Leisure & Events Management course overview

Introduction to the leisure industry

In the first semester of the first year, you will go on an expedition to fill your leisure-and-events backpack with basic tools such as knowledge of leisure theories, trends, and developments in the sector. Naturally, you get acquainted with leisure & events companies through inspiring classes, workshops, and practical assignments. You will also go on fieldtrips to Dutch players in the industry such as Openlucht Museum Arnhem, Museum voor Beeld en Geluid, Walibi, or ‘de Efteling’, a famous Dutch theme park. Go on ‘urban safari’ as well, to test your organisational skills in a simulated event game.

In the second semester you will work on developing an entrepreneurial attitude. You will do this by working in teams throughout the semester on a real life issue from a player of one of the leisure sectors. You will analyse the client and the environment and come up with a solution for the problem. The client tests this solution and gives your project team feedback. In the end, you will deliver a final, meaningful leisure or events product or service.

At the end of the semester, you will do volunteer work for one of our partners, such as the Hello festival in Emmen, the TT in Assen or Oerol on Terschelling.

More in-depth study

In the second year, you will look at the leisure industry from a tactical management perspective and learn about all aspects involved in event organisation. You will be tasked with organising an event or project for a client in your future field and will enrich your student experience by meeting industry professionals who have created experience concepts. In addition, you will explore the intricacies of project management, imagineering, concept development and research. You will also do an internship for one day per week at a leisure company. This allows you to apply your acquired knowledge in practice. Moreover, you will go on fieldtrip to Paris & Disneyland Paris.

Specialisation and international opportunities

At this stage of the programme, you will become involved in strategic management and carry out a research project in an organisation in your future field. You will develop your vision of the field and work on topics such as placemaking and event policy. You will then choose to specialise in one of the following areas: Event Management, Sport Management, or Arts and Culture. You also have the opportunity to complete part of your course at any of the Grand Tour locations in the Netherlands, Indonesia (Bali), South Africa, or Thailand, or spend a semester abroad as part of our international student exchange programme.

Internship and graduation

You will complete the programme with an eight-months internship, which you may carry out at a company in the leisure industry all over the world. By this time, you will be all set for an exciting career in your chosen industry!

Event Design Canvas TM (EDC) is integrated in the Leisure & Events programme. You will receive the Level 1 certificate for this component. EDC is an internationally recognised organisation that trains and recognises event professionals worldwide.
Together with your bachelor’s degree you will also receive a certificate from the trade association IDEA (Independent Dutch Event Association).

When you choose one of the specialisations offered by Leisure & Events Management, you will spend the last three semesters of your course specialising in a sector of the leisure industry, choosing from Sports, Events, Art and Culture and Tourism. By taking two minors, doing an internship and working on your thesis, you will become fully immersed in the field of your choice. Of course, you can also choose your own path and opt for minors offered by other NHL Stenden programmes or go on Grand Tour or International Exchange.

• Event Management: You will spend a full semester working on one of a leisure manager’s key skills: organising events and projects. Events are becoming an increasingly popular way for businesses and organisations to build customer loyalty. You will take two English-language modules, on completion of which you will receive a certificate from the relevant industry associations. Find out more about Event Management in Bali or South Africa.
• Sports Management: This specialisation prepares you for a career in the world of sports. You will get to incorporate the knowledge you acquired in the previous two and a half years of your Leisure & Events Management course. This is important since, as a sports manager, you will inevitably be dealing with related sectors such as tourism, the media and recreation. Note that more general sport management courses do not offer this same breadth of knowledge.
• Art and Culture Management: In this course, you will be trained to understand how cultural organisations such as museums, theatres, cultural centres and pop music venues are run. You will learn about management, booking events and performances, financial management, arts funding, and marketing. In addition, you will explore the art scene in an international city and come up with a field of research or other projects to undertake.