International Leisure Management

Contents

The International Leisure Management programme is delivered thematically. This means that subjects such as economics, psychology, management, communication and market research are dealt with in content-related modules, rather than in separate topics. Examples of modules are: Corporate Governance, Event Organisation, Imagineering, and Marketing and Communication.

The regular track of this programme takes four years, but Dutch students with a vwo diploma or relevant mbo diploma (level 4) can be fast tracked. This may also be available to foreign students, depending on their previous education.

The International Leisure Management programme is also offered in Dutch. The Dutch name is Vrijetijdsmanagement.

Course planning

Year 1

Together with your fellow students from International Tourism Management, you start with an introduction into the leisure & tourism industry. You are introduced to marketing & business management and concept development. Language, presentation and communication skills complete the first year.

Year 2

In the second year you deepen your knowledge on leisure activities and organisation of leisure (in depth).

Integrated skills

In addition, you follow training sessions which focus on skills like negotiating, persuasion, professional interviewing and effective intercultural teamwork. Communication and management skills, intercultural awareness and English classes will be integrated into these training sessions.

Year 3

This year you work on the Branding Experience project. Most of the third year, however, is occupied by a placement (about seven months). You may perform your placement either for a company in the Netherlands or, preferably, abroad.

Year 4

In the first half of the fourth year, students work on a large-scale project, commissioned by the leisure industry. You may, for instance, organise a festival, write policy plans or investigate the marketing activities of a sports club. The second half of the fourth year is reserved for your individual graduation project. At the request of an organisation from the industry, you will carry out a project or conduct research in your specialist area.

Types of teaching (in year 1):

• theory: 20%
• practice: 50%
• self study: 30%

Programme internationalization:

• Studying abroad is required.

This programme has a workload of 240 ECTS.

Fast track

If you already have a a vwo diploma or a ‘Hochschulreifezeugnis’ International Leisure Management may be able to offer you the opportunity of completing the programme in just three years, depending on your current qualifications.

Three-year track with a vwo diploma or a Hochschulreifezeugnis

Students who have successfully completed vwo (secondary vocational education) and students with a Hochschulreifezeugnis are eligible to be admitted to the International Leisure Management programme's 3-year fast track.

How does it work?

Year 1

During the first ten weeks you are in a special class consisting of fast-track students only. You follow the Project Management module and choose one of the four specialisations. You also take the compulsory English language course and decide whether you want to take an additional modern foreign language course.

You continue your studies by entering the regular second year as early as mid-November. You then follow projects and courses in Imagineering and Project Management, Imagineering and Research, and Leisure City Management. You also attend a couple of training courses in your first year, in, for instance,the areas of sales and interviewing. During your first year you are supervised by a study career coach, who will also help you to prepare for your placement.

Year 2

From September to mid-November the Marketing and Entrepreneurship module is dealt with. After this, you perform a six-month work placement. Upon completion of your placement, you can choose to study either Brand Experience or Customer-Oriented Entrepreneurship.

Year 3

Your final year, (which is also the regular programme's final year), revolves around specialisation and graduation. In the first half of the year you explore a subject of your choice. From January onwards, you set to work on an individual graduation project.

Special tracks

In your third and fourth academic years you can participate in the 2-year English-taught specialisation Theme Park Management. This specialisation has been developed in response to leisure industry trends and developments. Although the theme park market has reached maturity, scientific knowledge of the branch is in its infancy. NHTV’s Theme Park Management programme is the first and only European university course that specialises in the dynamics of attractions and theme parks.

During the first year, students spend the first 20 weeks in the Netherlands, taking classes on Theme Park Management. After this, students spend seven months at the Walt Disney World Resort as part of the International Programme. The second year once again starts off with 20 weeks of classes, taught in the Netherlands. Finally, students conclude by writing a bachelor thesis on a topic relating to Theme Park Management at a theme park of their choice.

Specialisations

Five roles, four specialisations

The playing field for the International Leisure Management programme is roughly divided into five roles in the professional world and four specialisations in leisure. These roles and specialisations are reflected throughout the entire programme. During your placement and graduation assignment, you can immerse yourself in the specialisation which most appeals to you.

Which role suits you?

• Entrepreneur You know all about operational management and economics. You make sure, for example, that the day-to-day affairs within a sports complex, cinema or exhibition and conference centre are run properly.
• Imagineer You are involved in concept and product development. In other words, you form the creative and innovative ideas behind leisure products and you develop them. You come up with, for example, new products for a theme park.
• Project Manager You are able to manage projects from start to finish, for example: organising a pop festival or setting up a multifunctional leisure centre.
• Marketeer You know how to market a product internationally. This means you know how to recruit members for a sports club, how to promote an art exhibition and how to bring an event to the attention of the public. You formulate national or international marketing plans and develop promotional material.
• Enterprise Policy Director You see opportunities and make plans for the long term. For example design policy to stimulate sports, ideas for the development of multifunctional leisure facilities or the construction of an inner city as a leisure location. You also facilitate communication between the different parties involved in this process.

Which specialisation appeals to you?

• Sports Management You learn all about organising a sports event, advising the local government about sports facilities or sponsoring and managing a sports team.
• Leisure Project Management You work on the conception, development and management of multifunctional venues or regions with a wide leisure supply.
• Event Management You focus on the development and organisation of public and corporate events, conferences, fairs and exhibitions.
• Management in Creative Industries You are engaged in marketing products with a creative component. Not only traditional forms of culture, like arts, music and theatre, but also in applied forms such as design, games and dance.

Behind the scenes

When you visit a venue, you are not always aware of the work that has gone on behind the scenes. Twice a year, you will get the chance to take a look backstage during the backstage field trips. You will be asked to find a solution to a problem that the organisation you are visiting faces.

Exchange programmes

In the third academic year, many of the International Leisure Management students take the opportunity of doing a part of their course at a university abroad. An exchange period lasts approximately 20 weeks. Possible destinations are: Spain, Australia, China, Italy, France, Ireland, Arizona (USA), Finland and Portugal.

Placement

To get a taste of the work place, you will experience it. For 30 weeks, you will have the opportunity of working in the leisure industry abroad. NHTV has business contacts all over the world and will support you in the search for the right company.

Graduation

The second half of the fourth year is reserved for your individual graduation project. At the request of an organisation from the industry, you carry out a project or conduct a research in your specialist area. You get to demonstrate that you are capable of independently applying the acquired theory, attitude and skills in a professional environment.

Minor

In the fourth year the time has come to choose a special focus. You choose a minor, for example, Imagineering, Aviation Management, Visitor Management, Entrepreneurship, Researcher in Leisure, Consultant in Leisure, Management in Creative Industries, Leisure for Development. On www.academyforleisure.nl you can find out more about the fourth year minors.

Academic degree in one year

In the fourth year, all NHTV students are offered the opportunity of studying a pre-master's programme in Strategic Business Management and Marketing. This degree enables you to continue with a Master of Science programme at several universities and earn a Master of Science (MSc) degree in one year's time.

Accreditation

Accredited by: NVAO in: Netherlands

Funding details

Scholarships / Grants:

China Scholarship Counsil:
The scholarship programme is designed for good quality Chinese students who want to study or do research in the Netherlands for an academic year either during or after their studies in China. The main purpose of the China Programme is the exchange of talented Chinese and Dutch students.
For additional information: Website

NHTV Breda:
Per year there is a limited number of scholarships available for non-EU/EEA-students to contribute in the costs of the tuition fee.
For additional information: Website