Today, a graduate with a Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree, Ira is building her career in Finland with determination. However, long before moving to the country, she was already an experienced professional in the tourism and hospitality industry.
In her home country, she had advanced to the role of Front Office Manager at a hotel, and continuing in the industry in Finland felt like a natural choice.
– I moved to Finland in autumn 2021, and one of the greatest adventures of my life began. I first started studying tourism at Luksia. I wanted to become familiar with the Finnish education system and improve my language skills at the same time. The studies further strengthened my interest in the hospitality and tourism sector and provided a solid foundation for working life in Finland, Ira says.
– After about a year and a half of study, I was given the opportunity to apply directly to the second year of the Bachelor of Hospitality Management programme. It was a major achievement for me and a natural next step towards a higher education degree. The hospitality and tourism industry had already been familiar to me for many years, and Haaga-Helia is well known in this field for its high-quality teaching and strong connections with working life.
Studying, working and life changes
Ira says that the entrance examinations for the Bachelor of Hospitality Management programme felt intimidating at first, but there was no need to worry.
– The entrance examinations were an exciting experience. There were many applicants, and it was impossible to know in advance what kind of tasks would be included. Applicants from different countries have different educational backgrounds, so preparation felt somewhat mysterious. Mathematics turned out to be fairly easy, but the logic questions left me completely puzzled for a moment. I still remember thinking that the questions were really unusual! Afterwards, however, the entire process felt much easier than I had imagined beforehand.
Her studies provided practical learning opportunities and the support of a strong community.
– The best things about my studies were their practical nature, highly skilled teachers and the student community. During my studies, I met people from a variety of backgrounds and gained new perspectives on both working life and my own expertise.
– I truly appreciate the teachers at Haaga-Helia. They are knowledgeable, encouraging and approachable. It was clear that they genuinely wanted to help students succeed. Because I combined my studies with work, night shifts and later life with a baby, their understanding and support meant a great deal to me. Throughout my studies, I felt supported and encouraged to keep moving forward.
Towards the end of her studies, life changed once again when Ira started a family.
– The final stage of my studies brought yet another major life change: I became a mother. My son Nooa was born while I was still studying, so I completed my final study units, internship and thesis alongside everyday life with a baby. It was not always easy, but it taught me more about time management and goal-oriented work than any textbook ever could. That is why graduating felt like an especially significant achievement.
From night shifts to lectures
Alongside her studies, Ira worked at a hotel, which made daily life demanding but rewarding.
– During my studies, I combined work and studying. I worked at Strawberry Hotel Jugend, formerly known as GLO Hotel Art. I worked many night shifts and then headed straight to campus for lectures in the morning. I still remember winter mornings when I walked through snowstorms to school after working all night. At times, I wondered how I would get through the day. Looking back now, I can honestly say that every early morning and sleepless night was worth it.
– Combining practical work with studies was one of Haaga-Helia’s greatest strengths. I was able to apply what I learned in lectures to my work almost immediately and bring real working-life experience back into the classroom. My studies never remained purely theoretical; they were visible in everyday practice.
The hospitality and tourism industry inspires Ira because of its diversity and international nature.
– Before my parental leave, I worked as a receptionist at Strawberry Hotel Jugend. Reception work is often fast-paced and requires constant alertness. Every day brings different situations, so you need to prioritise, solve problems quickly and remain calm and professional even during busy periods.
– Reception is the heart of a hotel, and it allows you to influence the customer experience every day through your own work. It is this diversity, meeting people and the constantly changing situations that make the job especially interesting. The industry combines people, business, service and internationality in a way that few other sectors do. Every day and every customer is different, and there are always new situations to solve. That is what keeps the work interesting year after year.
Dare to apply
After graduation, Ira hopes to continue developing her career and move towards roles with greater responsibility.
– In the future, I want to continue developing my career in Finland within the hospitality and tourism industry. I am particularly interested in supervisory and development roles where I can combine practical experience with business expertise. My goal is to continue learning and growing as a professional even after graduation.
Ira encourages anyone considering studies in the field to take a bold step towards something new.
– If I could give one piece of advice to someone considering studies at Haaga-Helia, I would say: dare to apply. You do not need to be fully prepared in advance. During your studies, you learn much more than professional skills. You learn to trust yourself, solve problems and discover your own strengths.
– If someone had told me on the day I moved to Finland in autumn 2021 that just a few years later I would graduate from a university of applied sciences with a Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree, I might not have believed it myself. This journey has taught me that determination, courage and hard work can help you achieve far more than you initially dare to imagine.
– That is why graduating is not just a degree for me. It is a reminder of how much you can achieve when you have the courage to start over in a new country, seize opportunities and keep moving forward one step at a time.
