Advanced Diploma in Ornamental and Landscape Horticulture
Agriculture and Nature Conservation - Horticulture
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification: Advanced Diploma in Ornamental and Landscape Horticulture
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the qualification is to deepen learners' knowledge and skills in ornamental and landscape horticulture. Qualifying learners will have a well-rounded knowledge base and specialised skills in the following areas:
- Arboriculture
- Production and cultivation of ornamental crops in greenhouses
- Horticultural production process management
- Sustainable plant production
- Plant pest and disease management
- Growth media management for plant production
- Management of urban green space and amenities
- Conducting horticultural research projects
Rationale:
Environmental degradation is a global concern, particularly in South Africa, where natural environments face numerous threats. The loss of urban green space due to factors like climate change, pollution, and urban development highlights the need for individuals skilled in using plants to create and restore green spaces.
The qualification aims to equip learners with specialised knowledge in plant propagation, floriculture, arboriculture, landscaping, and amenity horticulture. The demand for these skills arises from the current shortage of horticulturists with specialised expertise in the Green Industry, the growing need for urban green spaces, and the desire to enhance the socio-economic and environmental sustainability of such spaces.
By providing learners with these skills, the qualification seeks to meet industry needs and prepare individuals for further postgraduate studies, ultimately benefiting the Green Industry and contributing to environmental sustainability.
Outcomes
- Use specialised and environmentally friendly techniques to assess, maintain and rehabilitate trees in compliance with relevant legislation.
- Manage the production process and use specialised techniques and technology to produce and cultivate ornamental crops in greenhouses, in compliance with relevant legislative, safety and environmental requirements.
- Manage urban green space and amenities using best practice principles, and respond to challenges impacting on public amenities and urban green space.
- Conduct a research project in the field of ornamental and landscape horticulture.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Determine the value and condition of trees in urban spaces using specialised tree assessment techniques.
- Perform tree care and maintenance, tree surgery, and transplanting of large trees using specialised procedures and safe work practices.
- Rehabilitate trees using tree assessment and abatement procedures in a safe and environmentally responsible way, complying with relevant legislation.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Use process management principles and practices to produce plants according to time, cost, and quality specifications.
- Create and maintain an optimum growth environment in a greenhouse for ornamental crop production.
- Produce specific ornamental crops with varying production cycles in a greenhouse, using appropriate growth conditions, growth media, and cultivation practices.
- Use sustainable plant production practices and principles to enhance the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of the business.
- Prevent and resolve common problems that occur in greenhouse crop production.
- Implement a pest and disease control strategy, using Integrated Pest Management techniques, to produce healthy plants in an ornamental plant production facility in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Apply best practice principles for the design, construction, management, and maintenance of public amenities and urban green space.
- Respond to challenges affecting public amenities and urban green space appropriately.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Investigate research methodologies relevant to the field of ornamental and landscape horticulture.
- Conceptualize a research project based on a topic relevant to ornamental and landscape horticulture.
- Conduct research under supervision following the research methodology and ethical principles.
- Present findings, conclusions, and recommendations consistent with supporting data in a research report format.
- Draw the research report in compliance with the prescribed format.
Integrated Assessment:
- Evidence of learning competency (knowledge, skills, attitudes, and expertise) and the candidate's ability to achieve the purpose of the qualification as a whole is required through comprehensive and integrated assessments.
- Continuous formative and summative assessment methods will be used, including written assignments and exams.
- Formative and Summative Assessment will be conducted within the guidelines of the institution's Assessment Policy.
- The pass mark shall be a minimum of 50% acquired from both continuous and summative assessment.
- 75% shall constitute a pass with distinction.
- Assessors will assess and give credit for evidence of learning acquired through various learning methods.
- Formative and summative assessment will be conducted within the institutional Assessment Policy guidelines.
- Learner support will be provided in accordance with the institutional ODL and Learner Support policies and guidelines.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Advanced Diploma
- NQF Level
- 07
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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