Advanced Diploma in Landscape Construction Management

Purpose

The professional body, South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) has expanded the current categories of professional registration to include a domain for landscape construction management. SACLAP is mandated to accredit all tertiary academic qualifications in the Landscape Architecture, Landscape Construction Management and Horticultural streams nationally. Higher Education institutions are required to align qualifications to the competencies of the professional body. These new structures and new qualifications have been accepted nationally through extensive benchmarking and stakeholder meetings. SACLAP and the Department of Public Works have approached this institution to develop and offer qualifications aligned to the new categories of professional registration.

This qualification is aimed at the professional development of graduates who are able to coordinate, and manage landscape construction and landscape maintenance processes. The programme further has a specific purpose to meet the outcomes and competencies of the professional body (SACLAP). Furthermore, this qualification has been recognised by the government Department of Public works to play a national role in the transformation of the landscape industry in South African (SA) and to create employment in this sector. The Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria of this qualification have been aligned to the requirements of the professional body.

This qualification is further distinguished from other construction management qualifications in that it concentrates on plant installation and management systems. This includes biotechnical landscape engineering that uses plants, sometimes in conjunction with mechanical methods, to build living structures at the vulnerable interfaces between soil and water, especially on steep slopes, stream banks and shorelines. This qualification focuses on the establishment and maintenance of greenery in urban landscapes, ensuring environments that are safe, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing with regard to functions of vegetation elements and to site character.

Within the realm of the built-environment, urban nature conservation and biodiversity management, Landscape Construction Managers remain responsible for installing and maintaining the living structures at the vulnerable interfaces between soil and water, especially on steep slopes, stream banks and shorelines. This qualification focuses on the establishment and maintenance of greenery in urban landscapes, ensuring environments that are safe, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing.

This qualification prepares individuals to professionally register and work as a professional landscape construction management technician; to: manage, coordinate, and supervise the construction process from concept development through project completion on timely and economic bases, focused in a landscape context - including instruction in geology and hydrology; soils and horticultural elements; project and site planning, applicable law and regulations; and professional responsibilities and standards.

Rationale

The Landscape Construction and Management profession is transforming. This transformation includes formalising qualifications and professional registration with statutory bodies. The South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession (SACLAP) was established as a statutory council in terms of Section 2 of the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession Act - Act 45 of 2000. SACLAP strives to establish, direct, sustain and ensure a high level of professional responsibilities and ethical conduct within the art and science of landscape architecture with honesty, dignity and integrity in the broad interest of public health, safety and welfare of the community. SACLAP is mandated to accredit all tertiary academic qualifications in the Landscape Architecture, Landscape Construction Management and Horticultural streams nationally.

SACLAP has broadened its registration categories to include a landscape construction management stream. The landscape construction management stream has exclusive core competencies as defined in the table of core competencies. These new structures and new qualifications have been accepted nationally through extensive benchmarking and stakeholder meetings. SACLAP and the Department of Public Works have approached the institution to develop and offer these new qualifications - that have already been approved and aligned with national strategies to widening access, create jobs and transform the landscape profession.

Specialised landscape construction, landscape construction management, landscape system maintenance and urban greening are seen as scarce skills with a huge shortage of skilled graduates worldwide and mainly in South Africa.

Although this qualification is grouped with other construction management qualifications in the Built Environment, this qualification is unique. It is the only construction management qualification that focuses on landscape structures and systems and not on architecture and buildings.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning is a process of identifying the knowledge and skills of an applicant against the admission requirements of a qualification and/or for credits against a part thereof. The process involves the identification, mediation, assessment and acknowledgement of knowledge and skills obtained through informal, non-formal and/or formal learning. The RPL process is multi-dimensional and multi-contextual in nature, aimed at the individual needs of applicants and is handled in accordance with an institutional RPL policy by a unit dedicated to this activity. The RPL process includes guidance and counselling, as well as the preparation of a body of evidence to be presented by the RPL candidate to meet institutional requirements. The applicant's documentation and portfolio or learning outcomes for the past 10 years will be evaluated by the academic department to determine whether the applicant is competent for the requested level of study. A recommendation will be made and submitted for further engagement by showing proof of research skills and proficiency to be enrolled for the desired qualification. An appeal procedure is also in place to accommodate queries. RPL in this qualification will relate to gaining access to the qualification and/or credits/advanced standing as described in institutional guidelines.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission into the Advance Diploma studies are

• Diploma in Landscape Architecture at Level 6.

Or

• Diploma in Horticulture at Level 6.

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

Compulsory Modules Level 7, 120 Credits

• Landscape Construction Technology, 36 Credits.
• Landscape Construction Management, 36 Credits.
• Landscape Information Systems, 24 Credits.
• Biotechnical Landscape Engineering, 24 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of conceptual knowledge of Landscape Construction Management field, including aspects such as vulnerable interfaces between soil and water, especially on steep slopes; stream banks and shorelines; integrated use of plants in biotechnical landscape engineering, mechanical methods and building living structures.
2. Identify, evaluate and plan landscape construction project which encompasses the following; demonstrate an understanding of knowledge and the ability to evaluate best-practice landscape construction management case studies, identify the natural and urban systems that affect the implementation and construction of a project and select the appropriate landscape construction methods and give a time frame for completion of the entire project by preparing a landscape construction planning schedule.
3. Conceptualise and interpret simple or complex designs on-site for installation.
4. Practice good project management skills in relation to financial management of landscape construction projects, e.g. creating a cash flow diagram, pricing schedule and cost estimate, human resource management, monitoring progress, reports
5. Use specialist software like ARCGIS, QGIS, AutoCAD in landscape construction management project competently and efficiently.
6. Communicate effectively with a range of professional and non-professional stakeholders
7. Make and justify decisions and actions drawing on appropriate ethical values and approaches within the landscape professional environment drawing on such ethical standards and codes such as the SACLAP codes of conduct and SALI minimum specifications documents.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply knowledge and skills to prepare a detailed risk assessment report for a landscape construction site.
• Determine a list of work-related tasks to be undertaken on a landscape construction site.
• Explain the design intent and compare the design with the construction proves, final product and maintenance practices by creating a checklist.
• Demonstrate and provide sustainable environmental construction and management solutions through report writing and visual diagrams.
• Describe a drawing or plan of how plants are installed in conjunction with mechanical methods in an urban area to perform an engineering function.
• Use specialist computer software for construction management, planning, and project scheduling.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Identify the natural and urban system that affects the implementation and construction of a project and selects the appropriate landscape construction methods.
• Write and draw landscape construction details and specifications is written and drawn
• Estimate the financial management of landscape construction projects by creating a cash flow diagram, pricing schedule and cost.
• Demonstrate professional communication with construction and design professionals concerning spatial concepts, financial aspects, and construction problems.
• Determine a list of work-related tasks to be undertaken on a landscape construction.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Use specialist computer software for computer-aided design and construction presentations, scheduling and information documents.
• Use and apply Global Positioning System mapping hardware and software for information analysis and mapping.
• Set out designs on site for installation.
• Give a time frame for completion of the entire project by preparing a landscape construction planning schedule.
• Identify how the natural and urban systems affect the implementation and construction of a project and select the appropriate landscape construction methods.
• Select appropriate construction processes to fit site-specific conditions.
• Select individual as well as groups of plants to satisfy site conditions and select the required engineering roles to be achieved with the landscape function by creating planting palettes and specifications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Describe how plants are installed in conjunction with mechanical methods in an urban area to perform an engineering function with a plan.
• Set out designs on site for installation.
• Apply systemic thinking to problem solve in the context of landscape construction by producing diagrams or drawings that show the interconnectedness of the natural- and urban systems including individual landscape components.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Calculate the human resources related to a construction project.
• Estimate and undertake the financial management of landscape construction projects by creating a cash flow diagram, pricing schedule and cost estimate.
• Prepare tender and contractual documentation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Global Positioning System mapping hardware and software for information analysis and mapping are used and applied.
• Use specialist computer software for construction management, planning and project scheduling.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Apply professional communication skills with construction and design professionals concerning spatial concepts, financial aspects and construction problems.
• Prepare a detailed risk assessment report for a landscape construction site.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Compare the landscape design intent with the construction process, final product and maintenance practices by creating a checklist.
• Create a seasonal maintenance plan for a biotechnical structure or installed landscape system.

Integrated Assessment

A system of integrated, continuous assessment is used whereby the formal evaluation of a student's academic progress and performance comprises regular assessment, both formative and summative, with final summative assessments.

This qualification consists of a variety of formative assessments (written assessments, worksheets, practical assessments, open-book tests, poster presentation, orals etc.) and integrated assessments in the form of integrated research projects and presentations for the various modules and subjects.

Summative assessments form part of the assessment strategy for this qualification in the format of final, externally moderated, presentation critiques - where students present the total body of work produced in the subjects for the semester/year.

The assessment policy and procedures followed in the qualification are aligned with accredited institutional assessment policies at Level 7.