Horticultural Technology (Applied Management) 800 Hours Advanced Diploma

1. Core Modules:

• Office Practices VBS102
  • 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 VBS106
  • Develops knowledge of basic business operations and procedures (eg. types of businesses, financial management, business analysis, staffing, productivity, etc) and the skills to develop a 12 month business plan.
• Management VBS105
  • Develops knowledge of management structures, terminology, supervision, recruitment and workplace health and safety.
• Marketing Foundations VBS109
  • Develops a broad understanding of marketing and specific skills in writing advertisements, undertaking market research, developing an appropriate marketing plan and selling.

1. Hydroponics I BHT224. Hyd
2. Hydroponics II (Management) BHT213. Hyd
3. Protected Plant Production BHT223

3. Industry Project or Work Experience

This is the final requirement that you must satisfy before receiving your award.

Here are two options available to you to satisfy this requirement:

1. Alternative 1.
   • If you work in the 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.
2. Alternative 2.
   • If you do not work in the relevant industry, you need to undertake a Workplace Project as follows:

This project is a major part of the course involving the number of hours relevant to the course (see above). Although the course does not contain mandatory work requirements, work experience is seen as highly desirable.

This project is based on applications in the work place and specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study.

Students will design this project in consultation with a tutor to involve industry based activities in the area of specialized study which they select to follow in the course. The project outcomes may take the form of a written report, folio, visuals or a mixture of forms. Participants with relevant, current or past work experience will be given exemption from this project if they can provide suitable references from employers that show they have already fulfilled the requirements of this project.

For courses that involve more than 100 hours, more than one workplace project topic may be selected. For example, 200 hours may be split into two projects each of 100 hours. This will offer the student better scope to fulfill the needs of their course and to meet the number of hours required. Alternatively, the student may wish to do one large project with a duration of 200 hours.

Students will be assessed on how well they achieve the goals and outcomes they originally set as part of their negotiations with their tutor. During each 100 hours of the project, the students will present three short progress reports. These progress reports will be taken into account when evaluating the final submission. The tutor must be satisfied that the work submitted is original.

If the student wishes to do one large 200 hour report, then only three progressive reports will be needed (however the length of each report will be longer).