Z2A Associate Degree in Agribusiness

Overview 2020

Entry Requirements: See entry requirements

Duration: Minimum 2 Years, up to a maximum of 5 Years
Duration
Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Entry Requirements: See entry requirements

Duration: Minimum 2 Years
Entry requirements

Location

Studying an Associate Degree in Agribusiness at the University of Tasmania.

The Associate Degree in Agribusiness is an industry-focused course designed for people who want to learn everything there is to know about running a successful farm-based business from paddock to plate. It is an ideal stepping stone for those currently working in agriculture who wish to move into leadership and management roles, or a great foundation for those wishing to enter the industry.

The program combines business studies in management, finance, marketing and planning with technical studies in agriculture through a unique blend of online learning, face-to-face classes, practical workshops and industry placements. The course content has been developed in consultation with industry experts and they are actively involved in its delivery.

A key feature of the course is the focus on hands-on learning, where students develop knowledge and skills through work integrated learning opportunities such as industry placements, fieldwork, case studies and applied research. This aims to enhance students’ problem solving, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills by allowing them to ‘learn through practice’. It has been designed to make university study a little less daunting—and a lot more practical.

While the first year serves as a foundation year in agribusiness, the second year allows students to choose an employment-based pathway, specialisation pathway, or a pathway into a higher level of study.

In the second year of study, students can undertake a pathway to further bachelor study, or choose to specialise in:

Dairy
Horticulture
Agriskills
Value Chain Management

Pathway to further study

The Articulation option, in the second year of the Associate Degree, prepares you to undertake a bachelor degree. You’ll be eligible for two years of full credit into the University of Tasmania’s Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture and Business) degree, or partial credit into another University of Tasmania bachelor program, subject to the relevant College's discretion.

The program is available for full-time and part-time study across all campuses in Tasmania and is delivered through a combination of online study, face-to-face classes, practical workshops and tutorials.

Completing our Associate Degree in Agribusiness will give you:

a pathway to a great career in agriculture
strong commercial awareness of agribusiness industries
practical skills to take straight into the workplace
opportunities to advance in your chosen field
the skills to help you meet personal career development goals
credit towards a Bachelor degree at the University of Tasmania.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the Associate Degree in Agribusiness, graduates will be able to:

Understand how management of an agribusiness enterprise reflects and responds to the interaction of productivity and profitability;
Apply knowledge of business management in practical agribusiness settings;
Identify personal goals, abilities and pathways to guide career development in agribusiness; and
Demonstrate their value to an agribusiness employer using evidence drawn from reflections on subjects, projects and experiences of the Associate Degree.

Practical experience

Experiential education and work integrated learning approaches are central to the Associate Degree in Agribusiness. Students will therefore learn through project and problem-based learning activities such as field work, case studies (local and international), action learning, design thinking, simulated environments, placements, data for decision making, wicked problems and more. These approaches ensure practical experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment and that students have the opportunity to develop work-related skills, knowledge and behaviours.

In the first year of an associate degree, students are introduced to learning through practice and exposed to authentic experiences that develop skills and understandings related to industry, community or global needs. Students engage with (i) a range of methods and approaches to practice, (ii) principles and perspectives such as values, ethics, empathy and leadership in real world scenarios, (iii) reflection and deliberative thinking as a means of developing knowledge, skills, attitudes and aspirations, and (iv) ways of understanding problems and developing solutions through active inquiry.

A key component of the course, which is established in the first year, is a Practice Manual. The Practice Manual contains all portfolio requirements for the course, including the Professional Development Plan (PDP) and is a collection of evidence that highlights personal, academic and professional development. Dedicated teachers are in coaching roles to support you to continuously develop your Practice Manual over the duration of the course. This involves working with you to determine what evidence best highlights your ability to apply theory in practice, and what activities and experiences showcase your achievement in terms of transferable skills, professional attributes, technical skills and knowledge, and so forth.

The second year of an associate degree builds on the concept of learning through practice by introducing students to more complex learning experiences. Students are therefore introduced to (i) discipline-based skills and knowledge in dynamic practice situations, (ii) concepts of managing effective relationships and communicating with others, (iii) the development and use of adaptive leadership skills and how these skills relate to innovative and entrepreneurial practice, and (iv) the nature of responsible, accountable and reflective workplace skills, and creative and critical thinking relevant to para-professional practice. In addition, students are expected to exercise self-awareness, initiative and judgement to manage themselves and professional relationships effectively. On completion of the two years, students are expected to have a fully developed Practice Manual that highlights all their achievements, including the development of transferable skills and professional attributes, so they leave with a tangible asset that showcases what industry are looking for.

Career outcomes

Career Outcomes

Graduation from the Associate Degree in Agribusiness can provide an entry opportunity for those seeking work in an agribusiness, accelerate progression through a graduate's present agribusiness organisation, or open up new career paths and opportunities.

New to agribusiness and never worked in the industry before?

For those graduates new to agribusiness, roles including trainee positions, team leaders, field officers and researchers are likely.

Already working and want to fast track or leverage off past experience?

For those graduates already working in agriculture, the Associate Degree in Agribusiness should enable graduates to progress from assistant positions to managerial roles, lead a small team, become a field officer, research team member or salesperson and liaise better with suppliers and/ or customers.

Potential types of employers:

Upstream of the farm: suppliers of seed, fertiliser, chemicals, machinery, stockfeed, labour, finance, business advisory, transport, consultancy, and specialist services such as harvesting contractors.
Primary production: cropping, horticulture, animal based enterprises, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, wineries, farm-based tourism.
Downstream of the farm: processors and value-adders, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, transport and storage operations, logistics, consultants.

Course structure

Please note: the delivery of individual specialisations is subject to sufficient enrolment numbers

The Associate Degree in Agribusiness is a two-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) course comprising of a combination of 16 topic areas, each with an embedded work integrated learning component. The program is offered over four teaching terms of 10 weeks.

The first year of the Associate Degree will serve as a foundation year. The second year of the degree will allow students to choose either an employment-based pathway or a pathway into higher level study.

For assistance with enrolment, please email U.Connect@utas.edu.au or call 1300 826 663.

Z2A Agribusiness Year 1

Students are required to take two units in each term, if you are studying full time.

Year 1

Term 1

ZAB111

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Term 1
Hobart	Term 3
Launceston	Term 1
Launceston	Term 3
Cradle Coast	Term 1
Cradle Coast	Term 3

Associate Degree in Agribusiness (Z2A)

Overview 2020

Entry Requirements

Duration

Duration

Location

Entry Requirements

Duration

Location

Pathway to further study

Career outcomes

Course structure

Z2A Agribusiness Year 1

Year 1

Agribusiness Management

Agribusiness Planning

HRM in Agribusiness

Data and Analysis

Students commencing the course in Term 3 should enrol in ZAB111

Value Chain Management in Agribusiness

Agribusiness Finance

Agribusiness Management

Agribusiness Marketing

Agribusiness and Feasibility

Term 1

Fundamental Principles of Agriculture (A)

Fundamental Principles of Agriculture (B)

Agri-skills (general employment pathway)

Principles of Crop Production

Principles of Weed, Pest and Disease Management

Dairy (specialisation)

Principles of Crop Production

Herd and Pasture Management

Horticulture (specialisation)

Principles of Crop Production

Production Horticulture

Principles of Soil Management

E-agribusiness, Technology and Innovation

Sustainability and Contemporary Issues

Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking

Sustainability and Contemporary Issues

Dairy Pasture Management

Sustainability and Contemporary Issues

Postharvest Horticulture

First half of the year

Fundamental Principles of Agriculture (A)

Term 2

Choose one elective from the following:

Production Horticulture

Herd and Pasture Management

Crop Production

Introductory Entomology and Plant Pathology

Second Half of the Year

Term 4

E-agribusiness, Technology and Innovation

Choose one elective from the following:

Postharvest Horticulture

Dairy Pasture Management

Pasture and Animal Science

Soil, Nutrients and Water

Fundamental Principles of Agriculture (A)

Fundamental Principles of Agriculture (B)

Principles of Crop Production

Value Chain Analysis and Strategy

Principles of Soil Management

E-agribusiness, Technology and Innovation

Sustainability and Contemporary Issues

Value Chain Management Industry Project

Entry requirements

Domestic applicants with higher education study

Domestic applicants with work and life experience

Fees & scholarships

Domestic students

International students

Scholarships

Additional costs

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