The Australian College of Agriculture and Horticulture (ACAH), is seeking expressions of interest from trainers for a new, higher qualification for the primary industries sector.

The Victorian based college is a client of our web based learning management system, Rural Skills Online.

The  Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has accredited ACAH's Vocational Graduate Certificate in Applied Agricultural Production (10024NAT) for 5 years, until March 2017.

This is an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF 8) qualification of advanced standing. It provides a clear pathway to a master's degree qualification in the higher education sector. Graduates will be able to attain an MBA degree by completing three  additional semesters of study at the University of Ballarat.

ACAH is exploring similar pathways with higher education providers in different states.

The course has been developed through extensive consultation with industry. Advice was sought from from the Department of Primary Industries and industry sector representatives, commercial farmers, consultants and agronomists.

As a post diploma course, this qualification is rated higher than a bachelor degree, largely catering to the training needs of agricultural technicians, agriculture technical officers, technical managers, farm managers, quality assurance managers, biosecurity officers, quarantine officers primary production inspectors, agricultural consultants and agronomists.

ACAH is highly innovative in its approach to education and, through the use of digital media technology is seeking to reduce the participation gap between on-campus and external students by incorporating online, real-time, broadcasts into its course delivery.

The ACAH Vocational Graduate Certificate in Applied Agricultural Production is the only qualification at this level in the primary industry sector.

The college is inviting expressions of interest from both public and private training providers in Australia and overseas to deliver this qualification under licence with ACAH. Contact info@hortskills.com.au for more information.