New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) - SIT2LRN Distance Learning

Compulsory

PIT100 Options for Sustainable Practices (10 credits)

This paper provides students with the knowledge and skills to evaluate a defined area and identify sustainable practices for management of the area. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Define the term “sustainable land management” within the New Zealand environment.
2. Describe the legislation relevant to sustainable land management in New Zealand.
3. Identify and describe the characterising natural features of a defined area.
4. Identify and evaluate different options for sustainable practices to meet the environmental, economical, and legislative requirements for a defined area.

Compulsory - select 10 credits from

PIT103  Application of Sustainable Management Practice (10 credits)

This paper introduces sustainable management practices for a specific environmental resource or issue, such as soil structure, air quality, water quality or quantity, effluent or waste and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant sustainable management practice. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe the sustainable management practices relevant to a specific environmental resource or issue.
2. Apply at least one sustainable management practice to avoid, remedy, or mitigate an adverse effect on a defined environmental resource to achieve a defined outcome.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined outcome is met.

PIT105  Application of Conservation Practice (10 credits)

This paper introduces conservation practices relevant to land and energy and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant practices to meet sustainable management goals. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to: 

1. Describe the conservation practices relevant to a specific land environment or energy generation method.
2. Apply at least one conservation practice to meet a defined sustainable management goal.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined sustainable management goal is met.

Students are advised to select their remaining 20 credits from either the Horticulture-focused programme papers OR the Agriculture-focused programme papers.

Horticulture programme of study - select 20 credits from

PIT101 Application of Sustainable Planting Practice (10 credits)

This paper introduces sustainable planting practices which students may apply in a variety of situations, including riparian zones, wetlands, companion planting, green crops, animal feed, or land stabilisation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe the planting considerations and requirements for a defined area and outcome.
2. Apply sustainable planting techniques to meet a defined outcome.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined outcome is met.

PIT102  Application of Sustainable Food Production (10 credits)

This paper introduces sustainable food production practices which students may apply in a local situation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe sustainable food production practices relevant to the types of food which may be produced in the student’s local environment.
2. Apply sustainable food production practices to meet the needs of the local environment.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined outcome is met.

PIT104 Application of Plant Health and Protection Practice (10 credits)

This paper introduces plant health and protection practices relevant to a variety of situations, including nutrient availability, protection from elements or animals, and pruning regimes and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant practices to improve or protect planting areas. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe the plant health and protection practices relevant to a specific environment or plant species.
2. Apply at least one plant health or protection practice to ensure a defined plant growth outcome is met.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined plant growth outcome is met.

Agriculture programme of study - select 20 credits from

PIT106 Application of Livestock Management Practice (10 credits)

This paper introduces sustainable livestock management practices which students may apply in a variety of situations, including fencing, stocking intensity, feeding, welfare management, and regional conditions. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe the sustainable livestock management requirements for a defined area and outcome.
2. Apply sustainable livestock management practices to meet a defined outcome.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined outcome is met.

PIT107 Application of Sustainable Livestock Production (10 credits)

This paper introduces sustainable livestock production practices which students may apply in a local situation. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe sustainable livestock production practices relevant to the types of livestock, or livestock products, which may be produced in the student’s local environment.
2. Apply sustainable livestock production practices to meet the needs of the local environment.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined outcome is met.

PIT108 Application of Livestock Health and Protection Practice (10 credits)

This paper introduces livestock health and protection practices relevant to a variety of situations, including protection from elements, health care regimes (e.g. drenching, shearing, inoculations), housing, and feed requirements, and provides students with the knowledge to apply relevant practices to improve or protect planting areas. On successful completion of this paper, students will be able to:

1. Describe the livestock health and protection practices relevant to specified livestock.
2. Apply at least one livestock health or protection practice to ensure a livestock health or production outcome is met.
3. Develop a monitoring plan that will evaluate whether or not a defined livestock health or production outcome is met.

The Zero Fees Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen, resident/permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost per credit of study undertaken, plus a non-refundable administration cost of $50 for each application processed, and the required textbook/s listed below. You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fees Scheme entitlement.

Zero Fees Scheme – applies to NZ citizens and residents/permanent residents (residing in NZ). 2020 Cost (NZ$) $7.00 per credit + admin cost of $50.00 per application (e.g. $700.00 for 100 credit course) - includes GST

International students - $100.00 per credit

Payments must be paid by the due date shown on the invoice.

Withdrawals & Transfers

• Early withdrawals within the first week of the intake starting are entitled to a full refund of the Student Direct Material Costs, but not the non-refundable administration fee of $50
• Withdrawals have to be requested within 75% of the intake, withdrawals after the early withdrawal date are not eligible for a refund
• Transfer requests have to be within the first two weeks of the intake starting and will incur a $50 transfer fee. Transfers can only occur to a subsequent intake within the same calendar year

All SIT2LRN courses are approved by Studylink. Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz.

Graduates of this qualification will work as farmers, growers, horticulturalists or gardeners and be able to identify and apply solutions for sustainability practices in a land based process or activity.

School Leavers

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 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 4 (Academic) b) Level 4 (Academic)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert - B1 Achiever IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than PASS in each skill
Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

All SIT2LRN courses require you to have a computer and internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT2LRN communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive an Important Information Booklet that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.

Facilitator Assistance:  During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only).  All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study.  Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2^nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme.  Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

Progress reports are sent out 6-8 weeks after the end of each intake.

We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the Frequently Asked Questions section of our website for further study and enrolment information.

Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide. Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.

• I have read all sections of the Programme Information on this page
• I have read the SIT2LRN Frequently Asked Questions section
• I have met all admission criteria for the programme (found under Application Criteria)
• I have met all the criteria for individual papers (found under Course Content)
• I have selected the paper(s) I wish to study
• I have selected intake(s) (I have selected alternate intakes rather than overlapping intakes)
• I know my intended payment method
• If my organisation/company is paying for my studies, I have a completed an approved purchase order to attach to my online application.  I am aware that should my organisation or company not pay my fees, these will become my responsibility
• I have completed and attached a cross credit form (if applying for a cross credit)
• New students – I have provided an active NSN in the name I am enrolling under, or I have verified ID and will attach it to my online application
• New students – I will attach academic documentation (NZQA record of achievement/academic transcripts/certificates). These do not need to be verified. (If you do not have any academic documentation to support your application, please attach a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience)
• I understand that this is a Level 3 programme therefore I will be required, by the Tertiary Education Commission, to complete at least one literacy and one numeracy assessment as part of my studies
• I have computer access, an Internet connection and access to software to create electronic documents e.g. Microsoft Word or Open Office

What is the Zero Fees Scheme?

The Zero Fees Scheme means we do not charge tuition fees however there is a Student Direct Material Cost that you need to pay and a non-refundable administration fee. The administration fee is for processing your application and the Student Direct Material Cost gives you secure access to Blackboard® our online learning environment, and to student support services throughout your study with us.

Who qualifies for the Zero Fees Scheme?

• A New Zealand citizen completing the full qualification or 
• An Australian citizen/New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident who will be residing in New Zealand for the duration of your enrolment

Instructions to help you with your application:

1. Read the Programme Information on this page and the SIT2LRN Frequently Asked Questions and find out if you meet the application criteria for both the programme and the unit/s you wish to study.
2. Check your eligibility for Zero Fees. If you are not eligible to study under this scheme, please call
   0800 748 257 for further options.
3. Complete your online enrolment checking that:

If you are a new student …

• Provide an active NSN number in the name you are enrolling under (contact NZQA on 0800 697 296 to get your NSN number if you do not know it);
• If you do not have an active NSN, attach a copy of your verified ID in the name you are enrolling under;
• If you are a Resident or Permanent resident of NZ, please provide a copy of proof of residency;
• Attach all academic documentation to support your application including copies of any certificates of courses you have undertaken / NZQA records of achievement / transcripts / CV;

Attach supporting documents as required and outlined on the previous page.

1. Please check that you have included all the required information and supporting documents.  Your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide.  Missing information will delay the processing of your application.
2. Please scan and email all additional documentation to sit2lrn@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

• You will receive an automatic email confirmation when we receive your online application. Processing may take up to three weeks, however we will get in touch with you sooner if we require further documentation
• Once your application has been accepted you will be sent a conditional offer of acceptance with an invoice and instructions on how to make payment
• Once we have received your payment (or if you have opted to pay by Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order) you will be sent an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet. Closer to the start of the intake you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter which will give you all the necessary information, tools and guidance to start your study with us

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) and be awarded this qualification, the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 40 credits in accordance with the Programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3)
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3) full-time over 3 months or part-time over 2 years

Please note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme reqirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.