HortNZ says it has worked to ensure the qualifications have been based on specific job roles i.e. working from the job backwards, rather than being education-driven.

In the past there have been more than 115 different horticulture sector qualifications registered at levels 1-6 on (NZQA). The industry body has advocated for a reduction of the duplication and proliferation of qualifications and for a system that is easy to understand, particularly for employers and learners.

HortNZ’s Sue Pickering says the new qualifications have been worked on extensively by a good combination of industry people, the Primary ITO and educators. The next step is for the qualifications to be ‘listed’ and then programme development will begin.

HortNZ and others have indicated they want to have full involvement to ensure the process results in sensible and beneficial outcomes.

While industry has indicated it is happy with the new qualifications map being put in place, those involved expect that they still have to work hard in this phase to ensure that a proliferation of programmes underneath the qualifications doesn’t occur again.