New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production)

If you are currently employed or aspire to work in the organic horticulture sector, consider studying the New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 4). This programme will help you expand your knowledge and advance your career in organic crop production.

Campus
SIT Online
Qualification
Certificate
Level
4
Credits
60
Duration

17 weeks full-time

Up to two years part-time

Intakes are 17 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 Organic Primary Production (Level 4) (Crop Production or Livestock Production) teaches students skills and knowledge that are directly relevant to working with day-to-day operational management of an organic primary production operation.

You will learn about:

  • Factors influencing the development of organic horticulture in New Zealand
  • Biotic interactions within organic ecosystems, 
  • Characteristics of successful organic primary production, and integrating organic principles in primary production, 

You will also need to select focus papers on production and operation records, soil and soil nutrient management, composting and crop or pasture protection.

This qualification is ideally suited to people who are experienced workers in the primary industry.

Course Content

All papers compulsory.

This is a full time programme, however, part time over 2 years may be available on request. Please enquire with us before enrolling if you wish to study part time.

ENVI4201 – Organic Primary Production Operations
Credits: 15

Aim:
The aim of this course is for learners to understand organic and compliance requirements and identify how these are applied to successful organic primary production operations.

Learning Outcomes:

  • LO1: Evaluate an organic primary production operation.
  • LO2: Explain how organic standards and compliance requirements are applied to organic crop or livestock production.


ENVI4202 – Soil and Nutrient Management
Credits: 15

Aim:
The aim of this course is for learners to gain an understanding of soil health practices and apply management strategies to improve soil quality and nutrient availability.

Learning Outcomes:

  • LO1: Implement and monitor soil and nutrient management practices to improve soil quality in an organic crop or livestock production system.
  • LO2: Describe factors and practices affecting soil health and fertility in the context of an organic crop or livestock production system.

ENVI4203 – Biodiversity Management
Credits: 15

Aim:
The aim of this course is for learners to gain an understanding of biodiversity improvement practices and apply management strategies to improve biodiversity within an organic production system.

Learning Outcomes:

  • LO1: Describe the benefits of improving biodiversity within an organic production system.
  • LO2: Apply strategies to implement and monitor biodiversity practices to improve biodiversity in an organic production system.


ENVI4204 – Organic Crop Production
Credits: 15

Aim:
The aim of this course is for learners to carry out specific production activities to implement and monitor an organic crop plan over a full production season.

Learning Outcomes:

  • LO1: Implement and monitor an organic crop production plan over a full production season to satisfy organic compliance requirements.
  • LO2: Undertake specialised production activities related to organic crop production to meet industry requirements.
Career Opportunities

Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed as an:

  • Organic orchard/vineyard supervisor or leading hand
  • Organic crop supervisor or team leader or technician
  • Organic crop monitor
  • Organic nursery specialist
  • Organic farm production supervisor or assistant supervisor
  • Organic pastoral or arable supervisor
  • Mahinga Kai supervisor

 

Application Criteria

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 5.5 with no band score lower than 5 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 530 (with an essay score of 4.5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14) 
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2First for schools with a score of 162. 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 42 with no band score lower than 36 
Language Cert - B2 Communicator International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than pass in any band

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