Application process opens for new degree in sustainable leisure management at VIU

Vancouver Island University is launching a long-awaited Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management.

The first public announcement of the graduate degree occurred in South Korea at the 11th World Leisure Congress on September 1st.

The graduate program, set to process applications starting Nov.15, is unique because it is endorsed by the Degree Quality Assessment Board of British Columbia’s Ministry of Advanced Education and the World Leisure Organization, an affiliate of the United Nations.

Team-taught by faculty in VIU’s Department of Recreation and Tourism Management, instruction will begin late Aug. 2011. The program is open to domestic and international students.

“It will be delivered in a non-traditional educational setting where the instructional approach draws upon field experience, classroom, and experiential styles of learning,” said Recreation and Tourism professor Dr. Robert Pfister.

“Candidates in this program will be part of an international learning group that will set sail on a journey of exploration and discovery. Course work will be offered face-to-face at VIU's Nanaimo campus; however, through field experience and thesis research, students may find themselves traveling to rural communities and urban centers across Canada or the far corners of the globe.”

While in Nanaimo, students will be exposed to global leaders in the investigation of sustainability and innovation in leisure management while working with the World Leisure Organization’s and VIU faculty’s vast networks.

“We see leisure as a means of sustaining healthy individuals, healthy communities and healthy environments,” said Pfister. “Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, innovation, and knowledge mobilization in the leisure field.”


Program instruction will focus on sustainable theory and practices which are vital to the social, cultural, economic and environmental well-being of society and quality of life experiences.

Graduates will become innovative leaders who are able to examine and create solutions which ensure that residents and travelers alike enjoy recreational experiences, natural and cultural amenities, heritage resources, and adventure as part of their life experiences, added Pfister.

One year ago this month, the World Leisure Organization designated VIU as a World Leisure Centre of Excellence (WLCE). There are only two WLCE sites in the world – the other is located in the Netherlands. Both President Ralph Nilson and VIU Tourism professor Dr. Nicole Vaugeois are lifetime members of the World Leisure Organization.

“As a WLCE we are dedicated to the advancement of international scholarship, graduate education, research and service focused on innovation and sustainability in all aspects of leisure, recreation and tourism,” explained Dr. Vaugeois, herself a graduate of the WLCE program in the Netherlands. “Our new masters program ties in perfectly with the goals we are trying to accomplish.”


Nilson said the introduction of the Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management is a natural evolution for VIU’s Faculty of Management.

VIU’s Recreation and Tourism Management programs are highly regarded, with more 800 graduates in the past 35 years.


“Our graduates are considered among the best in the industry,” said Nilson. “Many of them are working in top positions in recreation, tourism, hospitality, and event management companies across British Columbia, Canada, and the world. We are extremely proud of their achievements, and of the quality faculty members who teach in this area.”

“We have a lot to be proud of including 35 years of recreation diplomas, 20 years of tourism diplomas, and 10 years since the start of the Bachelor of Tourism Management program, added Pfister. “The designation of VIU as a World Leisure Centre of Excellence and approval of the new Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management are wonderful developments, allowing VIU to take recreation and tourism management training to an exciting new level.”

For information about the masters program, visit or contact, Dr. Robert Pfister, Chair, Graduate Degree Steering Committee Robert.Pfister@viu.ca or Dan McDonald, Co-Chair/Faculty Department of Recreation & Tourism, Dan.McDonald@viu.ca.

For information about the World Leisure Organization, go to .