Review of Agriculture qualification

Field Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Review of Agriculture qualification

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) with strands in Arable Farming, Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 0986]

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

Date new version published July 2011

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2012.

Summary of review and consultation process

The qualification was reviewed to make changes to the content based on feedback received from industry.

The Agriculture ITO carried out an extensive consultation process to determine if any changes to industry practices had an impact on the learning outcomes of the standards forming the content of the qualification, and whether the standards were still fit for purpose. Changes were made to the standards reflecting the feedback received during the consultation process.

Following this process, the qualification structure and content was updated to reflect the standards and learning outcome changes received since the last review, and to incorporate feedback from ongoing Agriculture ITO feedback loops and conversations with accredited training providers and industry.

Updated learning outcomes were then sent to all industry stakeholders as well as accredited training providers; Agriculture ITO moderators and staff; and other persons identified with an interest in the qualification. The final version of the qualification structure was then developed and sent to select stakeholders for final comment. All feedback was considered by the review panel and incorporated where valid. Justification was recorded where feedback was not incorporated.

The final version of the qualification structure was endorsed by the Agriculture Industry Committee.

Main changes resulting from the review

Standards have been removed from compulsory sections within each strand. Where appropriate, these have been added to the elective sections to allow learners to have a choice of standards that recognise the seasonal, sectored and on-farm variations of modern farming. The Cattle Farming strand was renamed the Beef Cattle Farming strand to clearly differentiate it from the Dairy Farming strand.

The overall credit value of the qualification has changed from 83-95 credits to 82-130 credits, but essential skills that the learners obtain remain the same. The qualification title and purpose statement was reworded to reflect the main changes to the qualification.

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) with strands in Arable Farming, Beef Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 0986]

National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) with strands in Arable Farming, Beef Cattle Farming, Dairy Farming, Deer Farming, and Sheep Farming [Ref: 0986]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Version 3

Version 3 was issued following review in order to update content to reflect the seasonal, sectored and on-farm variations of current farming practice. The exemption tables for versions 1 and 2 were also updated to clarify transition arrangements - see previous version information below.

Changes to structure and content

Compulsory Section

· Standard 24544 replaced expiring standard 19144.

Arable Strand

· The two electives were restructured into a single elective.

· Standards 50, 19066, 19069, 19070, and 19071 were removed from the Compulsory.

· Standards 19044, 19062, 19067, 24545, 24618, and 24637 were added to the Compulsory.

· Standard 19140 was moved from the Compulsory to the Elective.

· Expired standard 27 was removed from the Elective.

· Standards 19064, 19065, 19119, 19120, and 19122 were added to the Elective.

Cattle Farming Strand

· The strand was renamed Beef Cattle Farming strand.

· Standards 19102, 19103, and 19113 were removed from the Compulsory.

· Standards 19109 and 25829 were added to the Compulsory.

· Standards 25375 and 25922 replaced standard 19077 in the Compulsory.

· Standard 24627 replaced expiring standard 19080 in the Compulsory.

· Standards 19078 and 25374 were added as an optional Elective.

Dairy Farming Strand

· Standards 18199, 19073, 19102, and 19103 were removed.

· Standard 25829 was added.

· Standards 25375 and 25922 replaced expiring standard 19077.

· Standard 24627 replaced expiring standard 19080.

· Standards 25378 and 25379 replaced expiring standard 19169.

Deer Farming Strand

· The Elective was removed.

· Standards 8625 and 8630 were removed.

· Standard 15599, 24818, 24820, 19101, and 24627 were added.

Sheep Farming Strand

· Standards 19102, 19103, 19156, and 19158 were removed from the Compulsory.

· Standard 25375 and 19109 was added.

· Standard 24627 replaced expiring standard 19154.

· Standard 25829 replaced expiring standard 19158.

· Standards 25382, 25383, 25384, and 25385 replaced expiring standard 19160.

· Standard 25923 replaced expiring standard 19156.

Transition

People working towards version 1 of this qualification must complete this by December 2012 or transfer their results to version 3. People currently working towards version 2 of this qualification may either complete the requirements of that version by December 2013 or transfer their results to version 3. All new learners will be enrolled in programmes or courses leading to the award of version 3.

This qualification 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.

Credit for	Exempt from
19077	25922, 25375
19080	24627
19144	24544
19154	24627
19156	25923
19158	25829
19160	25382, 25383, 25384, 25385
19169	25378, 25379

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.

Previous versions of the qualification

Versions 1 and 2 of this qualification contained standards that replaced earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expired standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
45	19101
51	19140, 19141
566	19073
568	19102
569	19103
579	19090
583	19076, 19077
589	19153, 19154
590	19155, 19156
592	19169
593	19191
596	19079, 19080
870	19071
1513	19071
1514	19071
874	19085
1519	19158
3150	19035
6536	19160
6537	19068
6538	19161
6539	19070
10085	19113

Versions 1 and 2 of this qualification contain standards that have expired or are expiring. Reverse transition has been included to allow candidates to complete the qualification using the expired and expiring standards or replacement and substitute standards.

For the purpose of versions 1 and 2 of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the replacement standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the expiring standards - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
24543	19144
24619	19113
24627	19080, 19154
24628	19102
24638	19113
25829	19158
25922	19077
25923	19156
25378, 25379	19169
25382, 25383, 25384, 25385	19160

For the purpose of versions 1 and 2 of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the substitute standard are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the expired standard - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
19064	27

Version 2 of this qualification contained standards that replaced earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expired standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
6540	21559
8629	19094, 19095

For the purpose of version 2 of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the replacement standard are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the expired standard - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
24941	19191

Version 1 replaced the National Certificate in Agriculture with strands in Arable, Beef, Dairy, Deer, Sheep, and General Agriculture [Ref: 0155] following its review early in 2002.

Version 1 incorporated the outcomes of a comprehensive review of Agriculture and Pest Management standards, completed in June 2002, (refer to table of exemptions below); the General Agriculture strand was deleted; total credits for the qualification decreased from 210 credits for all strands, to 80-83 for Arable Farming, 85 for Cattle Farming, 95 for Dairy Farming, 85 for Deer Farming, and 89 for Sheep Farming; standards 19142 and 19144 were added to the core compulsory section; and core elective sections were removed and replaced with strand specific elective requirements.

Version 1 of this qualification contained standards that replaced earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expired standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
1527	19159
8629	19095

For the purpose of version 1 of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the substitute standard are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the expired standard - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
21559	6540

Agriculture Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 10383

The Terrace

Wellington 6143

Telephone 04 801 9616

Fax 04 801 9626

Email standards@agricultureito.ac.nz

Website www.agito.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