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Certified Practising Horticulturist Programme

Introduction

The Certified Practising Horticulturist Programme is a Professional Certification for practising horticulturists. It is an intensive 10-day refresher training with 0.5-day of assessment. This Programme is accredited with the Australian Institute of Horticulture.

Competencies trained and assessed

- Landscape Industry overview
- Soils and media
- Water
- Plants
- Plant maintenance
- Irrigation
- Site implementation principles
- Project costings and implementation
- Project planning and supervision
- Project implementation and construction

Methodology

Facilitation sessions with site visits and practical sessions in public gardens and parks.

Who should attend

Practicising horticulturists with at least 3 years of relevant work experience

Admission Requirements

1. A relevant Degree in Horticulture or related discipline (e.g Botany) or Diploma in Horticulture in Landscape Management or Diploma in Ornamental Horticulture with at least 5 years of direct work experience in horticulture /landscape industry 

OR

2. Attained a minimum of Trade Certificate in Landscaping Practices with at least 10 years of relevant working experience in horticulture/ landscape industry. Applicants must show evidence of horticulture work experience honed from projects.

AND

3. Submit a Referee Report * to attest to the applicant’s working experience in the landscape industry

* Applicants are to provide a referee report to attest to the applicant’s working experience. Referees are expected to be Industry Practitioners with at least 10 years of relevant working experience and must show proof that they have worked with or supervised the applicants.

Facilitators and Assessors

CUGE Facilitators and Assessors are Certified Practising Horticulturists with the Australian Institute of Horticulture. The Facilitators and Assessors have developed the programme with extensive consultation with the Industry practitioners including validation sessions on the contents for training. These Facilitators and Assessors have extensive experience both in theory and practice to impart knowledge and skills to trainees.

Certified Playground Safety Inspector Programme

Introduction

The Certified Playground Safety Inspector Programme is a Professional Certification for playground safety inspectors.  It is an intensive 2.5-day programme to provide professional training and assessment to achieve the Certified Playground Inspector accredited with the National Recreation and Park Association, United States of America (http://www.nrpa.org/).  

Competencies trained and assessed

- Hazard Identification
- Surfacing
- Safety Management - Comprehensive Programme/Audits
- Safety Management - Inspections and Maintenance
- Site Investigation 

Methodology

Lectures, Facilitated Discussions, Applied Exercises, Case Studies

Who should attend

- Landscape Managers/Supervisors
- Landscape Architects/Designers
- Contract Managers/Supervisors
- Facilities Managers/Supervisors
- Town Council Managers/Supervisors

Facilitators and Assessors

Mr. Ken Kutska is an independent consultant in the area of safety specializing in play spaces for children. Ken received his B.S. in Public Park and Recreation Administration from Western Illinois University. He is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional and a Certified Playground Safety Inspector with more than 35 years of full-time experience in all aspects of public park operations management.  He chaired his agency’s Safety Committee from 1984 until retiring in 2006.

Ken is an active member of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and the National Recreation and Park Association.  He has served on the; IPRA Board of Directors, chaired the IPRA Park and Natural Resource Management Section, chaired the NRPA Great Lakes Regional Council, the NRPA National Forum, served on the NRPA Board of Trustees, and was President of the NRPA in 1995.  Ken is cofounder of the NRPA National Playground Safety Institute. The NPSI’s Certified Playground Safety Inspector Course and Exam Program has certified more than 30,000 with a current national registry of 8,000. Ken has been a CPSI Course Certified Instructor since 1994.

Certified Arborist Programme

Introduction

The Certified Arborist Programme, in collaboration with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) based in the United States, is a premier professional certification and accreditation programme for practising arborists. The Certified Arborist Programme is an intensive training and certification programme that prepares practicing arborists for professional certification.

Competencies trained and assessed

The Certified Arborist Programme consists of 70 hours of training and certification. This programme will provide refresher training on the essential theories and practices of tree care and management. The Certified Arborist Programme comprises 10 domains that makes up 15 chapters:

  • Tree Biology
  • Soil Management
  • Fertilisation/ Urban Forestry
  • Tree Identification
  • Tree selection, installation and establishment
  • Pest diagnosis and Treatment
  • Tree Pruning
  • Tree Risk
  • Tree Protection & Preservation
  • Safe Work Practices

Trainees who have successfully achieved certification will be registered as a Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture.

The Professional Certification of an Arborist is valid for a period of 3 Years. CUGE will provide professional development and upgrading opportunities for Certified Arborists through professional workshops/seminars to achieve Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for re-certification.

Re-certification

A Certified Arborist shall accumulate 30 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) by the end of the 3-year period to prepare for professional re-certification. CUGE will manage and prepare Certified Arborists to achieve the requisite CEUs.

Methodology

Classroom lectures with project exercises and practices and assessment

Who should attend

Tree Care Supervisors and Managers with relevant working experience

Admission Requirements

The entry criteria stipulated for new entrants are shown below:
(Candidate must meet at least one of the following criterion) 

A) 2 Year Degree in Arboriculture with 2 years of FULL time working experience with tree care / management

B) 4 Year Degree in related discipline( Horticulture, Botany, Plant Sciences , Forestry and such) and 1 year FULL time working experience with tree care /management

C) Diploma in related discipline (Landscape Management, Horticulture and similar) with 3 years of FULL time working experience with tree care /management

D) Other experienced tree care professionals may apply but will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. ISA has the final say before any candidate is allowed to sit for their exams. Candidates must have minimum 3 years FULL time working experience with tree care/ management.

Facilitators and Assessors

Industry Tree Care Practitioners who are Certified Arborists
Practising Certified Arborists from the National Parks Board, Singapore

Certified Nature Interpretation Skills Guide Programme

Introduction

The Certified Nature Interpretation Skills Guide Programme is a Professional Certification for nature guides. This is an intensive 10-day competency-based programme to prepare participants to be Certified Nature Interpretation Skills Guide accredited with the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality (THE-ICE). 

Competencies trained and assessed

Skills required for leading and coordinating tours
- Work as a Guide
- Coordinate and Operate a Tour
- Lead Tour Groups

Skills relevant to prepare and present tour commentaries

- Prepare and Present Tour commentaries or activities

Risk Management skills

- Provide first aid
(NB: to obtain RPL, each student is required to provide evidence of completion of a Red Cross Level 2 Certificate in First Aid or equivalence)
- Manage Risk
(NB: to obtain RPL, each student is required to provide evidence of completion of CUGE-STY3002 Risk Management course)

Develop and maintain the knowledge required by guides

- Develop and maintain the general knowledge required by guides
- Plan and develop interpretive activities
- Prepare specialised interpretive content (flora, fauna and landscape)
- Offer arrival and departure assistance
- Deal with conflict situations
- Sell tourism products and services

Methodology

A good balance of classroom facilitation sessions and practical sessions in nature reserves and public parks.

Who should attend

NParks Officers conducting outreach programmes and nature guiding.
Nature guides
Educators conducting excursions and field trips to nature areas

Admission requirements

Completed Skills Audit conducted with
A relevant degree with at least 1 year relevant working experience OR
A relevant diploma with at least 2 years relevant working experience OR
At least 3 years relevant working experience

Facilitator and Assessor

Mr Paul Taylor is the Course Co-ordinator Ecotourism, Department of Tourism and Event Management, William Angliss Institute of TAFE Australia. He has more than 12 years of experience in nature guiding education through the management and development of the William Angliss Institute of TAFE ecotourism course, developing course materials in tour guiding and interpretation subject areas, development of Tour Guiding training course for East Timor Development Agency. Paul also presented regularly at Ecotourism, Interpretation, Adventure Tourism Forums and Aboriginal Tourism Australia conferences and symposiums. He holds Post-graduate qualifications in education and tourism management and Scuba Diving Instructor and Assistant Cross Country Ski Instructor Certificate.