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The NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation (NZSTITO) was established in 1993 to develop and manage training programmes in the sports turf industry that are linked to the Governments National Qualifications Framework.
The National Qualifications Framework was introduced in 1990 to simplify the confusing number of qualifications that existed in New Zealand. The Framework spans secondary school, industry training and tertiary education and is therefore the basis for lifelong learning.
The Framework has eight levels. Level 1 is equivalent to School Certificate. Level 4 is equivalent to the level of the old Trade Certificate and Diploma in Turf Culture qualifications. Level 8 is equivalent to a postgraduate degree or diploma. A National Certificate is the name given to a qualification between levels 1-4 on the Framework and a National Diploma is the name given to a qualification between levels 5-7 on the framework.
The NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation has six qualifications registered on the Framework. They are:
- A National Certificate in Sports Turf (Introduction to Turf Care) at Level 3
- A National Certificate in Amenity Turf Maintenance at Level 3
- A National Certificate in Sports Turf Management at level 4
- A National Diploma in Sports Turf Management at level 6
- A National Certificate in Business at Level 4
- A National Diploma in Business at Level 5
The National Certificate in Sports Turf Management is the industry standard qualification for the golf course maintenance industry. It is a competency based qualification involving on-job learning, correspondence assignments and attendance at a week long Block Course each year for the three years the programme usually takes to complete.
However people do learn at different rates so there is no set time for the training programme. It could take one person 3 years to complete the qualification and it could take someone else 5 years. As a guideline. an average person working in the turf industry should complete the National Certificate qualifications in 3-4 years.
There are no examinations for the National Certificate in Sports Turf Management. Instead of examinations, a learner will need to prove to assessors that they are competent in each of the unit standards that make up the qualification. They do this by working on the job. attending block courses and by undertaking correspondence studies. The National Certificate in Sports Turf Management qualification may be obtained in a number of different ways.
People with less than 10 years experience in the sports turf industry:
- Learning on the job under the direction of a Qualified Turf Manager or a NZSTITO Approved Turf Manager and undertaking a three year part time correspondence course and attending 1 week block courses held each year in Palmerston North for the first three years of training.
People with 10 or more years experience in the sports turf industry:
- They can apply to the NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation to receive credit into The National Certificate in Sports Turf Management for what they already know and then complete any remaining requirements of the qualification either on the job under the direction of a Qualified Turf Manager or a NZSTITO Approved Turf Manager. and/or at block courses and/or by correspondence if applicable.
Registered units of learning that make up the National Certificate in Sports Turf Management (Level 4)
- Identify the occupational areas and structures of the NZ sports turf industry
- Demonstrate knowledge of elementary soil properties
- Describe the characteristics and requirements of sports turf surfaces
- Demonstrate knowledge of elementary turf botany
- Maintain hand tools and service small engines
- Check and drive a basic wheel tractor
- Service and repair agricultural/horticultural machinery
- Use sports turf machinery and equipment
- Survey sports turf areas
- Drain sports turf areas
- Monitor and interpret weather information
- Demonstrate knowledge of the properties of soil
- Determine requirements for sports turf soil water management Irrigate sports turf areas
- Identify and monitor common turf pests
- Identify common turf weeds
- Identify common turf diseases
- Mow sports turf areas
- Plan a fertiliser programme for sports turf use
- Fertilise sports turf areas
- Establish a sports turf surface
- Upgrade a sports turf root zone
- Demonstrate knowledge of safety with agrichemicals
- Demonstrate knowledge of the HSNO Act and NZS8409 for the use of agrichemicals
- Prepare to apply and apply agrichemicals
- Describe calibration and calibrate application equipment
- Demonstrate knowledge of agrichemicals
- Present ideas and information orally to a specified audience in a predictable situation
- Drive wheel tractors and implements
- Control common turf pests
- Control common turf weeds
- Control common turf diseases
- Maintain sports turf areas
- Supervise staff working on turf facilities
- Create and use a simple computer spreadsheet to solve a problem
- Prepare and present a budget for sports turf operations
The National Diploma in Sports Turf Management is delivered by a combination of papers with Massey University, the New Zealand Sports Turf Institute and/or other providers. People working in the sports turf industry study the unit standards that make up the National Diploma by correspondence.
For people working in the turf industry, 1-2 university papers per year would be the most that they could cope with unless they are extremely dedicated. On the basis of 1-2 papers per year, it will take about 3 - 5 years to complete the National Diploma in Sports Turf Management at Level 6 The National Diploma in Sports Turf Management was reviewed in 2006. The following summary outlines the changes and the process involved in achieving the Diploma
All level 6 and 7 Sports Turf Unit Standards were renewed in 2005. As a result a comprehensive review of the Sports Turf Diploma level qualifications was required. That reviewed document is now with NZQA for registration.
Main changes resulting from the review of the National Diploma in Sports Turf Management will be:
- The previous two qualifications at Level 6 and 7 have been reduced to just one at Level 6.
- The credit value of the revised qualification has been reduced to 120 credits. Trainees will need to complete more Unit Standards than the old level 6 qualification but less than the combined Level 6 and 7 qualifications.
- οΎ§ The qualification is made up of:
- A small core compulsory component. (40 credits)
- An elective component from the sports turf subfield at Level 6 or 7. (Minimum 35 credits)
- An elective component from a wide range of fields, subfields and domains, including the sports turf subfield. (Maximum 45 credits)
- The opportunity to gain credits from Massey University papers to contribute towards unit standards and general Diploma level credits is retained with some minor adjustments.
- Candidates can utilize certain credits at level 5 or above from specified areas on the framework to contribute towards the requirement for the Diploma.
Anyone working towards the old version of the Diploma has until 2009 to complete this qualification. The most likely pathway to completion of the new Diploma will be to complete steps A, B and C below, in any order.
A Enroll with Massey University to complete a selection of the following papers. A minimum of 35 credits or up to 80 credits is required
119.205 Introduction to Turf Management
119.305 Sports Turf Management
Completion of all assignments for these papers will allow a person to gain credit for the following unit standards
- 21446 Prepare a feasibility study for a sports turf development or redevelopment - 10 credits
- 4277 Investigate sources of water and its management in a sports turf environment - 10 credits
- 4278 Research and design a sports turf drainage system - 15 credits
171.385 Controlling Weeds, gains credit for unit standard 21450 Design weed control programmes for sports turf surfaces - 15 credits
171.386 Controlling Plant Pests and Diseases, gains credit for unit standard 21449 Design pest and disease control programmes for sports turf surfaces - 15 credits
119.392 Special Topic. If for a sports turf topic this paper may gain credit for unit standard 4281 Research a project of significance to the sports turf industry - 20 credits
B Enroll with the NZ Sports Turf Institute to complete the following papers. 40 credits.
4270 Performance test a sports turf surface - 10 credits
4272 Appraise machinery requirements for a sports turf organisation and present a purchase proposal - 10 credits
21447 Prepare a sports turf facility to host a major event and complete a post event evaluation - 20 credits
Note: These three papers form the compulsory component of the Diploma and contribute 40 credits towards the total of 120 required.
C Enroll to complete any other sports turf Unit Standards at Level 6 or 7;
or complete unit standards at level 5 or above from nominated areas of the qualifications framework;
or enroll to complete the Massey Sport Business papers listed below.
For example:
Candidates completing Business Units with Unitec towards the NZ Golf/NZSTITO Management Development Programme (MDP) can utilize these credits towards the Diploma.
Candidates completing management units at Level 5 or above with The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand or their local Polytechnic can utilize up to 45 of these credits towards the Diploma.
Or enroll at Massey University to complete
171.265 Landscape and Leisure Business Management I
171.362 Landscape and Leisure Business Management II
152.211 Sport Business
Completion of these three papers will allow students to gain 15 credits per paper towards the Diploma or a maximum of 40 credits for all three papers via a credit transfer arrangement.
Costs
Massey University
Costs for Massey papers will range between $400 and $600. Refer to www.massey.ac.nz or contact M.Wrigley@massey.ac.nz for further information.
NZ Sports Turf ITO
Delivery by NZ Sports Turf Institute
Fees for trainees enrolled with the NZ Sports Turf ITO for units delivered by the NZ Sports Turf Institute will be approximately $250 per 20 credits. Contact lynlockett@nzstito.org.nz for further information.
Delivery by Unitec
Trainees enrolled with the NZ Sports Turf ITO for individual modules of the MDP delivered by Unitec will pay from $281 - $600 per module. Significant discounts are available off these fees for trainees doing two or more modules. Contact hgoodwin@nzsti.org.nz for further information.
For further information on the NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation and training programmes contact:
Lynn Lockett - Training Co-ordinatorNZ Sports Turf ITOP0 Box 347, Palmerston NorthPh. 0-6-355 7025, Fax 0-6-354 0081Email. turf@nzstito.org.nz Website. www.nzstito.org.nz
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