Monday, July 31 – Indiana University’s World Parks Academy (WPA), managed by Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands, as part of the School of Public Health’s Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism studies, signed its third agreement with national association leaders from Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) to offer the IU WPA Certified Parks Professional (CPP) certificate.
The CPP awards certification based on candidates’ knowledge, skills, and abilities in Asset Management, Landscape and Amenity Horticulture, Operations and Maintenance, Project Management, Resource Management, Business Acumen, Supervision, Interpretation and Education, Public Health, Leadership, and Recreation. This 11-competency framework was originally developed by IU Assistant Professor (part-time) and Eppley Institute Executive Director, Steve Wolter, in 2013. The research established an international standard for park, public land, and recreation managers in performing duties.
The Indiana University Office of International Partnerships approved MOU with PLA further refined the competencies, with approval by the WPA Board to further advance an international standard of professional development in the field of parks, public lands, and recreation management. “This long awaited agreement with Australia’s park, recreation, and public land professionals is the 3rd of many nations that have informal articulation with or formal agreements with Indiana University’s World Park Academy” said Steve Wolter. “Ongoing plans for certification workshops offered at IU’s International Gateways are being scheduled for the near future.”
Pictured below is IU WPA Board member and CEO of World Urban Parks (WUP), Digby Whyte, signing the MOU with PLA at the International Greenery, Recreation, Infrastructure, and Parks Conference and WUP Asia-Pacific Congress held July 20, 2017 in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Other associations partnering with the IU WPA to offer the CPP include Hortis, France and the Institute of Environment and Recreation Management, South Africa.