FIELD                        AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, FISHERIES

 

Review of Sports Turf qualifications

 

National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 6) [Ref: 0204]

National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 7) [Ref: 0205]

 

The NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation (NZSTITO) has completed the review of the qualifications listed above that were registered in Sept 1996.

 

Replacement qualification

 

National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 6) version 1 [Ref: 1272]

 

Date new version published                        January 2007

 

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2011

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

These qualifications were reviewed to take account of changes to Level 6 and 7 Sports Turf unit standards and to address the low uptake of the qualifications.  The consultation process occurred concurrently with and continued subsequent to the review of the Level 6 and 7 Sports Turf unit standards.  Consultation involved engagement with the ITO Board representing industry sectors, industry leaders, training providers, and current and past candidates of these qualifications.

 

Industry feedback indicated a wish to retain a higher level qualification that allowed more flexibility for people to be able to focus their learning into a particular career direction, while still retaining a core of sports turf technical content.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

The two qualifications were restructured to take account of the reduced Level and credit value of the sports turf unit standard component of the qualification and issued as a single new Diploma in Sports Turf Management at Level 6.

 

A small core of compulsory units was retained with two elective sections established to retain a strong sports turf focus while allowing for candidates to develop their careers in a chosen direction.

 

National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 6) [Ref: 0204]

National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 7) [Ref: 0205]

National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 6) [Ref: 1272]

 

Review category

C

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

 

Summary of differences between the qualifications

 

·        As a result of the review of sports turf unit standards in March 2006 unit standards 4267, 4268, 4273 and 4274 in the replaced qualifications were designated as expiring and unit standards 4269, 4271, 4275 and 4279 were replaced (see table below).

·        The total credits for the qualification is now 120 credits; previously there was a total combined credit value of 320 credits for the two Diplomas (Level 6 was 125 credits and Level 7 was 195 credits) made up from 15 compulsory sports turf unit standards.

·        A small compulsory component of sports turf unit standards has been established with a total of 40 credits: unit standards 4270, 4272 and 21447.

·        Two elective sections have been established: Elective 1 is based on sports turf unit standards at level 6 or above and Elective 2 allows up to 45 credits at level 5 or above from a range of subfields and domains.

·        A credit transfer arrangement has been established with Massey University for relevant turf, business, and sport business papers.  This arrangement resulted from the review of unit standards 4267, 4268 and 4273 as these unit standards closely reflected the corresponding Massey papers.  A maximum of 40 credits can be transferred under this arrangement.

 

Transition arrangements

 

·        All new enrolments from January 2007 will lead to the new National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 6) [Ref: 1272].

·        People currently working towards version 2 of the replaced qualifications may either complete the requirements for that version or transfer their results to the new National Diploma in Sports Turf Management (Level 6) [Ref: 1272].  If transferring to the new diploma, candidates will need to gain the additional unit standards required.

·        The last date for award of version 2 of the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2009.  All existing candidates will be advised of this review and the option to complete or transfer.

·        This qualification contains unit standards that replace earlier unit standards.  For the purposes of this qualification people who have gained credit for the expiring unit standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement unit standards.

 

Credit for

Exempt from

4269

21446

4271

21447

4275

21450

4279

21451

 

It is the intention of the ITO that no existing candidate is disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.  Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged is requested to contact the NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation at the address below.

 

NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 347

PALMERSTON NORTH

 

Telephone            06 355 7025

Facsimile            06 354 0081

Email                       

 

Key to Qualification Review Categories

 

Category A

The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID

Changes are made to SSB name, contact details or purpose statement

No change is made to title, rules or components of the qualification

No transition arrangements are required

Category B

The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID

Changes are made to title, rules or components

The new version of the qualification recognises a similar skill set to that recognised by the previous version

The SSB is confident that people awarded the new or previous version are comparable in terms of competence

Transition arrangements are required if candidates must gain additional/different credits for the new version

Category C

A new (replacement) qualification is published with new NQF ID

Significant changes are made to the qualification in terms of components, structure, type or level

The SSB views people with the replacement qualification as being significantly different in terms of competence from those with the replaced qualification

Transition arrangements are required

Transition may be limited to phase-out dates

Category D

Qualification will expire.

There is no replacement qualification

Qualification is no longer required by industry

The qualification is designated as expiring and a last date for meeting the qualification requirements is set