Emerging adulthood has the following characteristics , It involves the people between the ages of 18-25 years, who have completed secondary education and are mostly university students. Emerging adulthood provides opportunities on identify exploration and endless possibilities. Emerging adulthood has three different domains that influence it in terms of leisure. The domains are biosocial, cognitive and psychosocial. The biosocial domain focuses on social and biological development in terms of the brain developing and having better connections. The influence it has in leisure involves determining their interests and testing their abilities in terms if sports. The cognitive domain focuses on how people think and they develop morally. The influence of leisure the cognitive domain has on leisure would be realizing the importance of leisure in one’s life. The last domain which is psychosocial. It focuses on the individual’s interaction with the social world. The way that it influences leisure is developing a sense of autonomy and having more freedom with less responsibility. Taking a look at the different universities in terms of their leisure and recreational facilities they provide to students in terms of emerging adulthood.

Looking at the leisure and recreation activities presented in the NORT WEST UNIVERSITY, one can say that their leisure and recreation activities consist mostly of sports. They have a variety of sports activities such as athletics, cricket, hockey, and many more. The NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY wants to provide students with opportunities to grow their talents and contribute to their health and well-being. The reactional activities provide students with opportunities for social interactions and it helps build their self-esteem. They make a major contribution to students maintaining their healthy lifestyle and being physical active. For example it improves flexibility and balance.

Taking a look at STANFORD UNIVERSITY and the leisure and recreation facilities it provides for students. It is evident that it prioritizes leisure and works to maintain a balance between education and recreational activities. The recreational activities do not only focus on physical well-being but it also incorporates fun through learning. The activities provided focus on play, learning and students having a sense that they belong. They have activities such as aquatics and swimming which contribute to playing, while they also have adventure trips which are educational yet fun and they have outdoor education and recreational classes that provide students with the sense that they belong. They have summer camps that help develop students sense of autonomy as they provide them with the opportunity to choose what they wish to take part in. For example they can choose between physical sport or swimming for leisure purposes.

In terms of YALE UNIVERSITY and HARVARD. They both have similarities when it comes to their leisure and recreational activities provide to students. They have a variety of activities that consist of sports, intramurals and activities that accommodate every students. For example they don’t only focus on sports but have music and visual arts recreation activities such as pottery and photography.

Comparing all three universities with NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY. I would say that the NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY needs to change they way it addresses the developmental needs of students. It needs to improve on cultural activities and creating a more effective way for leisure activities to accommodate all students and not students that live in campus residences. Improve their word of mouth so that all students can be aware of the activities that are available besides sports. Activities/facilities  such as wall climbing, the art gallery and the museum. Because some students that live off campus are not aware of the facilities that are available besides sports and some facilities are only available for sports purposes not for leisure purposes.