Following the successful completion of the first semester in the Dutch city of Breda, the second semester of the Master of Sustainable Outdoor Hospitality Management has just concluded at the Faculty of Management in Tourism and Hospitality (FMTU) in Opatija, Croatia.
This Master’s program is the first in Europe specialized in sustainable outdoor hospitality, aiming to train highly qualified professionals for the open-air sector. It spans 2 years, with instruction in English, and offers a perfect mix of theory and practice. This allows students to learn fundamental concepts of outdoor facility management and apply them through internship opportunities provided by the program’s partners.
Among these partners is the Italian-Dutch brand Vacanze col Cuore, which has also offered scholarships up to €5,000, Carthago-Malibu, PiNCAMP, ACSI, and ANWB. Camping Business is also involved in this important initiative, serving as a media partner for the Master’s program.
Four days on Lake Garda to deepen sustainable management practices
At the end of the second semester, the Master’s students enjoyed a 4-day study trip to Lake Garda, with the opportunity to visit 7 of the top campsites in this prestigious destination. This included 4 campsites from the partner Vacanze col Cuore (Weekend Glamping Resort, Vacanze Glamping Boutique, Sivinos Camping Boutique, and Il Gabbiano Park Residence) and 3 other high-level campsites: La Fornella, which is developing special sustainable practices; La Rocca with its unique accommodations; and Piani di Clodia, part of the LeadingCampings brand.
In each of these campsites, students delved into the management and operational aspects of the facilities, with a particular focus on sustainable management practices. Now, for the 5 students of this first edition of the Master’s program (from the Netherlands, Croatia, Belgium, and China), the professional internship period begins this summer. These internships will take place in elite outdoor sector companies: at a campsite on Lake Trasimeno in Italy, in the marketing department of PiNCAMP, in the development department of the Dutch publisher ACSI, in French campsitesfor animation, and in an Eco Lodge in Rwanda.
These professional internships will prepare the students for the third semester of study, which will take place at the University of Girona in Catalonia, Spain, from autumn until the Christmas holidays. Thereafter, the students will move towards completing their studies with the preparation and defense of their Master’s thesis, scheduled for next April.
Master 2024-2026: enrollment until August 15
Meanwhile, enrollments are now open for the new academic cycle 2024-2026, which will begin in Breda in the autumn. Applications can be submitted on the Breda University of Applied Sciences (BuaS) website until August 15.
The program for the Master 2024-2026:
- Study duration: 18 months
- New: Internship after the 2nd semester
- Start of studies in Breda: September 2024, completion January 2025
- Start of the 2nd semester: January 2025, completion May 2025
- Professional internship: June-August 2025
- 3rd semester: September to December 2025
- Final thesis writing: January to March 2026
- Final thesis defense: April 2026
