Horticulture (Further Studies)

{NTIS Course Code: 21808VIC}
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTION
(CRICOS Course Code: 063812J)

Qualification:

This is a unique qualification developed by Horticultural Skills Australia for the training of people already operating in the horticulture industry seeking a horticultural qualification or for persons seeking to upgrade existing qualifications. The qualification is approved and accredited by the Victorian State registration authority VRQA and registered as follows:

hsa(course pathway)

Duration:

6 months / 26 Weeks

Tuition Fees:

AUD$6,500.00

Application Fee:

AUD$250.00 (including all materials)

Course structure

This qualification comprises completion of five (5) units of competency as delivered as follows:

Manage integrated approaches to sustainable soil management
Assess plant suitability for production
Manage nursery production
Manage the introduction of new horticultural systems
Mange Product quality

Unit content

VBQU 590: Manage product quality

VBQU 594: Manage integrated approaches to sustainable soil management

VBQU 593: Manage nursery production

VBQU 591: Manage the introduction of new horticultural systems

VBQU 592: Assess plant suitability for productivity

Background to the course:

It is intended that this course will provide education pathways for specialist growers and managers who can demonstrate an aptitude to complete the course based on previous experience and qualifications.

It is expected that candidates will demonstrate their suitability by:

having obtained a Bachelor or higher education qualification and wish to expand their knowledge and skills in horticultural production, or.
having obtained Diploma qualification and have significant relevant vocational practice and wish to expand their knowledge and skills in horticultural production., or
being currently employed in an organization engaged in the technical aspects of managing horticultural production and need a formal qualification, or
being currently employed in large horticultural businesses and agri-business organizations engaged in related areas such as sales, where they are required to provide technical advice and services to clients, or
having started their own horticultural business and require technical skills in crop establishment, agronomy and management of product quality.

In addition participants entering the course may be required to complete a skills examination and / or provide a third party employer certification of the participant's ability to manage a work team or a project.

Articulation / Pathways:

New opportunities for articulation are being developed and are expected to be announced shortly.

Our delivery strategy enables students to complete multiple qualifications and achieve the required industry based qualification via numerous pathways.

This course is designed to cater for nursery and production horticulture industries covering vegetables, fruits, nut crops and viticulture industry.

There are no pre- requisites for any of the units of competency in the course structure.

However, opportunities are provided to participants to apply for credit for any of the unit of competency through the RPL process. Therefore, successful completion of this course may be obtained through a combination of RPL and on-off the job learning.

This qualification offers our clients unique benefits, leading to enhanced employability and changing of their profiles in the industry.

This is a unique profile changing qualification specially designed for graduates desiring to enhance their employment prospects across all sectors of the horticulture and agribusiness industry.

HSA Our Difference:

The consultancy arm of our business provides strength and support to our training program-this why we deliver a training program with a difference. Through this part of our business we have established partnerships across all industry sectors throughout Australia.

Unlike other training organizations, HSA is a specialist school delivering full range of horticultural qualifications across all key sectors of the industry.

Our teaching team consists of highly qualified experts in their field with a horticultural research and consultancy background.

Our qualifications are designed, developed and delivered in consultation with the industry partners - this is why our graduates are sought after by the industry.

Our commitment to industry is to supply them with well trained and job ready people to perform variety of jobs in their horticultural enterprises. To achieve this outcome we ensure that our training program carry a high degree of applied technical knowledge and skills.

Course delivery:

This course will be offered during 2009 between 4pm and 9pm at our city campus located at level 7/55 Swanston Street, Melbourne on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursdays including 10 hours teacher of supervised project work that students will need to agree upon commencement of each Unit.

The course will be delivered sequentially over a 26 week period including any scheduled holidays periods.

Classes will be limited to 20 students with computer lab facilities available at the city campus.

Assessments

Will mainly take the form of industry project work and report writing.

Entry Requirements

Age - 18 years and over for all students.

English Proficiency Requirement
Domestic Students (Australian Permanent Residents and New Zealand Citizens):

Must complete a Language Literacy & Numeracy Assessment, assessed by the Language Studies Department.

International Students:

Student visa a granted based on country assessment level hence this will dictate the level of English proficiency and type of English proficiency test you will need to have done to secure a student visa and also gain entry into this program.

All students must complete a language and numeracy assessment assessed by the Language Studies Department at HSA, this is always done prior to commencement of your course. Students are encouraged to have completed an IELTS although this is not a mandatory requirement enrolment with HSA.

Assessment Level 1: HSA English proficiency test if none specified by the department of immigration during your visa application

Assessment Level 2: HSA English proficiency test if none specified by the department of immigration during your visa application

Assessment Level 3: IELTS 5.5 Overall Band Score, if IELTS 4.5 student must do 24 weeks of ELICOS prior to commencement of this course. If IELTS 5.0 student must do 12 weeks of ELICOS prior to commencement of this course

Assessment Level 4 - IELTS 5.5 Overall Band Score, if IELTS 5.0 student must do 12 weeks of ELICOS prior to commencement of this course

Entrance requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Applied Horticultural Production

Accepted pathways to the qualification include:

from an Undergraduate Degree, sometimes with relevant professional experience required.
from Higher Education or Tafe Advanced Diploma plus significant documented relevant work experience of not less than 1000hours.
from Diploma or higher level vocational certificate together with significant relevant documented work experience of not less than 900hours.
on the basis of extensive relevant work experience demonstrating potential to undertake work at this level.

Horticultural Skills Australia

Sukhjinder Singh