The Future of Agriculture Education in Alberta

“Green Certificate cultivates partnerships that allow us to nurture Alberta’s youth to produce

the province’s agriculture future.”

Green Certificate

What is Green Certificate

Green Certificate is an agriculture training program offered in the province of Alberta that focuses on workforce development in the primary production

sector.

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The program is delivered as one of Alberta education’s off-campus programs of study. Our client base are high school students.• 10 primary production training specialties. • Trainees select a specialization and under the

guidance of their trainer, work towards mastering all of the skills within their training program.

• Upon completion they receive 16, grade-12 credits.Cow-calf, Feedlot,

Sheep, Swine, Dairy

•Employability and farm safety skills

•Processing and handling systems

•Feeding systems and rations

•Waste management and sanitation

•Health and treatment of livestock

•Reproduction•Management systems

Field Crop, Irrigated Crops

•Employability and farm safety skills

•Fertilizing and seeding

•Harvesting, handling and storing grain and forage crops

•Land preparation, field and crop care

•Operating and servicing equipment and facilities

•Management systems

Beekeeping

•Employability and farm safety skills

•Handling bees•Maintaining bee health

•Operating bee equipment

•Beekeeping business planning

Equine

•Employability and farm safety skills

•Production cycles•Handling, behavior and anatomy

•Facilities and environment

•Maintain equine health

•Administer nutritional programs

•Business management practices

Greenhouse

•Employability and farm safety skills

•Complete Seasonal Maintenance

•Understand Basic Botany

•Establish and Maintain Proper Growing Conditions

•Prepare to Grow Plants

•Seed, Root and Transplant Propagation Material

•Identify Plant Problems

•Maintain Production Quality

•Market and Sell Product

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Communities with Green Certificate

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Students that took any high school

program

• TOTAL: 514,300• 31% appeared in all

post secondary

Students that took Green Certificate

• TOTAL: 2,850• 47% appeared in all

post secondary

1% of total population

appeared in an Ag. Post

secondary program

25% of total population

appeared in an Ag. Post

secondary program

The Impact Of Green Certificate as a Stepping Stone

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The Impact Of Green Certificate as a Stepping Stone

Were you successful in finding employment in agriculture after finishing your Green Certificate?

67% yes

How long did you stay working in an agriculture related role?

63%Still actively

in ag-role

Do the skills you learned/developed in Green Certificate help you in your working role?

91% yes

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What workforce skills are developed

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• Industry Organization (IO) identifies industry workforce development needs

Curriculum Development Opportunity Identified by Industry

• Intent and overall project scope is shared with Alberta Education• Determine project roles, responsibilities and key contributors• Determine scope of content

Stakeholders Session

• IO identifies key Dacum participants and verification panelists• Dacum participants working session• Verification of Dacum

Dacum - creation of content outline

• Curriculum writing team is established - blend of industry experts and educational curriculum writers• 1-2 review sessions of curriculum writing teams to review drafts• Creation of supporting documents - tester development and training, communications packages

Curriculum Content Development

Approval by Alberta EducationDesign, layout, final edits

Desktop editing

• Communications strategy• Administration, website, resources• Tester development• Trainees begin enrollment

Implementation

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Ag. Workforce

Development

Alberta Agriculture &

Forestry

Producers & Ag.

professionals

Community partners

Ag. Industry, commodity

and producer organizations

Alberta Education

Ag. Colleges and

universities

Schools and School

Divisions

Farm Safety

Partnerships

Questions?

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