Year 1 (Level 4) Course Units
The first year is comprised of four core units (or part units) with optional additional units from more general Rural Skills courses to make up to a total of 4 whole level 4 credits. The four compulsory elements are:
1. Estate Maintenance Int1 DV0A 10
This Unit is a mandatory Unit within the SPA in Rural Skills. It can also be delivered as a stand-alone Unit.
This Unit will be suitable for candidates who have limited or no knowledge of the craft practices in estate maintenance. The Outcomes require the candidate to identify and know the use of a variety of tools and equipment and then use these to undertake a range of estate maintenance tasks. The attainment of these skills is an essential requirement for progressing to higher level skills within this area.
Outcomes
- Use tools and equipment commonly used in estate maintenance.
- Carry out a range of estate maintenance tasks.
Credit Value
1.0 credit at SCQF level 4 (6 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 4*).
2. Autumn Level 4 F460 10
This Unit is designed to enable candidates to acquire the skills needed during the Autumn season on the croft together with related knowledge including reproduction in key crofting animals, uses of croft land and the nature of crofting. Through practical activities it contributes to their understanding of crofting as small scale mixed-use agriculture with a unique cultural background and a holistic and sustainable character.
Outcomes
- Describe reproduction in key crofting animals.
- Identify a range of uses of local croft land.
- Participate in seasonally appropriate croft work.
- Investigate the nature of crofting.
Credit Value
0.5 credits at SCQF level 4 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 4*).
3. Winter Level 4 F45Y 10
This Unit is designed to enable candidates to acquire the skills needed during the Winter season on the croft together with related knowledge including care and welfare of key crofting animals, main factors affecting food production, and characteristics of local crofting. Through practical activities it contributes to their understanding of crofting as small scale mixed-use agriculture with a unique cultural background and a holistic and sustainable character.
Outcomes
- Identify care and welfare requirements in key crofting animals.
- Identify main factors affecting food production on the croft.
- Participate in seasonally appropriate croft work.
- Investigate the characteristics of a crofting community.
Credit Value
0.5 credits at SCQF level 4 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 4*).
4. Spring Level 4 F461 10
This Unit is designed to enable candidates to acquire the skills needed during the Spring season on the croft together with related knowledge including birth and development of key crofting animals, biology of common plants and the history of crofting. Through practical activities it contributes to their understanding of crofting as small scale mixed-use agriculture with a unique cultural background and a holistic and sustainable character.
Outcomes
- Describe the birth and development processes of key crofting animals.
- Describe basic biology of common plants on the croft.
- Participate in seasonally appropriate croft work.
- Investigate the history of crofting.
Credit Value
0.5 credits at SCQF level 4 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 4*).
*SCQF credit points are used to allocate credit to qualifications in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Each qualification in the Framework is allocated a number of SCQF credit points at an SCQF level. There are 12 SCQF levels, ranging from Access 1 to Doctorates.
