IFLA announces a global survey of practice

The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) has announced a Global Survey of Practice for Landscape Architecture in partnership with the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB).

IFLA is launching the survey with the aims of better understanding the practice of landscape architecture around the globe. By identifying similarities and differences in practice regionally and by country, the project seeks to expand the role, definition, and mobility of the landscape architect as well as understand how changes in practice, such as the response climate change, have forced the profession to evolve.

IFLA partnered with CLARB in 2021 to assist in developing and analyzing the survey through a data- driven scientific psychometric process known as a Job Task Analysis (JTA) in which practitioners participate in sharing their knowledge, skills, education, and practice focus. To ensure wide representation of the global profession, the survey was developed by a work group of IFLA volunteers representing each IFLA Region at a three-day session in May 2022 and revalidated by the work group in June 2022.

The Global Survey of Practice will launch during the IFLA World Congress and be available to all practicing landscape architects globally. The survey is available in six languages including, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and German and can be accessed at iflaworld.com/global-job- task-analysis. All survey submissions are anonymous and confidential—no personal information will be collected or stored.

Once the survey is complete, the data will be analysed by professional psychometricians and a full report will be provided to the IFLA membership. Additionally, each country and IFLA Region that has statistically significant participation will be provided a customised report. The analysed results and reports are expected to be available in early 2023.

Outgoing IFLA President James Hayter. Dr Bruno Marques from Victoria University of Wellington is about to take up the presidency.

“IFLA is excited to undertake this initiative as we believe it will validate the impact Landscape Architecture has globally,” said IFLA President James Hayter. “The most important piece of this survey is to get as much participation as possible globally. We encourage the IFLA members to help promote and distribute this survey!”

“CLARB is honored to partner in this effort with IFLA and we’re confident the results will elevate our profession globally,” said Chuck Smith, CLARB President.

About CLARB

Since 1970, CLARB has been dedicated to ensuring that all individuals who affect the natural and built environment through the practice of landscape architecture are sufficiently qualified to do so. CLARB works to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare by establishing and promoting professional licensure standards for education, experience and examination required for the profession of landscape architecture. CLARB’s members include the licensure boards that regulate the profession of landscape architecture in the United States, including District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario.