Dear students and esteemed stakeholders,
The Department of Recreation Management of the Faculty of Tourism at Balıkesir University was established on 28.08.2013; it admitted its first cohort of students in the 2018–2019 academic year and graduated its first class on 22.06.2022. Since its establishment, our Department has pursued the goal of becoming a guiding and reputable academic unit whose views are sought in the field of recreation. Building on the value of recreation at the individual, community, and destination levels, our core priorities include strengthening the field’s theoretical foundations, producing practice-oriented projects, developing high-quality collaborations with the private sector and public institutions, and bridging scientific knowledge with needs in the field. With an educational approach centered on graduate competencies, the Department’s strategic orientation is to build a program identity recognized nationally and internationally, support graduates’ access to qualified employment opportunities, and contribute to the institutionalization of recreation expertise in the public sphere.
Recreation refers to a multidimensional field that meets individuals’ needs for rest, renewal, socialization, learning, and self-actualization during their leisure time. For this field to function effectively, it requires a holistic approach extending from planning and design processes to operational management and evaluation. The recreation manager assumes a professional role by structuring this process on the basis of scientific principles, ethical values, and user-centered experience design.
At the heart of our educational approach is student development and the sustainable construction of professional competencies. While our curriculum provides a strong theoretical framework, it is reinforced through field practices, project-based learning, joint work with stakeholders, and activities that enable meaningful engagement with the sector. Accordingly, we aim to educate human resources who can comprehensively grasp the entertainment, experience, and leisure service dimensions of the tourism sector; apply this knowledge in practice; and demonstrate the flexibility to work in recreation service domains beyond tourism.
The program structure has been designed with a perspective that encompasses tourism-based experience and entertainment. This perspective supports graduates in gaining professional flexibility—enabling them to adapt and perform productively across different recreation domains, assume roles in emerging areas of practice, and develop innovative solutions.
By the end of the program, students are expected to have in-depth knowledge of the fundamental concepts, theories, principles, and phenomena related to the field of recreation. Core aims include gaining theoretical and practical competence in the management of recreation enterprises; understanding national and international legal regulations and professional standards; and applying these within an ethical framework. A level of professional proficiency is emphasized whereby students can develop evidence-based solutions to problem situations encountered in environments where recreation programs are delivered, monitor current developments in the field, and transfer them into practice.
Within the framework of program outcomes, students are expected to be able to plan activity and recreation programs that support physical, mental, affective, spiritual, and social development, taking into account individual differences, environmental opportunities, and safety requirements. It is important that they can use methods and techniques grounded in scientific foundations, develop data-driven decision-making skills, and assume responsibility as a team member or team leader in implementation processes. They are supported in gaining a perspective that can evaluate recreation practices within national and international cultural contexts and internalize a sustainability-oriented approach.
Quality in education and training is one of the main axes of the Department’s institutional management approach. In our Department, program outcomes and course learning outcomes are reviewed at regular intervals; measurement and evaluation processes are carried out in line with the principles of transparency and consistency. Internal and external stakeholders are systematically involved in updating the curriculum and in continuous improvement decisions. Academic advising, orientation, and career guidance mechanisms make it possible to closely monitor students’ academic performance, professional orientations, and individual development. Educating graduates with strong practical skills, critical thinking ability, a developed sense of ethical responsibility, and the capacity to adapt to an interdisciplinary working culture is the tangible goal of the Department’s quality policy. In line with this goal, course contents are updated by taking into account transformation dynamics in the sector and aligning with current discussions in the global recreation and tourism literature.
Societal contribution is not only an output area of the Department, but also a responsibility domain that nourishes its research and education agenda. Considering the effects of recreation practices on public health, quality of life, social cohesion, and the participation of disadvantaged groups, importance is placed on expanding field-based studies. Transferring the Department’s knowledge base into practice is regarded as a tool that strengthens evidence-based decision processes. For this reason, developing projects aligned with societal needs and scaling up good practices are among our institutional priorities.
Internationalization is an integral part of the Department’s education and research vision. International exchange programs—especially Erasmus+—are regarded as strategic opportunities that increase the interaction of students and academic staff with different academic cultures. In the coming period, priority targets include expanding the network of bilateral agreements, increasing mobility numbers, developing international summer schools and joint workshop programs, and establishing sustainable academic partnerships through joint research projects. In addition, increasing visibility in international congresses, working groups, and professional networks is embraced as a fundamental strategy that strengthens the Department’s global recognition.
Scientific contribution is one of the core areas of activity that shapes the Department’s institutional identity. Producing knowledge at the intersection of recreation and tourism; critically advancing this knowledge; and transforming it into outputs that can be transferred into practice are direct requirements of academic responsibility. In this context, interdisciplinary studies are encouraged, and visibility in national and international peer-reviewed publications, project development, and academic collaborations are supported.
Inclusiveness, ethical principles, and a participatory academic environment form the foundation of the Department’s culture. A supportive learning ecosystem is offered for students with different interests, learning needs, and career goals. Student representation, feedback mechanisms, and co-creation processes are considered important components that nourish the Department’s development. Respect, equality, transparency, and responsibility are the guiding principles across all components of academic life.
In addition, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and effective communication skills are among the program’s core learning gains. Students are expected to be able to use at least one foreign language at the B2 level of the European Language Portfolio to follow the literature in the field and to communicate professionally. A proficiency level is targeted whereby students can effectively use information and communication technologies and field-specific software; identify, analyze, interpret, and evaluate data. Developing conscious and responsible professional conduct regarding democracy, human rights, ethical values, occupational health and safety, and hygiene and sanitation is essential.
You can follow all information and developments about our Department through the official website and official communication channels of our Faculty. We invite all students who will join the Recreation Management Department family to become part of this journey of development, and we wish them health, happiness, and success in their careers.
Prof. Dr. Barış ERDEM
Head of Department