Leisure and Human Development : Navigating Socio-Cultural Landscapes

This edited volume analyses emerging trends in the world of leisure and human development from the perspectives of subjective well-being and policy development. It brings together a diverse group of authors to delve deep into the transformative effects of leisure on human development and the future of sociocultural policy planning related to new directions in the field. Setting itself apart from existing literature, the volume offers a comprehensive view of the multifaceted nature of leisure and its significance in enhancing well-being and personal growth. It explores the emotional richness of leisure experiences, the impact on bridging generational gaps, and the cultural relevance of leisure within various sociocultural settings. This work uncovers the powerful role of leisure in shaping relationships, cultural institutions, and communities, revealing its profound influence on human lives. For those in the fields of practice, policy-making, or research, this book serves as a valuable resource for creating inclusive and meaningful leisure experiences. The volume is an indispensable addition to the literature on the subject, and is of interest to academics, practitioners, or laypersons interested in the dynamics of leisure. 

Lorena Ronda, PhD., is a Professor at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, University of Deusto, Spain, where she holds the position of head of the bachelor programme in Management, Languages, and International Trade. At the University of Deusto, Professor Ronda imparts her knowledge and expertise to students across various undergraduate programmes, including management languages and international trade, philosophy, politics, economy, and tourism. In these programmes, she covers subjects such as business statistics and marketing research, marketing management, and Consumer Behavior. In the field of research, she has focused on critical areas such as behavioural economics, consumer behaviour and psychology, decision-making, choice, well-being and sustainable consumption. Her work has been published in top-tier journals, including Sustainable Production and Consumption, Journal of Product and Brand Management, Journal of Small Business Management, Management Decision, and Employee Relations, among others. Before her academic career, she gained valuable insights into marketing and business development while working with multinational corporations such as L'Oréal, Ashurst LLP, and Warner Bros.

Garazi Azanza, PhD., specializes in social and organizational psychology. She holds a BA in psychology from the University of Deusto and a PhD in Psychology (International Mention) from UNED (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Spain). Dr. Azanza is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of the University of Deusto, where she teaches undergraduate courses in modern languages and management, tourism, and international relations. Specifically, she instructs on the following subjects: people management, interpersonal skills, negotiation and leadership, and entrepreneurship. She also imparts knowledge on interpersonal communication within the Master's Degree in Human Resources at Deusto Business School. In the realm of research, Dr. Azanza’s publications primarily focus on leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship. She is an integral part of the communication research team. Before her tenure as an Associate Professor, she worked as a researcher at the Deusto Entrepreneurship Centre, where she coordinated entrepreneurship training programmes and engaged in social innovation research projects.

Alazne Mujika-Alberdi, PhD., holds a degree in economic and business sciences and a PhD in economics and business management from the University of Deusto. She has a master's degree in market research and information systems from UNED, as well as a University Expert Degree in design and statistical treatment of surveys for market studies and opinion polls from UNED. She is accredited as a professor by ANECA and UNIQUAL (Basque Agency for Quality). She has two six-year terms of recognized research, 2014-2019 and 2013. From 1997 to the present, she has created and taught several subjects in the areas of marketing, market research and advertising in different undergraduate degrees. At the postgraduate (master's and PhD) level, she has been a professor in charge of modules and seminars in the areas of methodology, innovation, marketing and corporate social responsibility. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, she has been the director of Degree Final Projects and master's final theses. She is a member of the "communication" research team of the University of Deusto, distinguished with the highest recognition by the Basque Government for the period 2019-2021, and has focused on the design of opinion and market studies and their statistical treatment in matters related to "marketing and society". She has around 50 publications, including articles in scientific journals, book chapters, and books. She has also participated in 20 competitive and concerted projects. In her research trajectory, her main contribution has focused on methodological design. She has supervised several doctoral theses and is currently supervising three. In the field of university academic management, she has been Vice Dean of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences from 2012 until now, Deputy Secretary of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences in 2011-2012, Secretary of the Department of Communication at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, 2009-2011, Vice Dean of the Humanities Faculty at the University of Deusto, 2003-2009 and Secretary of the Humanities Faculty at the University of Deusto, 2000-2003.