AMAP for New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation [Ref: 0032]

 

Review of Horticulture AMAP

 

The New Zealand Horticulture Industry Training Organisation (NZHITO) has completed the review of the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) above.

 

Date new version published                                                             May 2010

 

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

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

The NZHITO AMAP has been reviewed to:

• update moderation and accreditation roles, these were previously contracted to the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.  This has now been brought back in-house and needs to be reflected in the AMAP.
• ensure that programmes of study delivered by accredited organisations more accurately reflect the needs of industry and other stakeholders.
• promote an integrated approach to curriculum design, delivery and assessment that reflects good educational practice.
• ensure that accredited organisations are meeting current moderation and accreditation requirements when applications to extend their accreditation are considered.
• make explicit the requirements for accreditation that apply to the National Certificate in Horticulture (Advanced) (Level 4) with strands in Amenity Horticulture, Fruit Production, Landscape, Nursery Production, Postharvest, Production Horticulture, Viticulture, and Vegetable Production [Ref: 1015].  This has been included to provide clarity to the applicant organisations.
• reflect the large growth in the enrolment of international students in horticulture.  The AMAP now reflects the requirement set out by the Ministry of Education for the pastoral care of international students through being a signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.
• ensure that applicant organisations are using technology that reflects current industry practices.
• ensure that curriculum development is well informed by having a horticultural teaching staff member employed during programme and curriculum development.
• update sector.
• address recommendations for accreditation requirements for the Arboriculture and Viticulture sectors.
• incorporate a requirement for good educational practice, applicant organisations are required to show educational pathways for students so that students are not disadvantaged by educational barriers should they wish to continue their education and training.
• clarify requirements for applicant organisations teaching and assessing in the workplace so that learners are not disadvantaged should issues arise in the placement(s) or should the placement(s) be terminated.
• promote the use of common assessment tasks, which have been developed by the NZHITO for use by accredited organisations.
• include implementation of national external moderation in the workplace and/or in a training facility for practical unit standards.
• update the moderation process, which will result in the National moderation panel being disbanded.
• update the process for appealing a moderation decision to include the NZHITO Deputy CEO where an appeal is not resolved by the National Moderator.  The final decision lies with the National Moderator.

 

The consultation process involved:

• industry-wide consultation with industry representatives, accredited organisations and other stakeholders.
• the AMAP was circulated for consultation via a range of methods including emails to all accredited providers, placement on the NZHITO website, and presentations at NZHITO moderation workshops throughout the year to date.

 

Compliance with new requirements

 

Accreditation requirements will apply with effect from June 2010.  Technology requirements need to be implemented by July 2010.

 

Moderation system requirements will apply with effect from June 2010.

 

Accredited organisations will be expected to be able to demonstrate compliance with AMAP requirements from December 2010 onwards.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

ACCREDITATION INFORMATION (AI)

 

Standard Setting Body involvement in accreditation process

Evidence of support requirements has been added.  Applicant organisations should submit their accreditation application to NZQA with evidence of support from NZHITO.

 

Visit waiver conditions

·         Accredited organisations need to demonstrate that they are meeting existing moderation and accreditation requirements before an extension to their accreditation will be supported.

 

Industry or sector-specific requirements for accreditation

·         Requirement added that applicant organisations seeking extension to existing accreditation must be able to demonstrate they are meeting current moderation and accreditation requirements, and justify why the extension is being sought.

·         Criterion 1 - requirements added for applicant organisations to have policies and procedures that ensure: regular stakeholder and industry consultation; career pathways and linkages to higher level programmes are specified.  Requirements were also added for organisations intending to deliver teaching programmes leading to the award of the National Certificate in Horticulture (Advanced) (Level 4) with strands [Ref: 1015].

·         Criterion 2 - requirement added for applicant organisations to have access to current industry technologies for students to use, to ensure students don't enter the workforce with skill and knowledge deficits with regard to industry change.  Requirements were also added for organisations intending to deliver teaching programmes leading to the award of the National Certificate in Horticulture (Advanced) (Level 4) with strands [Ref: 1015].

·         Criterion 3 - specific qualification and experience requirements have been updated for the Viticulture domain and added for the Arboriculture domain.  Requirement added for applicant organisations to employ a subject expert for programme and curriculum development, to ensure that curriculum development is well informed.

·         Criterion 4 - requirement added for applicant organisations to be signatories to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students is to align with Ministry of Education requirements.

·         Criterion 6 - requirement added for accredited organisations to ensure that off-site placements do not unfairly disadvantage learners.  The obligations of each party must be clearly identified, and resolution processes must be specified.

·         Criterion 7 - requirements added to ensure any self-developed assessment material has been moderated prior to use.

 

MODERATION INFORMATION (MI)

 

Moderation System

The moderation system has been updated to:

·      provide for the NZHITO to conduct visits and interviews for a sample of accredited organisations assessing against practical unit standards at level 3 and above, each year;

·      include criteria used to select unit standards for moderation.

 

Appeals

Appeals process updated to indicate that where these cannot be resolved by the NZHITO National Moderator, appeals will be considered by the Deputy CEO (whose decision is final and binding on all parties).  This change reflects the role of the Deputy CEO who has significant responsibility for academic issues.