This programme is designed to equip students with the necessary professional, academic and personal competencies to be able to play a significant role in the development of leisure and tourism at the local or regional district level. This role is based on an analytical, critical attitude in which you learn to make responsible decisions with an open mind to the interests of the community, the industry and the customer.

Rationale

The programme is grounded in an integrated leisure concept and is approached from the economic service management perspective.

The relationships between leisure fields are becoming increasingly interdependent and tourism has grown into the most important expenditure sector of leisure. It has grown into the most important spending of leisure time.

Besides, many tourist attractions are in fact leisure facilities or services serving
primarily the host community citizens.

A main characteristic of both leisure and tourism today is the internationalisation, the so-called globalization process. Leisure and tourism activities stimulate the cross-cultural interaction of people from countries all over the world. The important consequence of this dynamics is the complexity of
psychological, social, economic, environmental and political issues underlying
the international development of leisure and tourism. In this, the use of
leisure and tourism as a driver for sustainable societal development is
emphasised with quality of life as the most important frame of reference.

This implies that the programme uses a holistic, interdisciplinary approach. Also the programme tries to satisfy the need for professionals who are able to mediate between the macro-level of nation state, the meso-level of regional districts/ provinces and the micro-level of local communities.

Characteristics

• On offer since 1995. Validated in 1995 and 2000 by the University of North London, in 2003 by the London Metropolitan University and 2004 by the Dutch Flemish Accreditation Organisation.
• Professional Master of Arts programme, primarily aiming on students who opt for a professional career. Unique in its integration of leisure and tourism. Emphasis on long term sustainable development of leisure and tourism, with quality of community life as an important frame of reference.
• Primary focus is on the public and semi-public sector, like governments, bi-lateral and multilateral organisations and NGO’s. Primary focus on local community and regional district level.
• Interdisciplinary approach and strong emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking.
• Possibility to specialise in areas like: tourism, recreation, sports, events & conventions, media & education, fun shopping or hospitality.
• Both individual and group work.

For whom  Language 
English

Start
End of August (location Leeuwarden)