About World Parks Academy
Professional development for parks and recreation professionals has typically been reserved for national certifying organizations. Indiana University’s World Parks Academy seeks to unite national certification systems by providing the first international competency-based certification programs for the parks and recreation industry. Additionally, the World Parks Academy provides certifications for countries without a current national certifying body.
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Who We Are
The World Parks Academy is a joint program of Indiana University’s Eppley Center for Parks and Public Lands and World Urban Parks.
What We Do
The World Parks Academy provides a high-quality and comprehensive competency-based certification program to park and recreation professionals across the globe through two certification programs:
WPA also endorses university degrees and other tertiary parks, open space, and recreation-related programs that meet the Academy’s standards based on internationally developed competencies through its Program of Merit.
Why We Do It
Our objectives are to:
- Advance the parks profession worldwide.
- Share knowledge, tools, and expertise.
- Build global partnerships.
While many nations have strong domestic certification programs for park and recreation professionals, others do not. The World Parks Academy seeks to connect practitioners from various disciplines regardless of national certification status through an international competency-based certification program.
As global cooperation to steward the world’s resources becomes critical, it’s imperative for parks professionals to view and address their local issues through a global lens. This means learning from and partnering with international colleagues, and seeing ourselves a part of a unified movement with a shared mission.
How We Do It
The Eppley Center at Indiana University and the World Urban Parks commitment to parks and public lands spans over 75 years. Their combined efforts and experience informed the competency standards that have launched World Park Academy’s award-winning professional development and credentialling systems.
We use IU Expand and other digital platforms along with in-person workshops to deliver our standard creation, continuing education, workforce development, and capacity building programs for both agencies and professionals.
Please contact World Parks Academy for more information on how we can meet your training and credentialling needs.
History
For many years, World Urban Parks has pursued the concept of an international credential or qualification scheme for park and For many years, World Urban Parks pursued the concept of an international credential for park and recreation professionals. Starting in 2007, World Urban Parks (formerly known as the International Federation of Park and Recreation Administration) and the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands at Indiana University, USA, began to jointly envision such a program. Working steadily with limited resources and no funding, the Eppley Institute proposed establishing the World Parks Academy in 2011.
It was determined that an international competency-based certification program is necessary to reach the global parks and It was determined that an international competency-based certification program was necessary to reach the global parks and recreation industry. Further discussion led to the formation of a working advisory group in 2012. This group compiled information gleaned from numerous discussions over the years and began to outline the certification programs. Eligibility requirements were explored, program schemes were outlined, and an initial competency framework was developed. In the summer of 2013, the competency framework was validated by a global sample of park and recreation professionals, and Indiana University’s World Parks Academy launched in the fall of 2013.
In 2022, Indiana University began a new study to revalidate the Certified Park Professional certification which has further revised the World Park Academy’s 11-competency framework.
WPA Board Members
In mid-2013, the World Parks Academy (WPA) Board was established to provide governance and administrative oversight for the WPA.
