Review of Agriculture qualifications

FIELD AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

Review of Agriculture qualifications

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 2) [Ref: 0984]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) with strands in Arable Farming, Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 0985]

The Agriculture Industry Training Organisation has completed the review of the qualifications listed above.

Replacement qualifications

National Certificate in Agriculture (Introductory Skills) [Ref: 1433]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 2) with strands in Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 1434]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Animal Feeding and Pastures) (Level 3) [Ref: 1435]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Cattle Breeding) (Level 3) with strands in Beef Cattle Farming, and Dairy Cattle Farming [Ref: 1436]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Stockperson – Cattle and Sheep) (Level 3) [Ref: 1437]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Animal Health and Husbandry) (Level 3) with strands in Cattle Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 1438]

National Certificate in Arable Farming (Level 3) [Ref: 1439]

National Certificate in Dairy Farming (Milking) (Level 3) [Ref: 1440]

National Certificate in Dairy Farming (Animal Health and Husbandry) (Level 3) [Ref: 1441]

National Certificate in Deer Farming (Level 3) [Ref: 1442]

National Certificate in Sheep Farming (Sheep Breeding) (Level 3) [Ref: 1443]

Date new versions published September 2008

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2013.

Summary of review and consultation process

The qualifications were reviewed as they had reached their expiry date, and to update standards as a result of the agriculture standard review. Qualification content was discussed concurrently with the agriculture standard review which was carried out between September 2006 and July 2007.

Review panels made up of key industry representatives and Agriculture ITO field staff from each of the farming sectors were formed, and meetings were convened between July 2007 and July 2008. Initial discussions focused on the current status of the industry sector, any changes which had occurred since the last review which impacted on training, and the future direction of the industry. Feedback received since the last review was also considered.

The results of these discussions, and discussions carried out during the agriculture standard review, indicated a need to change the content and structure of qualifications to meet the needs of employers, and the learning styles and employment requirements of employees (including new entrants and career change candidates).

Draft qualifications were circulated for internal ITO consultation to training advisors, key accounts managers, and moderators. Suggestions were further considered by the review panels and incorporated if valid.

Final drafts were then placed on the website and all stakeholders (farmers, farmer trainers, industry sector organisations, training providers, and other ITOs) were notified of the opportunity to provide feedback. After feedback was considered by the review panels, qualifications were updated accordingly and endorsed by the Agriculture Industry Committee.

Agriculture, and especially dairy farming, remains a growth sector within the New Zealand economy. The demand for these qualifications, therefore, remains high nationally.

Main changes resulting from the review

· Qualifications have been separated into smaller, achievable packages of learning to suit the learning needs and styles of the learners of today.

· Qualifications have been restructured into specialist activities to match the specialist nature of modern farming, where an increasing number of larger farms employ people who specialise in one or more areas within the total farming enterprise.

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 2) [Ref: 0984]

replaced by

National Certificate in Agriculture (Introductory Skills) [Ref: 1433]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 2) with strands in Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 1434]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

There are substantial differences between the new and replaced qualifications. Changes include:

· The qualification has been replaced by two qualifications to allow for a progression of learning to take place.

Transition

Training programmes or courses for these qualifications may start as soon as the qualifications are registered. The last date for entry to programmes or courses for the replaced qualification is December 2009.

The last date for assessments to take place for the replaced qualification is December 2012.

Qualification 1433 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14489, 14490, 14491	23540, 23541
19043 and 19049	24552
19056	24553, 24554
19057	24555, 24556, 24557

Qualification 1434 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
12, 10088, 10089, 19124	24832, 24833
1531	24641
19043 and 19049	24552
19056	24553, 24554
19057	24555, 24556, 24557
19082	24623
19088	24548
19125	24834

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) with strands in Arable Farming, Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 0985]

replaced by

National Certificate in Agriculture (Animal Feeding and Pastures) (Level 3) [Ref: 1435]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Cattle Breeding) (Level 3) with strands in Beef Cattle Farming, and Dairy Cattle Farming [Ref: 1436]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Stockperson – Cattle and Sheep) (Level 3) [Ref: 1437]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Animal Health and Husbandry) (Level 3) with strands in Cattle Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 1438]

National Certificate in Arable Farming (Level 3) [Ref: 1439]

National Certificate in Dairy Farming (Milking) (Level 3) [Ref: 1440]

National Certificate in Dairy Farming (Animal Health and Husbandry) (Level 3) [Ref: 1441]

National Certificate in Deer Farming (Level 3) [Ref: 1442]

National Certificate in Sheep Farming (Sheep Breeding) (Level 3) [Ref: 1443]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

There are substantial differences between the new and replaced qualifications. Changes include:

· The qualification has been replaced by nine qualifications that recognise the needs of learners for smaller, achievable packages of learning.

· The qualifications are structured to reflect the specialist nature of farming.

Transition

The last date for assessments to take place for the replaced qualification is December 2012.

Qualification 1435 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14490, 14491	23542
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563
19102	24628

Qualification 1436 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14490, 14491	23542
18198	24546
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563
19082	24623, 24624

Qualification 1437 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14490, 14491	23542
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563
19107	24632, 24633
19113	24619, 24638

Qualification 1438 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14490, 14491	23542
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563
19113	24638, 24639

Qualification 1439 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14490, 14491	23542
19043, 19049	24552
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563
19121	24636

Qualification 1440 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14490, 14491	23542
18196	24550
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563
19088	24549

Qualification 1441 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
14490, 14491	23542
18198	24547
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563
19113	24619

Qualification 1442 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
1517	24808, 24809
14490, 14491	23542
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563

Qualification 1443 contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards – see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
1523	24642
1531	24641
14490, 14491	23542
19058	24558, 24559
19059	24560, 24561
19060	24562, 24563

It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by this review. However, anyone who feels they have been disadvantaged may appeal to:

Agriculture Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 10 383

THE TERRACE

Wellington

Telephone 04 801 9616

Email standards@agricultureito.ac.nz

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