ADVANCED CERTIFICATE IN APPLIED MANAGEMENT (CROPS) VBS001

Do you want to be a farmer or own a horticultural business?  

This course covers both the skills required to manage a horticultural farm (eg. Market Garden, Orchard), and also to developing knowledge in the identification, growing, processing and marketing crops and crop related products. This course involves seven units, plus a 200 hr workplace project. These are the four core units common to all streams of this Advanced Certificate (ie.  Management, Business Operations, Office Practices and Marketing Foundations), and three specialist units of study relating to crop production.  This course is internationally accredited through I.A.R.C.
This course will enable you to develop the skills required to manage a horticultural business, such as market gardens and orchards.
 
  • Develop knowledge to identify, grow, process and market crops and crop related products.
  • And you are supported every step of the way by our highly experienced and friendly tutors. 

COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS

 

CORE UNITS

Office Practices
Develops basic office skills covering use of equipment, communication systems (telephone, fax, etc) and office procedures such as filing, security, workplace organisations, etc.

 

Business Operations

Develops knowledge of basic business operations and procedures (e.g. types of businesses, financial management, business analysis, staffing, productivity, etc) and the skills to develop a 12 month business plan. 

 

Management
Develops knowledge of management structures, terminology, supervision, recruitment and workplace health and safety.

 

Marketing Foundations
Develops a broad understanding of marketing and specific skills in writing advertisements, undertaking market research, developing an appropriate marketing plan and selling.

 

STREAM MODULES

You also study THREE specialist units:

1. Outdoor Plant Production

This unit was originally developed to satisfy one of the modules in the RHS Diploma in Horticulture; and over 100 hrs of study, will cover the following:

  • Crop Production Systems
  • Organic Crop Production
  • Soils and Nutrition
  • Nursery Stock Production
  • Tree Fruit Production
  • Soft Fruits Production
  • Vegetable Production
  • Cut Flower Production
  • Herbs, Nuts and Miscellaneous Crops
  • Crop Production Risk Assessment

 

2. Protected Plant Production

  • Structures For Protected Cropping
  • Environmental Control
  • Cladding Materials And Their Properties
  • Irrigation
  • Nursery Nutrition
  • Relationship Between Production Techniques And Horticultural Practices
  • Horticultural Management In A Greenhouse: Pests And Diseases
  • Harvest & Post Harvest Technology
  • Greenhouse Plants
  • Risk Assessment

 

3. AND Another Crops Module chosen from the following options:

  • Cut Flower Production
  • Fruit Production
  • Commercial Vegetable Production
  • Nut Production
  • Mushroom Production
  • Berry Fruit Production
  • Viticulture

 

4. PROJECT

This is the final requirement that you must satisfy before receiving your award. There are various options available to you to satisfy this requirement, including the following:

Option 1
If you work in the cropping industry that you have been studying; you may submit a reference from your employer, in an effort to satisfy this industry (ie. workplace project) requirement; on the basis of RPL (ie. recognition for prior learning), achieved through your current and past work experience.

The reference must indicate that you have skills and an awareness of your industry, which is sufficient for you to work in a position of responsibility.

Option 2
Workplace Projects I and II. These each involve a series of three Problem Based Learning projects. With problem-based learning, students are assessed on their ability to go through a well structured problem solving process. Often, for example, the student is provided with a hypothetical problem, and a clearly designed pathway to follow, step by step, in order to work through that problem and produce a fInal report.

Research shows that PBL gives the learner greater long-term benefits than traditional learning, and many successful and progressive universities around the world use it in their courses. Graduates of PBL courses advance faster and further in their careers.

Other benefits of PBL:

  • Develops critical and creative thinking;
  • Creates effective problem-solvers;
  • Increases motivation;
  • Encourages lateral thinking;
  • Improves communication and networking skills;
  • Is based on real-life situations.

 

Option 3
If you do not work in the relevant industry, another option is to undertake a project as follows.

 

WORKPLACE PROJECT

This is commonly satisfied through either verified work experience; but other options are available as well (Research Projects or attending seminars, conferences or industry meetings)

 

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