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The M.Sc.
In Leisure and Environments
The
current WICE program is located in the Netherlands where
students meeting all requirements receive an M.Sc. Degree
in Leisure and Environments from Wageningen Agricultural
University. WLRA and WU have entered into an agreement
to provide an outstanding international program of graduate
study, taught in English to students from every world
region.
Master of Science Course Leisure, Tourism and Environment
Domain of the course
The Leisure, Tourism and Environment programme is a collaborative endeavour of World
Leisure and Wageningen University. The programme is characterized
by a worldwide, trans-disciplinary, critical and innovative approach. It focuses on the
relationship between leisure and environment, with special attention for tourism. Although
'leisure' is not a term known everywhere in the world, it is a phenomenon that occurs at all
times, at all locations and in every society. More and more people throughout the world are
spending a growing proportion of their time and money on leisure. This growth is related to
international and domestic tourism, indoor and outdoor sports, outdoor recreation, arts and
culture provision and participation, mass media use and everyday leisure activities. The
economic importance of leisure and tourism services is growing tremendously. There is
increasing awareness that leisure in all its manifestations has major consequences for
cultural, political, technological, economic and geographical transformations throughout the
world. In this respect, tourism is a powerful agent of both cultural globalization and
regionalization. Leisure can provide a major contribution to quality of life and social wellbeing.
Leisure and tourism have long been recognized for their role in community and
regional development. Furthermore, tourism and leisure developments can have major
environmental impact. The aim of the Leisure, Tourism and Environment programme is to analyse consumption and
production within the broad context. The principle focus of the study is how these processes
come together to produce specific types of leisure and tourism environments, while the
scientific view is based on an experiental approach towards leisure and tourism. This means
that much attention is given to the analysis of the significance and meaning of leisure choices
in both the consumption and production of leisure. Additional keywords are: identity,
authenticity; space, place and locality; transformation and commodification; and
globalization and sustainability.
The programme is international and cross-cultural. More than 250 faculty members
participate in the global network of World Leisure. Many of them lecture in the programme,
thereby bringing together an extraordinary broad range of academic experience. The
mission of this programme is to bring students and academics from all parts of the world
together in a multicultural setting.
The programme is tailor-made and thesis-oriented. Besides taking courses in Leisure,
Tourism and Environment, students also learn advanced research methods and techniques,
take optional courses, participate in an internship (not required if the student has relevant
work experience) and complete a research project. To be accepted into this programme,
students are required to have a BSc in one of the social or spatial sciences. Students are
also expected to have basic knowledge of methods and techniques in social research and
basic knowledge of leisure, tourism and social geography. |
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The Programme
All over the world more and
more people are spending an ever-growing proportion of
their time (and money) on free time or leisure. There
has been a spectacular rise in growth rates for:
- international and domestic tourism
- indoor and outdoor sports
- outdoor recreation
- arts and culture
- mass media use
- leisure activities in the neighbourhood (community
development) or at home
There is a growing awareness that free time, in all
its manifestations, contributes considerably to balanced
individual, social, cultural and economic development.
The MSc Leisure and Environments course deals with the
mutual relationship between the ever-changing leisure
patterns and the distinctive physical, social, cultural
and economic environments, and how to establish these
and keep them in balance.
Balanced development does not emerge
automatically. Careful planning, intervention and management
are needed to establish flexible balances in the great
variety of leisure areas in relation to the different
environments, as an integral part of an ever faster
changing world. These should be based on philosophical
judgements ‹ where we wish the world to move to
‹ and on ethical, scientific and practical judgements,
insights, knowledge and awareness. Ongoing globalization
guarantees the truly worldwide approach of this MSc
Course 'Leisure and Environments.'
The Leisure and Environments Programme
is a joint activity of World Leisure and and Wageningen
University. The mission of the M.Sc. programme is to
bring students and academics from all parts of the world
together, in a multicultural setting, for the purpose
of studying the phenomenon of leisure and exploring
its interaction with the various environmental structures.
The concept of leisure as used in the course covers
tourism, sports, outdoor recreation, arts and culture,
cultural heritage, the use of mass media and home and
neighbourhood recreation, including community development.
The concept of environments is used in its broadest
sense and includes the physical, social, cultural and
economic environments. The MSc Leisure and Environments
course offers students a unique programme taught by
international academics and professionals drawn from
a worldwide network. The curriculum is aimed at professionals
and students from the field of Leisure and Environments
and related disciplines.
Most students have a first degree in a science, and
have become professionally involved in leisure-related
matters. Some students already have a Master's degree
but have opted for this course, to acquire additional
knowledge in Leisure and Environments. The central theme
of the programme is the transformation of leisure patterns
in relation to the various environments, and vice versa,
in this fast changing world. The course topics cover
the various aspects of Leisure and Environments such
as:
- fundamental disciplinary approaches to the leisure
and environments issue;
- elements and aspects of transformation processes
in both related topics, including transformation models
and processes as such, leisure resources, time/space
behaviour, images, codes, and experiences, and important
institutional developments;
- changes and interventions in the leisure areas of
recreation, tourism, sports, the arts, culture and
cultural heritage, mass media use and home and neighbourhood
recreation, in relation to the environments.
A variety of methods and techniques courses
are taught parallel to the courses dealing with this
subject matter. WAU's contributing departments offer
opportunities to study third world tourism, communication,
education and management, environmental economics, etc.
Who are the faculty?
Each week a carefully selected pair of internationally
renowned experts and scholars from the global WICE faculty
network and the Centre for Recreation and Tourism Studies
(WAU) teaches the WICE courses at Wageningen Agricultural
University. The Programme Director is Drs J.W. te Kloeze.
Who are your fellow students?
Professionals and students from the broad area of Leisure
and Environments attend the course. The multicultural
setting is maintained by limiting the number of students
allowed to enrol from each continent.
Admission Criteria
Applicants should:
- have a B.A. or B.Sc. in leisure, recreation or tourism
studies -- or in one of the socio-cultural sciences;
- successfully pass or have passed a test in English;
and
- successfully pass an entrance examination.
Certification/Graduation
WICE M.Sc. Course graduates receive a
Wageningen Agricultural University Master of Science
Degree in Leisure and Environments, and a Certificate
of course completion from the W orld Leisure & Recreation
Association.
The Wageningen Dean's Office
WICE students are officially registered as Wageningen
University students. The Dean's Office handles all administrative
matters, such as student housing, insurance, and visas
for international students.
Application procedure
Applicants should send the following to:
WICE Admission Committee
Generaal Foulkesweg 13
6703 BJ Wageningen
The Netherlands
- a full Curriculum Vitae, including personal data,
information on educational, vocational and voluntary
experience, and a list of publications (if any);
- photocopies of the passport-pages showing name and
address, passport number, date and place of issue,
and photo of the applicant;
- three passport-size photographs;
- copies of all relevant diplomas and certificates;
- transcripts of mark-lists (grades) for any prior
course completion, and
- a certificate of proficiency in English (Toefl
or other test).
Faculty and Staff
Chairman Programme Committee
Dr. T.J. Kamphorst
Programme Director
Drs. J.W. te Kloeze
Development Officer
Mrs. M.M. Vries-de Heer
Secretary
Mrs. O.C. Crommelin
Programme Assistant
Dr. S.P. Cottrell
Some recent Faculty Members:
Prof. N. Samuel (France), Dr. B.
Driver (USA), Dr. S. Parker (UK), Prof. K. Roberts (UK),
Prof. W. Tokarski (Germany), Dr. V. Sharma (India),
Prof. E. Hamilton-Smith (Australia), Prof. G. Chick
(USA), Prof. J. R. Kelly (USA), Prof. J. Zuzanek (Canada),
Dr. G. Dann (Barbados), Dr. B. Jung (Poland), Prof.
H. Ruskin (Israel), Prof. R. Mannell (Canada), Prof.
W. Nahrstedt (Germany), Prof. K. Razlogov (Russia),
Prof. S. Iso-Ahola (USA), Prof. R. Stebbins (Canada),
Prof. A. Bramante (Brazil), Prof. D. Leslie (Scottland),
Dr. B. Kalui (Botswana), Prof. A. Dietvorst, and many
others.
Statements from Former Students
"...WICE: An ideal
place to increase myknowledge and to get to know different
cultures," XP, China
"..WICE was a turning point in my life,"
SM, India
"...Our participation in WICE (...) encouraged
us to take part in activities leading to create the
awareness of the important role leisure plays in the
quality of life improvement," BRC, Venezuela
Positions of WICE Graduates
Mr. Pilka of Poland works for the
Polish Sports Department at the European Commission
in Strassbourg.
Mrs. A.E. Estrada Gonzalez works in Mexico as head of
the Department of Leisure and Recreation of the
Universidad Mexicana Del Noreste in Monterrey.
Mrs. S. Zia of Pakistan works in recreation programmes
at a girls' school and is advisor in projects for disabled
and elderly.
For more information about this study programme, contact
the Programme Director:
Drs Jan Willem te Kloeze
Wageningen Agricultural University
WLRA International Centre of Excellence
Generaal Foulkesweg 13,
6703 BJ Wageningen, The Netherlands
Phone: +31 317 484414
Fax: +31 317 485441
E-mail: Office@USERS.WICE.WAU.NL
Visit WAU's WICE website:
http://www.wau.nl/wmsc/mscleis.htm
For more information about the advanced courses, see
http://www.wau.nl/
Visit the WICE website:
http://www.wice.info/
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