Horticulture
Major Award Course

Access to the Programme

Mature Applicants with relevant life and work experience are welcomed. Our Course Advisor is available to meet with prospective learners to discuss and advise on the course details, career and academic opportunities and assess your suitability for the course.

Entry Criteria

Entry criteria / prerequisites Level 4 Certificate / Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) or relevant life experience detailed in a current Curriculum Vitae. Please provide details and attach a copy of either a current CV or Certificate. Learners must be a resident of Ireland / based in Ireland.

Learners applying to study on the 4M1994 programme must have a National Vocational Certificate (Level 4), Leaving Certificate or equivalent qualifications. Recognition of Prior Learning in the context of appropriate work/life experience, detailed in a CV and with supporting documentation, will also be considered.

The total credit value required for this certificate is 90. This will be achieved by completing:

All of the following components:

• 4N1186 - Plant Identification, Care and Maintenance - 10 Credits
• 4N0719 - Safe Horticultural Practice - 10 Credits

A minimum credit value of 30 from the following components (choose 3):

• 4N1168 - Work Experience - 15 Credits
• 4N0689 - Communications 15 Credits
• 4N1125 - Information Technology Skills - 10 Credits
• 4N1169 - Teamworking - 10 Credits
• 4N1989 - Customer Service - 10 Credits

A minimum credit value of 40 from the following components (choose 4):

• 4N1990 - Plant Propagation - 10 Credits
• 4N0683 - Horticultural Tools and Equipment - 10 Credits
• 4N0666 - Establishing Trees and Shrubs - 10 Credits
• 4N0671 - Growing Vegetables - 10 Credits
• 4N0681 - Hard Landscape Construction - 10 Credits
• 4N2429 - Sports Surfaces Maintenance - 10 Credits
• 4N1132 - Personal Effectiveness - 10 Credits

NOTE: It is only necessary to do 2 of the last 5 components if you have completed a level 4 previously. Contact a course advisor for more information. A maximum of 15 credits may be used from either level 4 or level 6.

On completion of this Level 5 major award, learners will be able to:

• Acquire a broad range of knowledge in the selection, growth, care and maintenance of plants,
• Demonstrate understanding of the basic horticultural concepts and theory,
• Demonstrate a range of skills in the selection, growth, care and maintenance of plants and the use of equipment and safe horticultural practices,
• Select appropriate techniques, equipment and procedures in working as an horticultural operative,
• Use horticultural knowledge and skills in a wide range of horticultural settings,
• Operate appropriate safety procedures under supervision to create and maintain a safe working environment,
• Demonstrate capacity to take responsibility for own learning within a supervised environment,
• Participate effectively as a team member.

Assessment

Typically, QQI modules are 10-15 credits each – this level 4 major award requires a total of 90 credits.

Grading
Pass 50% - 64%
Merit 65% - 70%
Distinction 80% - 100%

Tutor Support

At Forus Training, we have many different supports available for your learning.

Learner Pack

• When you enrol on a course, you will receive a printed learner pack from your trainer on the first session of the event.
• This learner pack contains clear assessment instructions and comprehensive material to support you as you complete the course.
• The pack will also include induction information as well as forms that you will complete during and at the end of your course.

Trainer Support

• The trainer provides support to learners, including issuing feedback on draft work you will submit. Expect to wait up to 72 hours for a response by email from your trainer. Many of our trainers have full time jobs as well as training with us this means they will have up-to-date sector specific information, but also means that you need to allow a little time for them to get back to you. Our trainers are current with practice in the sector in which they work.
• Trainers can, by appointment, make time available to you before or after class to answer your queries that cannot be covered in the session. They can also make an appointment with you to discuss your work on a telephone call.

Assessment Upload Facility

• We have a user-friendly assessment upload facility available to you.

Support with Preparing for Assessment

If it has been a while since you’ve studied, we have free, short presentations on Study Skills, Academic Writing and Harvard Referencing to assist you in your work.

Technical Support

• Every Saturday, our Digital Ambassador Team holds a Zoom meeting – to assist learners with their technology related challenges - no question too small! The staff in this “Digital Ambassador“ role are experienced in accessing all of our systems, including the LMS and myforustraining.ie. They are positioned to assist with all the usual technology queries learners might have: Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel etc), email, file saving and organisation etc.
• Technical support is available by phone to 044 9349400 or by email: hello@forustraining.ie or through the contact form on our website.

Compassionate Consideration

• Where a Learner, pursuing an award, through no fault of his/her own, is unable to complete their assessment, the exit pathway below is in place to facilitate this Learner with an alternative course. The Learner is given the opportunity to obtain the Award by completing the course at an alternative date/location should they have relocated to an area where we provide the same award.
• The following are examples of circumstances where a Learner is unable to complete their project/their course:

● Bereavement,

● Illness,

● Pregnancy,

● Relocation,

● Extenuating circumstances.

• Please see P9 S7 C6 Compassionate Consideration Policy.

Learner Welfare

• P9 S6 C6 Learner Welfare Policy and practices are fully integrated throughout teaching and learning experiences by both Trainers and staff to effectively meet the health and wellbeing needs of all Learners. The Forus Training welfare policy is focused on the welfare of all Learners and addresses any particular challenges individual Learners may be experiencing during their learning experience. The learning environment includes welfare support provided by staff for Learners which is fully integrated throughout the teaching and learning and organisation of teaching and learning to effectively meet the personal, social (wellbeing) and academic needs of Learners and staff. Please see the policy here P9 S6 C6 Learner Welfare Policy.

Supports for Learners with Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties

• Forus Training is fully committed to complying with relevant policies and legislation with respect to equality and disability. Registered and potential Learners with verified disabilities or specific learning difficulties may be given compassionate consideration and reasonable accommodation to enable them to successfully complete their programme. This is arranged by the Course Coordinator.
• A reasonable accommodation is any action that helps to alleviate a substantial disadvantage due to an impairment or medical condition. Such accommodations are put in place to help reduce these barriers in order to provide equality of access and opportunity for all. Reasonable accommodations are made for Learners on a case by case basis and must be supported with medical documentation. Both P9 S2 C6 Evidence of Disability Form and P9 S2 C6A Application Form for Reasonable Accommodation can be found at the following link:
• https://forustraining.ie/knowledge-base/how-do-i-access-reasonable-accomodations/

Upon successful completion of the programme, you will be awarded a Level 4 major award is Horticulture (4N1194). QQI is the awarding body. Forus Training is a provider of education and training programmes and we issue the certification to learners who have reached the standard for a QQI major award. The certificate you will receive on successful completion is a formal confirmation by QQI that you have demonstrated the knowledge, skill and competence required to achieve the named award. This Programme is validated by QQI and is coded Horticulture 4N1194. This certificate which will be issued to you by us is an award listed on the NFQ (National Framework of Qualifications). This ensures the certificate is nationally and internationally recognised and has many potential uses; for example, for further / higher education or employment in Ireland or abroad.

There are 3 options available to you for course delivery.

Self-Paced - You can start today
Enjoy one to one Trainer support through Zoom, choose whether to have your learner pack posted to your home - (€25 optional if opting for the printed pack). 3 x 30 minute check-in / progress sessions with your trainer.

Blended - Learn with a group online
Each module is delivered over 7 weeks through a blend of hour long online self directed learning and live Zoom sessions. Your learner pack is posted to your home.

Classroom - Traditional location-based training
Have the course run at your organisation, book a local training room or attend one of our public courses. Each module is delivered in 3 hour sessions over a period of 7/8 weeks. We can tailor the sessions to your organisational requirements.