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Courses & Programs

Short Courses | Postgraduate coursework programs & Courses

Short course outcomes | Enrolling in short courses | Payment

Postgraduate coursework programs & Courses | Teaching & learning approach | Program structure
Entry pathways | Learning pathways | How to apply | Study costs and financial support

Short courses

Based on feedback from over 400 people interested in the future of the rangelands, Rangelands Australia has developed a series of short courses for personal growth and professional development. These short courses are specially designed for:

Short courses are available for delivery to groups face-to-face in the rangelands subject to need and demand. A minimum number of participants are required for the course to run, to maximise interactive and formal learning.

NOTE: Rangelands Australia is a FarmBis Approved Training Provider under the AAA FarmBis program.

The following unique courses complement the 1350 short courses available on aspects of agriculture and natural resource management (NRM), and fill important gaps identified by a wide range of stakeholders.

  1. Being heard as a stakeholder in the rangelands - download pdf
  2. Introduction to monitoring for management - download pdf
  3. Being in the rangelands for the long run: Balancing for economic, environmental and social outcomes - download pdf
  4. Success in diversification - Thinking through opportunities, options and implications - download pdf
  5. No surprises in the rangelands - Understanding global and national trends influencing your business and community - download pdf
  6. Getting into further study: insights, practices and tips for sucess in distance education - download pdf

 

Short Course outcomes

All the Rangelands Australia short courses demonstrate the following qualities:

Furthermore, completion of our short courses can help you gain further formal qualifications such as a Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma. This is because the content each short course has been mapped to one or more units of competency from nationally accredited training packages such as the Conservation and Land Management training, Amenity Horticulture, Rural Production and Business Services training packages. If you satisfactorily complete all the assessment activities during and after the course, you will be awarded a Statement of Attainment, issued by the University of Queensland Gatton Campus Vocational Training Unit , which lists the competencies you have achieved. This Statement of Attainment can be used as part of a qualification under the Vocational Education and Training National Training Framework. You will learn more about these requirements at the course.

Of course, if you are not interested in gaining formal recognition for the course, your participation will still be formalized with a Statement of Participation, issued by Rangelands Australia, so that you have a record of the learning which you have completed. The Statement of Participation does not require any assessment of the work you have done throughout the course, and simply acknowledges that you have undertaken this course, and outlines its content and the date and location of the course.

Please note that if you chose to do a formal assessment to gain a Statement of Attainment, an additional fee will be charged for the assessment process. For further information contact Rangelands Australia.

 

Enrolling in short courses

To register your interest in holding a short course for a group in your area, please contact Rangelands Australia. Minimum numbers apply.

Short courses will be held in rangeland regions subject to need and demand and at a mutually convenient time and location.

Course length and cost

Short course

Length

Fees* ($)

Courses currently available

 

Being heard as a stakeholder in the rangelands

2 days

$950 (+ GST)

Introduction to monitoring for management

1 day

$450 (+GST)

Being in the rangelands for the long run: Balancing for economic, environmental and social outcomes

2 days, approximately 4-6 weeks apart
+
field/property work

$850 (+GST)

Success in diversification in the rangelands

2 days

$950 (+GST)

No surprises in the rangelands

1 day

$500 (+GST)

Getting into further study: Insights, practices and tips for success in distance education
3 days
$1000 (+GST)

*Financial support is available (see below)

The cost of Rangeland Australia short courses varies according to the level of complexity of the course.

Note: If you choose to do a formal assessment to gain a Statement of Attainment, an additional fee will be charged for the assessment process. For further information contact Rangelands Australia.

Financial Support

Rangelands Australia is an AAA FarmBis Approved Training Provider in Queensland , South Australia , Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The AAA FarmBis program provides financial assistance to primary producers and rural land managers to undertake business and natural resource management training and education activities. This means that course applicants meeting the eligibility criteria can be subsidized for between 65% and 80% of the cost of the course (including GST), depending on the course and the state. For further details see http://www.farmbis.gov.au/ .

 

Payment

Fees must be paid in advance of the commencement of the short course. Please contact Rangelands Australia for payment options.

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Postgraduate coursework programs and courses

Teaching & learning approach | Program structure | Entry pathways | Learning pathways
How to apply | Study costs and financial support

Teaching and learning approach

The Rangeland Management programs are designed to use and build on the rich experience participants bring with them into the learning situation. Through' online' interaction students are able to:

Rangelands Australia seeks to enrich the student's learning experience by providing both formal and informal learning opportunities. How Rangelands Australia structures these experiences will depend on the course available and the number and background of participants.

Feedback on the Postgraduate Programs and Courses

A flexible learning approach to program development has used the most effective, varied and appropriate teaching and learning modes to provide a better mix of learning situations. Courses are designed to develop independence, creativity and problem solving skills in students to prepare them to meet the future challenges of the rangelands.

Courses are offered in a number of ways in partnership with facilitators and cooperating institutions across the rangelands, including external study, intensive teaching within a region and on-site programs developed in collaboration with the workplace:

External study allows students to learn in a flexible manner to accommodate the commitments of their work or enterprise, e.g. travel and seasonal commitments. Study materials are available in a number of different forms. The majority of courses have printed Study Books (equivalent of lectures), Books of Readings and use an online learning system for interaction. Additionally, the internet can be used to deliver courses in combination with printed material. Videos, CDs, audio tapes, maps or resource kits may also be used when appropriate to the subject matter.

Many courses have assessment tasks which focus on an industry or farm-related project. In these cases it is desirable for students have access to people and properties in the rangelands.

If this presents a difficulty, contact Rangelands Australia.

If there are a sufficient number of interested people in an area, who are able to come together for several days, Rangelands Australia will provide a facilitator for face-to-face delivery of the course at a mutually convenient location.

This may involve the teaching of a course over a 5-6 day block, with some pre- and post- block work (eg. reading and completing assignments, respectively).

Each postgraduate course will require a commitment of 10-12 hours per week, on average. This includes all reading, learning activities and assignments in the course.

Courses are offered subject to the availability of teaching staff and, in some courses, sufficient numbers of students for an effective learning environment.

Three levels of postgraduate programs for professional development are available. Participants in these programs can choose entry and exit levels according to their needs and students may progress step-wise and attain credit toward the next level, subject to satisfactory performance and progress:

Getting into Further Study: Insights, practices and tips for success in distance education

Rangelands Australia offers a skills development course to prepare students for tertiary study.

Postgraduate study requires a student to be an independent learner. This bridging course, 'Getting into further study: Insight, practices and tips for success in distance education' , is designed to prepare students who enter coursework postgraduate programs with little or no recent formal tertiary experience (for example, students who enter the course through Recognition of Prior Learning). The course clarifies expectations of postgraduate study and builds the necessary academic, learning, information and communication skills required to successfully manage program expectations.

Getting into further study - download pdf

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Program structure

Rangelands Australia has designed the postgraduate coursework programs in Rangeland Management to position students to meet both the current and future social, economic and environmental challenges facing industry and rangeland communities. Programs aim to build capacity for change and to develop the management capacity of both production and environmental specialists, thus enabling graduates to contribute more effectively to the goal of sustainable rangeland use and management.

Each postgraduate course will require a commitment of 10-12 hours per week, on average. This includes all reading, learning activities and assignments in the course.

Three programs are available, with qualifications offered by The University of Queensland:

Graduate Certificate in Rangeland Management

To graduate with a Graduate Certificate in Rangeland Management, a student must satisfactorily* complete #8 units within 3 years. The program is comprised of:

The following #4 from Part A:

And the remaining units from Part B listed below or other advanced courses approved by the Executive Dean.

 

Graduate Diploma in Rangeland Management

To graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Rangeland Management, a student must satisfactorily* complete at least #16 units within 5 years. The program is comprised of:

The following #6 units from Part A:

And the remaining units from Part B listed below or other advanced courses approved by the Executive Dean.

 

Masters of Rangeland Management

To graduate with a Masters of Rangeland Management, a student must satisfactorily complete at least #24 units. Where the masters program is a continuance from a relevant 4 year bachelor qualification, a student must satisfactorily* complete at least #16 units. The degree must be completed within 7 years.

The program is comprised of:

The following #12 units from Part A including a graduate research project:

And the remaining units from Part B listed below or other advanced courses approved by the Executive Dean.

*NOTE: Credit will be granted towards the completion of a program only for courses in which a student obtained a grade of 4 or better.

All courses are #2 unit courses, except Graduate Research Projects.

Students are strongly recommended to complete all Part A courses before beginning the Graduate Research Project. These courses help to define and develop the research proposal and project.

Examples of course sequences - download pdf.

 

Master of Rangeland Management Part B courses (electives)

 

Semester 1
Rangeland–specific courses

Semester 2
Rangeland–specific courses

•  AGRC7023 Grazing Land Management download pdf

• AGRC7028 Rangeland Monitoring and Adaptive Management (offered alternative years)

•  ANIM7017 Animal Nutrition and Behaviour download pdf

•  MGTS7978 Managing Self, Developing and Retaining Others (offered alternative years) download pdf

•  Ecology and Management of Tropical Forests and Savannas1 (SB1507)

•  ANIM7018 Animal Wellbeing and Health

•  AGRC7027 Rangeland Pests, Weeds and Biosecurity (offered alternative years)

• AGRC7029 Diversification and New Industries in the Rangelands download pdf(offered alternative years)

• AGRC7030 Reading the Rangelands

•  AGRC7031 Property, Catchment and Regional Planning download pdf (offered alternative years)

•  AGRC7035 Advanced Rangeland Ecology download pdf

Other electives

Other electives

•  AGRC7037 ‘E' technologies for the Food and Fibre Sector

•  AGRC7100 Introduction to Rural Industries3

•  MGTS7968 Rural Community Development

•  MGTS7960 Agribusiness Supply Chain Management

•  MKTG7961 Agribusiness Marketing

•  Meat Technology2 (518)

•  Sheep Production (Wool and Meat)2(512)

•  ENVM7512 Environmental Problem Solving

•  FINM7960 Agribusiness Project Appraisal

•  LAND7000 Water and Land Resource Management

•  LAWS7106 Regulatory and Legal Aspects of Sustainable Development

•  LPWM6640 Postgraduate Advanced Topic

•  MGTS7968 Rural Community Development

•  MKTG7960 Commodities, Futures and Options

 

  1. Course offered by Charles Darwin University 's School of Science and Primary Industries. This unit focuses on the ecology and management of tropical savannas. Current knowledge on the determinants of structure and function of tropical savannas will be described. Management issues in savannas will be examined and the relationship between the ecology and management of savannas will be emphasised.
  2. Course offered by the University of New England 's School of Rural Science and Agriculture
  3. Course is only available to students undertaking the Graduate certificate who do not have a background in agriculture, economics or a related field.

Rangeland Management Program course descriptions (short) – download pdf

Further details are available from the Rangeland Management Student Guide. The 2008 Student guide will be available in December 2007.

Articulation between postgraduate programs

Rangeland Management coursework programs are articulated programs. This means that students may progress step-wise and attain credit toward the next level. For example, a student may progress from the Graduate Certificate (with full credit) to the Graduate Diploma, and the Graduate Diploma (with full credit) to the coursework Masters program, subject to satisfactory performance and progress.

Students can choose entry and exit levels according to their needs.

 

Entry Criteria

Go to http://www.uq.edu.au/study/

 

Entry Pathways

There are multiple entry points and pathways towards a postgraduate qualification in rangeland management, such as those highlighted in the following diagram.

Learning Pathways Diagram

Pathways towards a postgraduate qualification may include recognition of formal and informal learning, skill development training, and work and life experiences.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Access to postgraduate programs can be facilitated by Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This is a process where a student may be granted admission, credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal learning.

Thus, applicants who do not hold an appropriate qualification but who have relevant experience may initially be admitted to the Graduate Certificate level. Suitability for admission may be demonstrated through a range of qualifications and experience such as:

Prospective students interested in obtaining RPL, should first contact the Program Coordinator on tel. (07) 5460 1660 or email rangelands@uqg.uq.edu.au to determine whether credit for any prior informal learning is relevant and possible. Formal RPL assessment may follow if required.

RPL Application Guidelines - download pdf

RPL Application Form - download Word Doc

Complete the application form and forward to the Director, Rangelands Australia for consideration.

 

Learning Pathways

There are a number of paths you can take to complete a #8, #16 or #24 unit program.

This should be driven by your interests and your background, assuming you are trying to broaden your skills and knowledge to address current and emerging issues in the rangelands.

For examples of course sequences - download pdf

You should discuss your proposed pathway with the Program Coordinator.

 

Individual courses for personal or professional development

Students may be interested in studying a particular area or course for interest only and may not wish to complete a structured program. Such students may undertake any postgraduate course from the Master of Rangeland Management list for personal or professional development and not as part of an award program.

The postgraduate programs are fully articulated. You can initially enrol in a single postgraduate course to build a Recognised Prior Learning profile for entry into a postgraduate program. Once enrolled in a rangeland management program, credit may be given for the course/s that you have already successfully completed. Contact the Program Coordinator for further details.

Download a non-award course application form from:

http://www.uq.edu.au/study/forms/enrolment/Non-AwardApplic.pdf

Complete and forward to Rangelands Australia as detailed below.

How to apply

Obtain an 'Application - Postgraduate Coursework' form from:

http://www.uq.edu.au/study/forms/postgrad/ApplicPostgradCourse.pdf

or from:

http://www.rangelands-australia.com.au (Go to Forms)

Complete the application form together with the necessary documentation. Please note that you will need to provide complete certified copies of degrees/diplomas awarded and courses undertaken with your application for admission, unless your qualifications are from the University of Queensland.

In the first instance, all applications should be:

Forwarded to:

The Director
Rangelands Australia
c/o School of Natural and Rural Systems Management
The University of Queensland , Gatton Campus
Gatton QLD 4343

Or faxed to:

07 5460 1661

 

When to apply

Due dates for Applications for Admission to a postgraduate coursework program for 2008 and 2009 are:

An Application for admission may be accepted after these dates. Contact the Program Coordinator for further details.

 

The application process

Rangelands Australia will make recommendations on the application and forward it to the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) Office of The University of Queensland for processing.

If your application is successful an official offer of enrolment will be made from the Faculty. You will be sent enrolment material with the letter of offer. You will also receive your 'mySI-net' username and password in a separate envelope a few days after you receive your enrolment material. You need this username and password to complete your online enrolment via mySI-net. Details of enrolment, fees and charges, and even your marks/grades will be available on your mySI-net homepage.

Remote students, with less regular mail deliveries, will also receive email confirmation of an offer of enrolment and may be automatically enrolled on the student system. Please tell us if you require assistance in this area.

 

The enrolment process

The University's enrolment procedure is completely electronic, and all students are required to enrol via mySI-net . This enables students to have input and control over their enrolment.

Please note: Rangeland Management programs are not offered to overseas students at this time.

 

Study costs and financial support

There are a number of costs associated with University postgraduate coursework study, such as tuition fees, the Student Services Charge, the cost of books and equipment and, when applicable, any costs of attending a residential or intensive course.

 

Tuition fees

For 2007, a student who applies to enrol in a rangeland management postgraduate coursework program must pay the given tuition fee of $1100 per unit (or $2,200 per 2-unit course) for each course/s in which they are enrolled each semester. Program costs are detailed in the table below.

Please note that you are required to 'pay as you go'. You do not have to pay the total tuition costs 'upfront'.

All Rangeland management courses are #2 unit courses, except the Graduate Research Projects (LPWM7611/7612/7613 which are #4 units and LPWM 7617/7618/7619 which are #8 units).

Tuition fees are subject to annual review. The fee charged throughout a program is based on the fee rate that was applicable in the semester that a student commenced their current program.

Coursework postgraduate program

# Units

Tuition Cost*

Master of Rangeland Management

4 year entry: #16 units

$17,600


Other entry: #24 units

$26,400

Graduate Diploma in Rangeland Management

#16 units

$17,600

Graduate Certificate in Rangeland Management

#8 units

$8,800

*But see the sections on 'FEE-HELP' and 'Other financial support...' below.

A student enrolled for a non-award course must pay the tuition fee payable as if the course is part of an award program. All students must pay the Student Services Charge. The fee is currently $21 per semester for an external student.

Further information on fees is available from http://www.uq.edu.au/study/index.html?page=17312

 

Official payment method

The official payment methods for all student fees paid to the University of Queensland are as follows:

•  BPAY

Payment can be made from a cheque, savings or credit card account by contacting your participating bank, credit union or building society to arrange payment using BPAY

•  Online payment

Credit card payment can be made online via mySI-net, the online student administration system.

NB. To protect student security, the University does not store credit card numbers in the university system. Fee invoices are delivered to the student electronically via mySI-net, the online student administration system.

 

COMMONWEALTH-SUPPORTED PLACES/HECS-HELP

If you are eligible and are awarded a Commonwealth Supported Place, the Commonwealth contributes substantially to your fees. You pay a significantly reduced contribution (ie. 55-65% LESS), and can take advantage of deferred payments through the HECS-HELP scheme (effectively a loan). Recipients then re-pay the loan through the taxation system once their income is above a certain threshold.

There are a limited number of these which represent considerable savings (55-65%) on the normal cost of the fees for Rangeland management programs.

For more information on Commonwealth supported places, see the Commonwealth Government's online booklet 'Information for Commonwealth supported students 2007'; available at:

http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/

Application forms (Postgraduate coursework) should note that they are for a 'Commonwealth-supported place' and include a 'Case for a Commonwealth-supported Place '. The latter will be used where there are more applications than places available.

 

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is a loan that covers up to the full cost of tuition fees, to a maximum amount of $50,000. From January 1, 2005, FEE-HELP replaced the existing Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme (PELS).

All eligible students who wish to defer their tuition fees through FEE-HELP, must complete and submit a new 'Request for FEE_HELP Assistance' form. The forms are available from the student's home page in mySI-net on enrolment.

For more information on FEE-HELP, see the Commonwealth Government's online booklet FEE-HELP Information 2007 available from

http://www.hecs.gov.au/pubs/fee_help_2007/contents.htm

 

Other Financial support, scholarships, etc. for postgraduate coursework

Some scholarships for postgraduate coursework studies are available. Check out the following links for information on the value of scholarships, conditions, application forms, when and where to submit applications, etc.

National

Case for Commonwealth-supported Place - download form (in MS Word Format)

Meat and Livestock Australia - MLA Studentships for postgraduate Diploma or Masters courses. Applications close 31 October.

For further information see: www.mla.com.au/TopicHierarchy/ResearchAndDevelopment/FundingOpportunities/Scholarships

NSW

NSW Farmers Association For further information see: www.nswfarmers.org.au/member_benefits/tertiary_scholarship_program

NT

Connellan Airways Trust - "To give the opportunity, to people living in isolated areas of Outback Australia , to undertake further studies " Applications close 31 January.

Qld

?

SA

?

WA

?

Check general scholarship options online at:
http://www.uq.edu.au/study/docs/prizes-scholarships/PrizesBrochure.pdf

for the full range of general scholarships available through The University of Queensland.

 

FEEDBACK ON THE POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMS/COURSES

The suite of courses developed by Rangelands Australia have received high praise from students for their relevance to learner's needs and their accessibility. For example,

Student evaluations reveal a high degree of satisfaction with individual postgraduate courses. For example, students completing the first courses - delivered in 2005-2007 - were asked to evaluate the perceived relevance, practicality and quality of the course and its delivery (ie. on a 1-5 scale, with 1=strongly disagree and 5=strongly agree). Across the five PG courses evaluated by students to date, the range (and mean) of average ratings recorded against the following key evaluation criteria were:

Learning objectives were clear and relevant: 4.5 - 4.9 (4.6)
The Learning Guide and Reader were useful resources: 4.8 - 5.0 (4.7)
Learning facilitator provided useful guidance and support: 4.5 - 4.7 (4.6)
I am satisfied with the amount of contact with the Learning facilitator: 4.3 - 4.7 (4.5)
I am satisfied with the content of the course: 4.3 - 4.8 (4.5)
Learning and assessment activities challenged me to think: 4.3 - 5.0 (4.7)
Course is well structured and learning activities well integrated: 4.3 - 4.7 (4.5)
I gained new skills and knowledge: 4.3 - 5.0 (4.8)
Course has met my needs: 4.3 - 4.7 (4.6)
Course is relevant to my workplace/business: 4.6 - 5.0 (4.9)
Course is relevant to my future in the rangelands: 4.6 - 5.0 (4.8)
Overall, I'm satisfied with this course: 4.5 - 4.8 (4.7)

These are relatively high scores, and all the more impressive when one considers that they are from mature-aged people, the majority of whom live and work in the rangelands.

Students have said that they 'really liked' the following aspects of the RA-developed courses:

According to our mature-aged students, the things that distinguish the RA-developed courses from their other education and training experiences include: practicality, relevance, flexibility and quality of teaching. For example, student feedback has included:

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