Year 2 (Level 5) Course Units

The second year is comprised of six 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 SQA credits.  The four compulsory elements are:

1. Countryside Land Use (Int 2)  DV09 11

This Unit is a mandatory unit within the SPA in Rural Skills. It can also be delivered as a free-standing Unit.  This Unit is suitable for candidates who have limited experience of life in the countryside and related industries. It is intended to raise awareness of national and local land use, rural businesses and issues affecting current and future changes.

Outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the different forms of national land and water use.
• Investigate the current and changing land and water use in your area.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the key issues which are changing the way the countryside is used.

Credit Value

1.0 credit at Intermediate 2 (6 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 5*)

2. Enterprise  F464 11

This Unit is designed to enable candidates to acquire the enterprise skills and outlook needed for diversified crofting. It builds such skills through the planning, implementing and reviewing of suitable independent projects, integrated as ongoing activities throughout The Crofting Year.

Outcomes

• Produce a plan for an Enterprise project.
• Implement the project.
• Review and evaluate the project.

Credit Value

0.5 credits at SCQF level 5 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 5*).

3. Autumn Level 5  F463 11

This Unit is designed to enable candidates to acquire the skills needed during the Autumn season on the croft together with related knowledge including health management of key crofting animals, local crop production and structure of crofting communities. 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 health management strategies for key crofting animals.
• Describe local crop production and management.
• Take part in seasonally appropriate croft work.
• Describe the structure of crofting communities.

Credit Value

0.5 credits at SCQF level 5 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 5*).

4. Winter Level 5  F462 11

This Unit is suitable for candidates wishing to develop knowledge and skills relating to crofting. This Unit is designed to allow candidates to acquire the skills needed during the Winter season on the croft together with the relevant underpinning knowledge to increase their understanding of the holistic and sustainable nature of crofting. Candidates will develop their knowledge of the breed characteristics of key crofting animals, the factors affecting balance within ecosystems, wool products and production and finally the implications of differing methods of crop and animal production. It contributes to their understanding of the seasonal activities required by small-scale mixed-use agriculture, and of the cultural background of crofting communities.

Outcomes

• Describe and compare breed characteristics of key crofting animals.
• Describe balance within a local ecosystem.
• Investigate a range of traditional and contemporary wool products and production methods.
• Investigate the implications of different methods of crop and animal production.

Credit Value

0.5 credits at SCQF level 5 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 5*).

5. Spring Level 5  F465 11

This Unit is designed to enable candidates to acquire the skills needed during the Spring season on the croft together with related knowledge including biology and care of pigs and poultry, local wild species, meat products suitable for local production, and the regulatory structure affecting crofting. 

Outcomes

• Describe basic biology and care of pigs and poultry.
• Investigate the relationship between local plants and animals and humans.
• Identify a range of meat products suitable for local production.
• Describe the regulatory structure affecting crofting.

Credit Value

0.5 credits at SCQF level 5 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 5*).

6. Summer Level 5  F466 11

This Unit is designed to enable candidates to acquire the skills needed during the Summer season on the croft together with related knowledge including dairy products suitable for croft production, requirements for productive soil and regulations for the movement of animals. 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 a range of dairy products suitable for croft production.
• Describe key requirements for productive soil.
• Participate in seasonally appropriate croft work.
• Describe key regulations on the movement of animals.

Credit Value

0.5 credits at SCQF level 5 (3 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 5*).

*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.