International Hospitality Management Students Prepared a Community Dinner for 200 Guests in Vantaa

At the community dinner organised as part of the Syödään yhdessä koivukylässä event, local residents gathered around the same table with representatives from the City of Vantaa to exchange ideas about the development of the area and everyday life in the community.

The evening was opened by Deputy Mayor Riikka Åstrand. Discussions focused on Koivukylä’s strengths, development opportunities, and future prospects.

The menu was designed by Henri Hytönen, Head Chef and owner of Restaurant Vintero, together with Laurea hospitality management student Juha Halmet. International hospitality management students prepared the menu at BarLaurea, Laurea’s teaching restaurant, under Hytönen’s guidance. The students were also responsible for serving the meal to event participants.

The menu featured sourdough bread from a local bakery and hummus, beetroot patties with rosemary sauce and parsnip purée, followed by roasted cream and lingonberries for dessert.

Working Life Projects Play a Key Role in International Students’ Studies

The dinner was prepared by international students from Laurea’s Hospitality Management and Service Design degree programme at the Porvoo campus.

The programme emphasises service design, business, and leadership studies. In addition, students can choose elective studies in tourism, food and beverage management, and event management according to their interests.

Throughout their studies, students participate in a variety of real-world projects where learning takes place in authentic working environments and with real clients. These projects help students develop practical skills in customer service, service design, business, leadership, and event production.

“Working life projects are extremely important from the perspective of international students. Collaboration with companies helps students build professional networks, secure internships, and potentially find employment in the future,” says Degree director Teemu Sirainen.

Especially in the current challenging labour market situation, the importance of working life projects for international students is further emphasised. The experience and professional networks gained through these projects support international students’ integration into Finnish working life.

Students to Participate in Traditional Christmas Market and Restaurant Factory’s Annual Gala

In addition to the community dinner, international hospitality management students at the Porvoo campus have several other working life projects ahead of them in the coming months.

In December, students will take part in the traditional Christmas Market held at Porvoo Art Factory. They will prepare Southeast Asian delicacies for sale at the market. The products will be developed during a course throughout the autumn semester.

At the beginning of the following year, hospitality management students will once again take part in organising the annual gala of Laurea’s key partner, Restaurant Factory, an event in which Laurea students have been involved for several years. Alongside the international students, Laurea’s team will consist of experienced hospitality management students and several lecturers. Students will be responsible for designing the menu, preparing the food, selecting beverages, and providing service at the ever-growing event.

Hospitality Management and Service Design Programme Expanded to Porvoo

The number of international degree students in hospitality management has grown steadily, enabling the programme offering to expand to the Porvoo campus in autumn 2025. Two international student groups have now started their studies in the Hospitality Management and Service Design degree programme in Porvoo.

As part of their studies, the groups have already visited Hotel Runo, learned about the operations of Visit Porvoo, and collaborated with Vanhan Porvoon Panimo.

Integration into working life has already begun promisingly.

“Students have proactively secured internships and employment opportunities in local hotels and restaurants, as well as in the food services operations at Neste’s Porvoo refinery, one of the region’s most significant industrial employers,” says Tia Karlsson, one of the group’s tutor teachers.

Porvoo is an international city and a popular tourist destination, creating significant new opportunities also from a regional development perspective.

“We are able to contribute to the development of the Porvoo region together with our students,” Sirainen concludes.

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