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.