IAAPA FOUNDATION GRANTS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TO BREDA UNIVERSITY
October 11, 2021
Tom Wages, Executive Director of the IAAPA Foundation stated, “This funding is an expression of the support that the IAAPA Foundation Board Members have for the attractions management degree program that Breda University offers, and for Breda’s demonstrated commitment to the attractions industry. The IAAPA Foundation is very pleased to play a role in Breda’s efforts to support the attractions industry.”
Breda University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch vocational university located in the city of Breda in the Netherlands. A medium-sized public institution for higher education, Breda University caters to 7,000 Dutch and foreign students from more than 100 different countries. As a world-renowned university for leisure and management, Breda University specializes in preparing students for international careers for various industries including attractions management.
Bart Stadhouders, Breda University Coordinator of the Attractions & Theme Parks Management program stated “We are thankful for the financial support of the IAAPA Foundation and the student networking opportunities at the IAAPA Expos. We are very proud of our recent Attractions and Theme Park Management graduates from Breda University. Nearly all of the students found excellent jobs within the attractions industry, working for great companies such as Efteling, Floriade Expo, Make-a-Wish, Plopsa Group, Swedice, and Toverland. It is our stated goal at Breda University to bring more students into the attractions industry in the future.”
The selection process for the scholarships will include an evaluation of the student’s submission of a motivational letter and a video pitch. Two students will be chosen per year to be awarded with this prestigious scholarship.
Jim Seay, Chairman of the IAAPA Foundation and President of Premier Rides commented, “The IAAPA Foundation has had a great relationship with Breda University for a good number of years. Their students have an amazing amount of passion for the global attractions industry, and they literally light up the room when they participate in IAAPA Expo educational sessions and the Young Professionals Forums. Their enthusiasm is great for the industry, and it is wonderful that the IAAPA Foundation is continuing to support the students’ aspirations to be a part of our great business.”
The IAAPA Foundation relies exclusively on generous private donations to support the future leaders of the global attractions industry. Financial support is crucial to this important industry effort and donations can be made through the IAAPA website.
About IAAPA Foundation
The IAAPA Foundation exists to inspire life-changing careers in the global attractions industry by cultivating tomorrow’s leaders. The IAAPA Foundation provides academic scholarships to students who are focused on entering a career in the global attractions industry. Scholarships are offered in conjunction with leading colleges and universities that provide courses, internships and degree programs that focus on the attractions industry.
In addition, the IAAPA Foundation provides experiential scholarships in conjunction with colleges and universities that sponsor student emersion into IAAPA sponsored Expos and educational events. For more information, visit www.iaapa.org/iaapa-foundation
The first scholarships from IAAPA Foundation handed out
Two international students of the Attractions & Theme Parks Management specialisation area (within Breda University of Applied Sciences) received a unique scholarship from the prestigious IAAPA Foundation. This was announced last week in Orlando. Asia Cantoni from Indonesia and Manuel Lackner from Germany will receive funding for their education for two years. Curious about what they will do with this money? Check out their reaction to this great news in the video.
The ATPM track marks its 5th anniversary this year. In this specialisation area, bachelor’s students are trained to become management professionals in the international attractions industry. This English-taught study track is unique in Europe and has been designed especially to meet the growing demand of the world-wide attractions industry for highly qualified and commercial managers.
Are you interested in the track Attractions & Theme Parks Management? You have the chance to receive a special scholarship. Two scholarships are offered by IAAPA Foundation to stimulate international students to follow the special track for the Attractions & Theme Parks industry.
> A two year grant will be awarded to two international students to study the Attractions & Theme Parks Management Program at Breda University of Applied Sciences.
> Selection and recognition of the scholarships will be done via a contest where international students show their ambition and passion to become successful in the Attractions & Theme Parks industry.
> The Attractions & Theme Parks Management track is part of the Tourism and Leisure & Events educational programme of Breda University of Applied Sciences
We are Breda University of Applied Sciences
Some 7,000 students from over 100 countries are studying at our international higher education institute. Our campus is situated in the south of the Netherlands, in the city of Breda, only 100 km from both Amsterdam and Brussels. Our institute, formerly known as NHTV Breda, was founded in 1966 as a provider of bachelor’s courses in tourism and leisure, and in this field it is currently the largest and leading education institute in the world. New professional and academic bachelor’s and master’s programmes have been developed since then. Today we offer degree programmes in the domains of Built Environment, Facility, Games, Hotel, Leisure & Events, Logistics, Media and Tourism.
2020 -2021.
Want to apply? At BUas.nl you will find detailed information about the application procedure and a helpful step-by-step plan. Please apply before 15 August 2020.
IAAPA Foundation
The IAAPA Foundation exists to inspire lifechanging careers in the global attractions industry by cultivating tomorrow’s leaders. By raising awareness among students of the career opportunities available to them within the industry, they can help develop pathways for them
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There will be no European Theme Parks Talent contest in 2019/2020. We have now partnered up with IAAPA. For more information we refer you to the IAAPA Foundation, see also information here above.
European Theme Park Talents 2017 met Olaf Vughts and Frans Goenee
Yesterday the three European Theme Park Talents of 2017 received their certificates from Olaf Vughts (Member of the board at the Efteling) and Frans Goenee (inspiration manager at the Efteling). Three Belgians hold the prestigious tittle this year: Yann Lenaerts & Gilles Boom and Robin Vandenberghe. They also had the opportunity to talk to the two theme park experts during a meeting in the Raveleijn office of the Efteling. They gave a short presentation about their idea’s and discussed developments in the industry.
Incubator of talent
Goof Lukken, one of the lecturers of ATPM at NHTV says: ‘We want to be the incubator of theme park talent. Many people dream of working in this beautiful industry, but only a few are suitable. A European Theme Park Talent needs to be a commercial, hospitality-friendly and creative manager in order to be successful in the future. We are one of the top tourist-universities in the world and we only want the best students to come to Breda. That’s the reason why we created the contest. We were again very suppressed by the different fresh idea’s we have received’.
Both Olaf Vugts and Frans Goenee were impressed by the talent: ‘This was a very inspirational session and well tought through concepts. Nice to see the passion of this young proffesionals’, said Olaf Vugts.
Two strong concepts
The jury could not decide which concept was the best and therefore decided to announce two winners. The first concept has been created by Yann Lenaerts & Gill Boom from Belgium and is an innovative way of using souvenir photo’s in theme parks. The second concept is created by Robin Vandenberghe. He came up with a revolutionary concept for food and beverage in the industry .
They also had the opportunity to talk to the two theme park experts during a meeting in the Raveleijn office of the Efteling. They gave a short presentation about their idea’s and discussed developments in the industry.
Webcast about the winners of the European Theme Park Talent Contest 2017
The webcast about the new European Theme Park Talents 2017 is now online. Who has won? See it here: Webcast
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Who will be the European Theme Park Talent of 2017?
NTHV university hosts contest together with attractions industry
After the success of the first talent contest in 2016, NHTV (university of applied sciences in Breda, the Netherlands) is looking for the newest European Theme Park Talent. NHTV is the first university in Europe that educates future managers of Theme Parks, Attractions and Zoos. in a special track named: Attractions & Theme Parks Management (ATPM). This University has also higher ambitions. It wants to be the future knowledge- and expert centre of the European Theme Park Industry. Together with the European theme park industry is the university looking for looking for new talent.. European students from secondary school, or a higher level vocational degree in the field of leisure, attractions or recreation can participate.
Incubator of talent
Goof Lukken, one of the lecturers of ATPM at NHTV says: ‘We want to be the incubator of theme park talent. Many people dream ofworking in this beautiful industry, but only a few are suitable. A European Theme Park Talent needs to be a commercial, hospitality-friendly and creative manager in order to be successful in the future. We are one of the top tourist-universities in the world and we only want the best students to come to Breda. We will announce the second European Theme Park Talent in spring 2017. He or she will win a meet & greet with one of the members of the professional jury, Olaf Vugts. He is the CEO of imagineering at one of Europe’s leading theme parks, the Efteling”.
The competition
To find this talent the NHTV created a new competition last year: The European Theme Park Talent. Therefore contestants need to present an innovative idea for a European theme park, attraction or zoo. In the final, candidates will have to answer questions about the industry and pitch their best innovative idea for a theme park, zoo or attraction in their country. A professional jury (with both lecturers and industry professionals) will decide who is the European Theme Park Talent of 2017. Last year the first talent was Rutger de Wit. He was very enthusiastic: “By winning this contest I got great opportunities. I got the chance to meet Olaf Vugts the CEO of imagineering at the Efteling, and it became more clear to me that I really want to work in the attractions industry”.
To participate
The competition is open to everybody who is in his/her final year of secondary school, or has a bachelor degree or a higher level vocational degree in the field of leisure, attractions or recreation. The first round is a national round. Per EU-country one candidate will be entering the Finals. To enter the competition students will have to pitch their most innovative idea for a theme-park, zoo or attraction they know. This pitch can be a sketch, a story, a video or a small text. Goof Lukken: ‘We want students to show their vision on the industry. Maybe they have great ideas about new rides or attractions or even new concepts for shops, or restaurants. The most important rule is that they are new, creative and innovative ideas’. Deadline for the contestants is Wednesday, March 22nd.
Finale
Every EU-country will have one place for a contestant in the final. The finalists will be announced by a European press release. In a special vlog the last three finalists will be announced. The European Theme Park Talent 2017 will be amongst these three finalists and we be announced at the end of the vlog. The vlog will be online on Wedsnesday, April, 19th.
If you want to partcipate, send an email to lukken.g@nhtv.nl with your concept and personal details such as your name, age and mobile phone number.
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Rutger de Wit is the European Theme Park Talent of 2016
NTHV university’s special track Attractions & Theme Park Management hosts first contest
On march 4th the NHTV announced that Rutger de Wit from Franeker, the Netherlands is the first European Theme Park Talent. He will receive his prize on the open day of the university on 12 March. The NHTV University of Applied Sciences in Breda, the Netherlands is the first university in Europe that educates future managers of Theme Parks, Attractions and Zoos in a special track: Attractions & Theme Parks Management (ATPM). NHTV wants to be the future knowledge- and expert centre of the European Theme Park Industry. It has strong relations with the theme park industry in Europe and is looking for talent which is why this contest was created.
Innovative idea
Rutger presented his idea to the professional jury. He designed a new NFC-bracelet that together with an app will provide guests to theme parks a better experience. Together with this new and innovative tool the guest can make reservations for restaurants and rides but also participate in a game. Olaf Vughts, director of imagineering and chairman of the jury said: ‘This is really an innovative idea and it will lead to a better experience for our guests and more cooperation between parks’.
Talent incubator
Goof Lukken, one of the lecturers of ATPM at NHTV was also excited about the new Theme Park Talent: ‘We want to be the incubator for future theme park entrepreneurs. Many people dream of working in this beautiful industry, but only a few make their dreams come true. A European Theme Park Talent needs to be a commercial, hospitable and creative manager in order to be successful in this industry. We are one of the leading travel, tourist and leisure universities world wide and we only want the best students to come to Breda. Rutger perfectly fits the NHTV vision. He has passion for the industry and thinks ahead.’ Rutger de Wit will receive his prize on March 12th at the open day of the NHTV and Attractions & Theme Park Track in a surprising and creative way. Next to a visit to the open day of NHTV the new talent will meet CEOs of the Efteling and Safaripark Beekse Bergen.
The competition will continue
NHTV will continue to organize this competition. Goof Lukken: ‘We have had so many positive responses that we will certainly organise this competition in upcoming years. In the future we hope for more candidates from more EU-countries and maybe even the world.”
Are you the next European Theme Park Talent please email to lukken.g@nhtv.nl and we keep you updated on the 2017 competition!