Review of Agriculture qualification

FIELD AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

Review of Agriculture qualification

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

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

Date new version published April 2010

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2015.

Summary of review and consultation process

Feedback initiated the review of qualifications for trainees new to the agriculture sector. There have been low enrolments and subsequent completions for new trainees in Level 2 agriculture qualifications. The review identified that while the intended outcomes of the qualifications met industry needs, the detailed structure did not deliver on the requirements for those undertaking vocational study, which proved that the qualifications were not fit for purpose and in some cases needed additional resourcing.

An internal working group was formed in August 2009, to confirm the outcomes required for training at levels 2 and 3; to scope a qualification structure, and to work through assessment and course delivery options. External consultation was carried out with employers, training providers and industry stakeholders to ensure the training packages were fit for purpose.

The recommendation of the working group was to first review the National Certificate in Farming Skills (General Skills) [Ref: 1468], as the purpose of the qualification was the closest fit to the outcomes required for all trainees new to farming. It was then also recommended that the National Certificate in Agriculture (Stockperson - Cattle and Sheep) (Level 3) [Ref: 1437], be reviewed to meet the livestock handling training needs of trainees new to the cattle and sheep farming industries.

Further work on the remaining Agriculture qualifications at Level 2 and 3 will be carried out during 2010.

Main changes resulting from the review

The structure of the National Certificate in Agriculture (Stockperson - Cattle and Sheep) (Level 3) [Ref: 1437] has been updated to include a compulsory section and two elective sections. The splitting of the elective section was in response to feedback from the working group and industry representatives. The second elective section allows for flexibility to choose stockmanship skills and knowledge relevant to different farming sectors.

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

National Certificate in Agriculture (Stockmanship) (Level 3) [Ref: 1437]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Changes to structure and content

· The title has been changed to reflect common terminology used by the industry

· The elective section was split into Elective 1 and Elective 2

· Standards 19110 and 24633 were moved from the compulsory section to Elective 2

· Standards 561, 24625 and 24631 were added to the compulsory section

· Standards 19054, 19055, 19111, 19148, 23542, 24558, 24559, 24560, 24561, 24562, 24563 and 24632 were removed from the qualification

· Standards 575, 577, 19146, 24620, 24640, and 24644 were moved to Elective 2

· Standards 581, 19074 and 24645 were added to Elective 2

· Total credits decreased from 57 to 50.

Transition

All existing candidates may complete version 1 of this qualification by 31 December 2013, or transfer to version 2.

The start date for programmes or courses for version 2 of this qualification is at the time of registration.

This qualification contains standards that replaced earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standard are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
19107	24633
19113	24619, 24638

It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by this review. However, anyone who feels they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the Agriculture Industry Training Organisation at the address below.

Agriculture Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 10383

The Terrace

Wellington 6143

Telephone 04 801 9616

Facsimile 04 801 9626

Email standards@agricultureito.ac.nz

Website http://www.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