Tree Life Arboricultural Consultancy Ltd

Thank you for opening up this page with a view to assisting the writing of a new syllabus for the level 6 diploma qualification. I wish to seek industry views on what topics any new syllabus should contain.

Below is the level 6 qualifications criteria to indicate at what level the arboriculturist will be required to function at. Please study the criteria to assist you in determining what the content of the syllabus should be.

Level 6 Criteria

Summary

Achievement at level 6 reflects the ability to refine and use rele­vant understanding, methods and skills to address complex problems that have limited defi­nition. It includes taking respon­sibility for planning and developing courses of action that are able to underpin sub­stantial change or development, as well as exercising broad au­tonomy and judgement. It also reflects an understanding of dif­ferent perspectives, approaches or schools of thought and the theories that underpin them

Knowledge and Understanding

Refine and use practical, con­ceptual or technological under-standing to create ways forward in contexts where there are many interacting factors

Critically analyse, interpret and evaluate complex information, concepts and ideas

Understand the context in which the area of study or work is lo­cated

Be aware of current develop­ments in the area of study or work

Understand different perspec­tives, approaches or schools of thought and the theories that underpin them

Application and action

Address problems that have lim­ited definition and involve many interacting factors

Determine, refine, adapt and use appropriate methods and skills

Use and, where appropriate, de-sign relevant research and de­velopment to inform actions

Evaluate actions, methods and results and their implications

Autonomy and accountability

Take responsibility for planning and developing courses of ac­tion that are capable of under-pinning substantial changes or developments

Initiate and lead tasks and processes, taking responsibility, where relevant, for the work and roles of others

Exercise broad autonomy and judgement

Syllabus – What should the arboricultural syllabus contain?

With a new credit framework coming the opportunity is there to write a new syllabus. An opportunity also to define what arboriculture is through the range of content and to confine the arboriculture syllabus to exactly that – arboriculture, a real specialist field of knowledge. For example – units are readily available covering personnel management and finance and if one is in the position of needing or wishing to acquire training/qualifications in those areas, then they can be achieved as required through alternative programmes and specialists in that field. In other words should the specialist arboricultural syllabus contain non arboricultural elements?

In my opinion the arboricultural syllabus at level 6 should contain

• topics that are fundamental to tree management in the UK in the 21^st century

• topics that are essential to the specialism of arboriculture

• topics that support the essential elements such that they can not be omitted

• topics that are essential to ensure that the qualification is ‘fit for purpose’ for the 21^st century arboriculturist

What it should not contain are elements that

• do not meet the above criteria

• make the syllabus unwieldy large

• confer a ‘Jack of all trades and master of none’

• are areas of historical or other interest only

• can be accessed from other specialist syllabi

• take the arboriculturist into another specialist field and in which it can not be expected to attain the knowledge required at level 6

NB  Some areas of the syllabus can contain elements at lower levels (4 and 5) so long as the vast majority are at level 6.

Dave Dowson