IFPRA International Qualification Scheme

General Introduction / Objectives
The IFPRA Qualification Scheme is designed to acknowledge qualified, competent, experienced, junior, middle and senior managers in park and recreation management. The objective of the Scheme is for Candidates to demonstrate their competence in and knowledge of practical aspects of parks and recreation management, as well as the relevance and implications of issues in the wider context of the industry.

All Candidates will be required to plan and produce a Project that demonstrates their ability to analyse a practical problem, collect relevant information, assess that information, identify and debate alternative solutions and make recommendations using appropriate problem solving and decision making techniques. The Project should also demonstrate the Candidate’s communication skills.

Scheme Structure

The IFPRA Qualification is offered at two levels. At each level, candidates are required to complete a work-based, practical project to a standard set by the Federation, addressing an issue or problem relevant to their work environment.

All Candidates must be members of the Federation.

Candidates are allowed four months for the completion of the Project from approval of the Project Outline. Candidates may enter and commence the Project at any time during the year. Successful Candidates are awarded a Certificate or Diploma signed by the President of the Federation and entitled to use the initials IFPRA (Cert) or IFPRA (Dip) after their name.

Entry by Academic Qualification

Entry to the IFPRA (Cert) Award in Parks and Recreation Management is open to candidates who:

• have held a junior or middle management post in the Park and Recreation industry for a minimum of one year and
• have a minimum of three years experience in the Park and Recreation industry

Entry to the IFPRA (Dip) Award in Park and Recreation Management is open to candidates who:

• have held a senior managerial post in the Park and Recreation industry for a minimum of one year, and have a minimum of five year’s experience in the Park and Recreation industry; hold the IFPRA (Cert) Award in Park and Recreation Management or a professional qualification of an appropriate level relevant to Park and Recreation Management.

Whilst students attending a relevant Course of Study may attempt the IFPRA Qualification, if successful, the (Cert) Award will be withheld until the candidates has completed two full years’ relevant employment and the (Dip) Award will be withheld until the candidates has completed four full years’ relevant employment.

Entry by Recognition of Experience
The Federation recognises that career development in the Parks and Recreation industry may be based upon experience, rather than qualifications. Candidates seeking to entry the Federation’s Qualification Scheme, who have not previously acquired appropriate academic qualifications may apply for entry by recognition of prior experience.

The eligibility of Candidates who do not hold relevant professional qualifications for entry in the IFPRA Qualification Scheme will be assessed on the candidate’s prior experience. In the case of the Level I Award, this should suggest a good understanding of the Park and Recreation industry in the country of employment. In the case of the (Dip) Award, managerial ability at a senior level in the country of employment is expected.

Recognition of Prior Experience will take account of:

• the candidate’s present job responsibilities
• the candidate’s overall length of service in the industry
• any relevant awards
• the candidate’s commitment to professional development

Assessment will be made from the information contained on the Candidate’s Statement of Entry Requirements. If necessary, further information may be requested.

Selection of a Project

Candidates should select an appropriate subject that will demonstrate the Candidate’s management abilities and satisfy the assessment criteria. The Project should be work based, of use to the candidate’s employer and of interest and relevance to the candidate. Special arrangements will be made for Candidates in full-time education.

The selection of a project theme is very important and care should be taken to ensure that the subject matter chosen provides the candidate with the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and ability sought by the assessors. Candidates should ensure that the information they require to complete the Project is available for use.

Project Outline
Candidates must submit four typed copies of their Project Outline in English, together with the appropriate Fee and Registration Form. Submission of a Project Outline is not part of the assessment process.

The Project Outline must not exceed 400 words and should include the following:

• Project Title - Choose a title that describes the Project
• Introduction - Explain the nature of the problem to be addressed
• Aims and Objectives of the Project - Explain in broad terms the objectives to be achieved
• Scope of the Project - Explain what data it is proposed to collect, how it will be collected and from what source
• Structure of the Project - Explain how it is proposed to evaluate and analyse the data

The Federation may accept or reject the Project Outline or require amendments to be carried out before accepting the Project. Notification to candidates will be made within one month of receiving the Project Outline. During the assessment process, Assessors, will refer to the scope and objectives of the Project to ascertain whether these goals have been achieved. There is a strong correlation between a good Project Outline and a good finished Project.

Project Outlines, Registration Form and Fees should be sent to the General Secretary, Ifpra Secretariat, Globe House, Crispin Close, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 7JS, United Kingdom

The Project
The Board of Examiners will consider project outlines and may approve, reject or amend a project outline.

Once approval of the Project Outline has been given, the candidate may commence work on the Project. The candidate has four months in which to complete the Project and the submission date will be advised on acceptance of the Project Outline.

The Project must be in English, typed, double-spaced and on one side of A4 paper with a one inch (25mm) margin on both sides. Each chapter should begin on a new page. Four copies of the Project must be submitted by the agreed submission date.

The Project length should be as indicated in the table below.

Appendices that are included by the Candidate are regarded as additional material and are also restricted in length as shown in the table below. Candidates should note that their work may be penalised if considered to be of insufficient length or too long.

If a candidate is unable to complete the Project by the agreed submission date, due to extenuating circumstances, the Federation must be notified immediately. Candidates who fail to submit a Project within the agreed time scale will forfeit their fee. Should they wish to resubmit within the following twelve months, they will be charged a 25% Registration Fee

IFPRA reserves the right, subject to the exclusion of any confidential material, to publish any Project.

Assessment of the Project
Assessors of Projects submitted for IFPRA Qualifications will base their assessment on the following criteria:

• Collection of Data – Candidates are expected to demonstrate ability to collect appropriate data and generate relevant information.
• Evaluation of Information – Candidates must carry out a reasoned analysis and interpretation of the data collected.
• Conclusions and Recommendations – Candidates must consider alternative conclusions from the data collected and make recommendations that are practical and capable of being implemented, whilst taking account of the resources available.
• Presentation – The presentation must be clear, in the form of a formal report and contain only relevant material. There should be evidence of a planned and logical approach with a balance between description and analysis. Tables and diagrams to illustrate the text should be included.

One hundred marks are available. Ten may be awarded for presentation and thirty for each of the remaining criteria.
Candidates will be advised of their success or failure within two months of the submission date. Successful candidates will receive a Certificate or Diploma signed by the President of the Federation.

Assessors will provide unsuccessful Candidates with an Assessment Report, which will explain the weakness of the Project. Candidates are advised that there is no right of appeal should they fail to satisfy the Federation’s Professional Qualification standards. No correspondence will be entered into concerning their results.

Originality of Work

Candidates who are suspected of plagiarism will be advised of the suspicion, invited to comment and, if plagiarism is confirmed, will be penalised accordingly.

For additional information about the scheme please follow the links below or visit http://www.ifpra.org/qualifications/index.htm

Step by Step Guide | Statement of Entry Requirements | Registration Form | Payment Methods
 Candidate Advice | Sample  | Titles of Projects