Strengthening Global Partnerships in the US

IUSCA visits UCLA, USC, CSUF, CSULB, CSUN, and Pepperdine to expand collaboration across education and practitioner development

Last week, the International Universities Strength and Conditioning Association (IUSCA) undertook a strategic visit to several of our esteemed partner institutions across California, including:

🏛 University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

🏛 University of Southern California (USC)

🏛 California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)

🏛 California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)

🏛 California State University, Northridge (CSUN)

🏛 Pepperdine University

These in-person visits were part of our ongoing commitment to building strong, collaborative relationships with leading institutions around the world, particularly in the United States, a region central to the global growth of strength and conditioning education and practice.

Key Areas of Collaboration

Throughout the week, meetings and campus visits focused on advancing several key pillars of the IUSCA framework:

🔹 Volunteer Placement Program

We are expanding our international student placement program, offering UK and global students the opportunity to complete high-impact volunteer placements within elite US collegiate performance settings. These structured placements are designed to provide hands-on experience, cultural exchange, and professional growth within NCAA institutions, all supported by IUSCA practitioner certification pathways.

🔹 Degree Accreditation

Several discussions focused on IUSCA Degree Accreditation, our internationally benchmarked process for recognising academic programmes that embed professional certification and meet independent quality assurance standards. We were pleased to see strong alignment between IUSCA standards and the academic and applied strength and conditioning programmes delivered by our partner universities.

🔹 Internship Endorsement

As part of our commitment to raising the standard of applied learning experiences, we explored pathways for universities to receive IUSCA Internship Endorsement. This endorsement ensures that internship programmes meet rigorous criteria in terms of structure, mentorship, curriculum, and practitioner development. Endorsed internships offer students added value through free access to IUSCA Video, short courses, and embedded certification opportunities (IQF Level 2 and Level 4).

🔹 Coach Development Pathways

A major focus of our visit was aligning the IUSCA S&C Practitioner Pathway (Levels 2–8) with institutional goals for coach development and workforce readiness. By integrating certifications into degree programmes, placements, and internships, universities can provide students and practitioners with qualifications that are portable, internationally recognised, and regulated through the IQF and IQF-IRC.

Looking Ahead

We are excited about the next steps in each partnership and the many opportunities that will emerge for students, institutions, and practitioners as a result.

At the IUSCA, we believe that international collaboration, rooted in the principles and values of science, is essential to raising global standards in strength and conditioning. Our recent US visit represents a continuation of that mission: one built on mutual respect, academic excellence, and a shared commitment to the development of future practitioners and leaders.

🔗 To learn more about our global partnerships, accreditation processes, or certification pathways, visit: www.iusca.org