New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3)

Gain practical skills in sustainable food production, native planting, composting, and water management. Learn how to apply sustainability principles to support healthy ecosystems and productive landscapes.

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SIT Online
Campus
SIT Online
Qualification
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
40
Duration

12 weeks full-time

Up to two years part-time

Intakes are 12 weeks long

Dates
TBC
Fees
This programme qualifies for SIT Zero Fees. Terms and Conditions apply. Click here for more information.
Tuition Fees

Zero tuition fees

Direct Material Costs

$8.00 per credit (incl. GST)

International Fees

$100 per credit (incl. GST). See International.

Course Outline

The New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) will teach you the skills and knowledge to actively contribute to environmental, conservation and land based management practices to enhance sustainability. You will be able to choose from a range of sustainability subjects relevant to your study goals.

This course will teach you to identify and apply knowledge of sustainable environmental, conservation and land based management practices to activities in a land based context

Graduates of this qualification may be self-employed, or employed as Iwi workers, Community Council workers, growers, farmers, farm workers or Department of Conservation workers.

Course Content

Compulsory paper: ENVI3501 Sustainability
Choose two electives (3 papers total).


ENVI3501 Introduction to Sustainability

Credits: 10

Aim
The aim of this course is to introduce Aotearoa, New Zealand sustainability issues and encourage reflection on own practices.

Learning outcomes

  • Discuss sustainability principles in an Aotearoa, New Zealand context.
  • Reflect on own sustainability practices and identify ways to improve those practices.
  • Describe compliance requirements for land-based sustainable practices.


ENVI3502 Composting

Credits: 15

Aim
The aim of this course is to introduce the benefits of composting and to explore the techniques and processes to successfully produce compost.

Learning outcomes

  • Compare a range of composting techniques.
  • Demonstrate the benefits of composting organic material.


ENVI3503 Growing Local Food

Credits: 15

Available from: Intake 3 2024

Aim
The aim of this course is to explore sustainable growing techniques for the local environment.

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the benefits of growing and selling food locally.
  • Describe small-volume vegetable and/or fruit selling systems in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
  • Prepare a plan for sustainably growing one vegetable or fruit crop.


ENVI3504 Native Plant Propagation

Credits: 15

Aim
The aim of this course is to gain knowledge of a range of Aotearoa, New Zealand native plants and explore eco-sourcing and successful propagation from seed.

Learning outcomes

  • Identify and describe a range of native plant species.
  • Demonstrate techniques used in seed collection and propagation.
  • Explore the reasons for eco-sourcing seed.


ENVI3505 Riparian Planting

Credits: 15

Aim
The aim of this programme is to identify the factors influencing waterway quality in Aotearoa, New Zealand and the benefits of riparian planting.

Learning outcomes

  • Identify the factors influencing waterway quality in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
  • Explain the benefits of riparian plantings for waterways.
  • Prepare a riparian planting plan.


ENVI3506 Sustainable Water Use

Credits: 15

Aim
The aim of this programme is to explore water in a global and local context and the techniques for efficient and sustainable water use in a land-based context.

Learning outcomes

  • Describe water-related issues in a global and national context.
  • Discuss methods and equipment to use water sustainably.
  • Apply practices that utilise water sustainably.
Career Opportunities

Graduates of this qualification may be self-employed, or employed as Iwi workers, Community Council workers, growers, farmers, farm workers or Department of Conservation workers.

Application Criteria

School Leavers

Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2 as follows:

  • 60 credits at Level 2 or above, plus 20 credits from any level, and
  • Literacy – minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either specified assessment standards available through a range of subjects and English for Academic Purposes, unit standards 22750 and 22751 (minimum total of 10 credits), or unit standards – package of three literacy unit standards (26622, 26624, 26625 – all three required)
  • Numeracy – a minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either achievement standards – specified assessment standards available through a range of subjects (minimum total of 10 credits), or unit standards – package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required)

Mature Applicants

Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above, and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate.  Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment

IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill. 
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - Level 4 (Academic) 
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36 
Language Cert - B1 Achiever IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than PASS in each skill 
Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band

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