurements and showcasing the effectiveness at Active Life Lab. In addition, students can complete their practical training period at the Active Life Lab, focus on RDI activity in more detail and participate in RDI projects.
On Mikkeli campus, studying primarily takes place in ICT classrooms and studios.