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Studies & Training > International Post Graduate Studies >
International Post Graduate Studies
World Leisure International Centres of Excellence (WICE)
In 1988 the Association began exploring the concept of a truly international post-graduate programme in leisure studies. Ultimately this led to the creation of a framework for the World Leisure International Centres of Excellence (WICE). The purpose was to provide an unique opportunity whereby postgraduate students from countries around the world and international leisure specialists come together in one location for a two-year program leading to a graduate degree.
The first such program was established in The Netherlands in 1992, with substantial support from the Dutch government. Today, through a contract with Wageningen University, a leading international institution in Holland, the WICE program gives students access to the resources of the University and at the same time provides instruction and consultation through a visiting faculty of 40 professors in any given year. Up to 25 students are admitted each year. Students completing the program receive a M.Sc. degree in Leisure and Environments. Many of the graduates have gone on to occupy senior leadership positions in their home countries.
A WICE Advisory Panel, responsible to the World Leisure Board, reviews and advises on existing programmes and new initiatives.
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 well being.
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 experiential 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.
More information
To obtain more information about the study programme:
International students can contact
The study counsellor for international students:
Mrs M.M. Vries - de Heer
WL-WICE at Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR)
Generaal Foulkesweg 13
6703 BJ Wageningen
The Netherlands
Telephone: + 31 317 484367 / 484414
Fax: + 31 317 485441
E-mail:
ria.vries@wur.nl
Dutch students can contact:
The study counsellor for Dutch students:
Drs. K.B.M. Peters
WUR-SRA (Chair Group Socio-Spatial Analysis)
Generaal Foulkesweg 13
6703 BJ Wageningen
The Netherlands
Telephone: + 31 317 486025
Fax: + 31 317 485441
E-mail:
karin.peters@wur.nl
More detailed information can be found on the web too.
Go to www.wur.nl and choose:
- Education
- Wageningen University
- M.Sc. Programmes
- Study Handbook
- 2004 Master MLE
- M.Sc. Common part
* After step 3 you can go to "Fellowships" too.
This provides you, among others, the programme overview, and you can click on the various courses [SAL-......] and you will find then brief information on faculty, course content, schedules, et cetera.
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 judgments ‹ where we wish the world to move to ‹ and on ethical, scientific and practical judgments, 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 enroll 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 World 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 my knowledge 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 Web site: http://www.wau.nl/wmsc/mscleis.htm
For more information about the advanced courses, see http://www.wau.nl/
Visit the WICE Web site: http://www.wice.info/
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