The advanced diploma in horticulture - A pathway into and through higher education

Abstract

Over recent years in Victoria there has been stable or declining applications for undergraduate courses in horticulture and reduced numbers of graduating students. This is contrasted over the same period by increasing growth in employment across different sectors of horticulture, particularly in parks and gardens and production horticulture. To ensure that there are sufficiently trained professionals able to meet future needs, pathways into and through horticultural education must be improved. One pathway is a two-year higher education qualification - Associate Degrees and Advanced Diplomas. This paper explores these types of qualifications and describes one course in detail - the Advanced D..