Advanced Diploma in Horticulture

Purpose

This qualification is primarily industry related. The qualified learner will be competent to demonstrate integrated knowledge and apply a variety of advanced and specialised horticultural production methods and technologies, to manage greenhouses and maximise plant production systems, improve product quality and yield in order to contribute to enhancement of the green industry in communities and business environments. The qualified learner will be able to understand industry related project management and marketing principles in order to develop strategies and strategic plans on a competitive business basis.

Graduates will be multi-skilled and able to work independently and demonstrate an ability to identify, analyse, evaluate, critically reflect on and address complex problems, applying evidence-based solutions and theory-driven arguments in a horticultural setting, including understanding how knowledge relates to other related fields, disciplines or practices.

The qualified learner will be able to demonstrate an ability to develop appropriate processes of information gathering for a given context or use, and independently validate the sources of information and evaluate and manage the information, demonstrating scientific writing skills and preparedness for research. This qualification will also equip learners who wish to grow, propagate and improve plants (ornamental and edible) using advanced technologies and principles, emphasising the greening and preserving of the environment.

Rationale

This qualification is designed to fall within the vocational pathway at Level 7, and developed to fulfil the current need of knowledge enhancement for qualified horticulturists in South Africa. The horticulture industry expressed a need for potential employers to have advanced knowledge and skills in genetics, plant breeding, micro-propagation, hydroponics, plant growth manipulation, advanced project management and introduction to research.

Technologists graduating from this programme will be able to perform work at a quality based technical level within relevant industries which require a broader and deeper body of multi-disciplined knowledge in the main field of study. The purpose of this career-focused qualification is to prepare candidates to perform supervisory and lower management activities within the horticulture industry. Candidates who complete this qualification will be able to supervise and manage a variety of technologies in the field of horticulture and associated industries, contributing to the economic and social development of the South African region.

Candidates will have the opportunity to register with the professional scientific body, namely the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), or non-professional body, namely the South African Nursery Association (SANA), once they have completed this qualification. The benefit of registering with these bodies is to promote quality and secure professional and scientific service delivery. It is, however, not compulsory for students to register with these bodies to be employed in the horticulture industry, but it can be to their benefit in protecting both them and their clients.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Access to this qualification may be possible through the recognition of relevant prior learning and through prior experience as a practitioner in the field of horticulture. Providers are required to develop structured means for the assessment of individual learners against the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification on a case-by-case basis.

The necessary evidence as required by the Exit Level Outcomes, and presented by the learner, should meet the following principles: currency of evidence, sufficiency of evidence, validity of evidence and authenticity of evidence. No more than 10% of a cohort of students in a programme should be admitted through an RPL process.

Entry Requirements

A Diploma or a National Diploma in Horticulture or related.

This qualification comprises compulsory modules at Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules Level 7, 120 Credits

• Horticulture and Nursery Technology, 60 Credits.
• Horticulture Project Principles, 30 Credits.
• Horticultural Production Management, 30 Credits.

1. Apply, evaluate and integrate key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of the central areas of horticultural technology as well as detailed knowledge about horticulture project principles and horticulture production management.
2. Investigate and critically reflect on a range of methods related to the horticultural industry and other disciplines in the respective field with the ability to select and apply methods to solve complex problems within the horticulture field.
3. Demonstrate the ability to take decisions and act professionally and design ethical values for horticulture practices and approaches within their respective horticulture environments.
4. Demonstrate the ability to develop and communicate ideas using appropriate discourse, and manage unfamiliar processes and variable contexts by applying appropriate problem solving methods.
5. Identify, evaluate and address own learning needs in a self-directed manner to facilitate collaborative learning processes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Demonstrate applied knowledge and skills typically required from a Horticulturist within the industry by recognising and explaining integrated and detailed knowledge and knowledge literacy of horticultural concepts, principles and rules and comparing to relevant examples.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Justify and adhere to appropriate academic and occupational discourse by using an assortment of technologies and methodologies relevant to solve problems in the field of horticulture.
• Critically evaluate and apply evidence-based solutions to case studies relevant to the field of horticulture.
• Identify, analyse and resolve horticultural concepts, theories and strategies in the specialised fields of horticulture and the green industry using applicable examples typically found in the industry.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Identify, formulate and execute activities, decisions and actions regarding environmental and the green industry by facilitating and managing the process in an ethical, moral and professional manner.
• Defend ethical values and approaches to management principles and professional practice, with regard to decisions and actions made.
• Adhere to professional carriage, behaviour and attitudes in all horticultural settings.
• Justify decisions and actions taken by drawing on ethical values and approaches appropriate to horticultural settings.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Use appropriate visual and language skills in all oral and/or written communication.
• Independently validate various sources of information and communicate findings and information in well-formed arguments.
• Communicate complex information in problem solving reliably and coherently using appropriate academic and professional or occupational conventions, as well as recognised horticultural techniques and processes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Take responsibility for own work, decisions taken and the use of resources.
• Display team communication and interpersonal skills in working and communicating with a team.
• Identify and address task specific needs appropriately.
• Provide support to others where appropriate in achieving the outcomes of a task.
• Use resources responsibly.
• Adhere to health and safety procedures as required within the horticultural environment.
• Take actions and decisions based on an awareness of the ethical implications of the action and alignment with the ethical considerations within the profession.

Integrated Assessment

In the assessment strategy as a whole, evidence must be demonstrated through a variety of options which can include case studies, problem solving assignments and strategies, portfolio of learning materials, projects, written and oral examinations, and practical exercises and demonstrations. Some strategies will be more suited to assess foundational competence while others are more suited to assess practical and reflexive competence.

The final integrated assessment needs to measure applied competence. It should assess whether learners acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to plan and develop a production system for different horticultural crops. It should assess whether the learner has the necessary knowledge and skills to critically and practically evaluate plants in terms of their growth and cultivation requirements; identify, apply and recommend techniques for plant growth manipulation and improvement and identify and solve horticulture production problems in an acceptable and ethical manner and make recommendations for successful production under different growth environments. Furthermore, the acquired knowledge will allow learners to operate and manage production taking into consideration the current trends in the horticulture industry and requirements of the different markets and contribute towards a socially responsible green industry in order to enhance the quality of life, conservation and sustainability of South Africa's plant resources.

Furthermore, learners will be assessed on broader knowledge on the health and safety regulations of running various projects and the importance thereof. This qualification will equip the learner to have the skills of understanding the process of project management and the relevant phases/sequence of related projects in the green industry. Learners will be assessed on knowledge to use these acquired competencies to address and apply techniques in the execution of landscape and horticulture projects to achieve projects in due time. It should further assess whether learners are able to apply and evaluate the key terms, concepts, facts, principles, rules and theories of research in horticulture and landscape technology or related fields of study. Learners should be able to conduct a literature search and process information to formulate a background and justification, objectives, hypothesis and/or research question of a research topic. A learner will furthermore be able to design an experimental layout and/or questionnaire, to address the hypothesis/research question and relevant data collection/sampling methodology according to acceptable ethical research practices. The acquired skills will be used to formulate a complete research proposal on a selected topic in the field of horticulture according to sound research principles.