5 January 2005 'Seamless' Horticultural Qualifications Advance Step Further

Lincoln University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Horticulture Industry Training Organisation that is an important step in progress towards a ‘seamless’ qualification structure within horticulture.

The MoU, signed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field and ITO Chief Executive Mike Finlayson, lays the foundation for ITO trainees who complete a national certificate or national diploma in horticulture to gain entrance to and transfer credits towards Lincoln University diploma and degree programmes.

The signing was the culmination of lengthy negotiations between Lincoln and the ITO and the University's Academic Programme Director for Professional Studies, Richard Stevens, says he is heartened by the development.

"The Government's Tertiary Education Strategy calls for better integration of the industry training system within the wider context of tertiary education, and for improved staircasing between programmes and providers," says Mr Stevens.

"This agreement, and the principles and policies on which it is based, is the first implementation of that strategy in horticulture training and education and it will significantly enhance the opportunities for learners."

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) is heartened by the signing too. Group Manager (Liaison and Development) Max Kerr says that TEC applauds the "vision and commitment" that Lincoln University and the ITO have brought to the project.

"The MoU is a welcome move to bridge the practical strengths of industry based training with the research and theoretical underpinning that university programmes offer," he says.

"Hard work is involved in developing such collaborative arrangements but the seamless transition between industry and university qualifications will bring benefits to learners and to the industry.

"This is a model that we hope other sectors will follow," says Mr Kerr.

The agreement will enable students with a national certificate or diploma in horticulture to enter university study programmes with credits, and it will allow Lincoln students to credit unit standards towards the practical work requirements of their Lincoln programmes and in addition Lincoln University and the Horticulture Industry Training Organisation will be able to jointly promote education and career opportunities in the horticulture professions and industries.

ITO Chief Executive Mike Finlayson says the Memorandum of Understanding with Lincoln University is an acceptance that to address the current and future skills shortage in the horticulture industry there must be "collaborative endeavour in all dimensions from schools to postgraduate level."

"This must be across the range of relevant activities including career promotion, scholarship provision, curriculum and unit standard planning, integration of qualifications and linkages between training providers, the ITO and labour market forecasting and analysis," says Mr Finlayson.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand

Anna Stoddart, Acting Marketing & Communications Manager, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand