Originator/Sponsor: Food and Fibre CoVE
Portfolio Managers: Fiona Windle
Status: In Delivery
Planned delivery date: October 2025
Lead Agency/Service Provider: Boost Business Services, HTK Group, Skills Group
Introduction/Background:
This change initiative has carried out a range of analyses to test and determine what a Degree Level Apprenticeship for Food and Fibre Framework could comprise of. To date, the following has been carried out:
- Report on analysis of each programme to establish strawman curricula. After industry engagement, it will be determined if further detailed consultation with industry and provider-based representatives is required.
- Analysis of effort to convert a number of representative courses into courses designed to be delivered predominantly in a work-based environment.
- Report on workshop feedback held at the 2024 Food and Fibre CoVE Research and Insights Forum.
- Report: Capturing Māori Lens to inform Food and Fibre Degree-Level Programme Apprenticeship: Stocktake of Education Models and Touchpoints of DLA Lifecycle. This report recommends an education model to be developed specifically for the Food and Fibre DLA. This is being advanced and due to be completed March 2025.
Skills Group are undertaking employer engagement across March 2025 to ascertain market demand to inform the programme application.
Objectives:
- The target state to ensure a valid Food and Fibre DLA Framework include:
- All criteria for a formal degree-level programme would be met and would be accredited by an appropriate industry body(ies).
- The resulting degree-level apprenticeship would be recognised across Aotearoa New Zealand as the equivalent to any other New Zealand Bachelor’s Degree Programme by:
– Demonstrating intellectual independence, critical thinking and analytic rigour;
– Engaging in self-directed learning;
– Demonstrating knowledge and skills related to the ideas, principles, concepts, chief research methods and problem-solving techniques of a recognised major subject;
– Demonstrating the skills needed to acquire, understand and assess information from a range of sources;
– Demonstrating communication and collaborative skills
Supporting multiple pathways (entry and exit points) into the degree programme:
– Level 5 or 6 qualification in an appropriate subject or across from an appropriate BSc programme
– Work experience
– School leaver with a minimum period of work experience
Other Information:
- Learners would not be required to undertake subjects for which they can clearly demonstrate competency to a level which ensured they would be capable of undertaking the next level of learning in that subject.
- The vast majority of learning would occur in the learner’s workplace against a study programme which optimises use of the learner’s current work practices and employer’s future needs as much as possible. The time it would take would depend on the tailored programme, but is estimated a Degree would take about 4-5 years to complete.
- Learning would be employer supported, mostly employer delivered (with support from the VET provider) and knowledge/competency would be mostly employer attested (and sometimes externally or VET provider assessed), but always externally moderated.
- It would accommodate the cultural and pastoral needs all of learners; especially for Māori ākonga
- Scaffolding of subjects would ensure alignment between Level 5 and Level 6 Certificate and Diploma courses with years 1 and 2 of the Degree Programme.
To find out more, view our video that outlines all the key points of the programme, and the FAQs
The above information was current as at 27 February 2025.