Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies

The Industry
Environmental and land-based industries generate a lot of wealth and provide many jobs around the world. In the UK, the sector is worth around £8.9 billion a year, and it employs over 720,000 people in England.

The sector offers many different types of work. It includes water and waste management, food production, sports turf, leisure and tourism, land management, landscape architecture, forestry, animal health and welfare as well as environmental conservation. Many in the sector run their own business, so there are tremendous opportunities for budding entrepreneurs.

Some careers in the sector, like environmental sciences, can command high salaries and lead to international travel and work opportunities.

With the increase in environmental awareness, this sector is increasingly influential and is an ideal choice for those who want to make a difference to the future of their world.

Build essential skills and experience
The Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies will give you first-hand experience of the opportunities, occupations and career paths offered by the sector. The Diploma has been developed to give you a broad understanding of the current needs of the sector's diverse businesses.

You will learn through doing and this will give you a clear idea of what working life might be like. It will also help you question and challenge outdated stereotypes of what this sector is all about.

What will I learn?
The Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies focuses on three main themes across all levels:-

Productive and working environments: this theme looks at the limited resources of our natural environment, our impact on it, how it influences us and how these resources are used

Plants and animals: this theme explores how we use plants for commercial, recreational and conservation purposes, and how we use animals for food production, recreation, work or companionship

Developing the sustainable environment: this theme explores the impact we have on our environment, and how important it is to use environmentally-friendly 'green' practices

How is the Diploma made up?
Principal learning (subject learning you have to do)
The core subjects within Environmental and Land-based Studies are at the heart of the Diploma. These will introduce you to the essential things you need to know about the sector. You will learn about the issues that are affecting the industry today, how it works and what skills you need to have to work within it.

Additional and specialist learning (choices you can make)
-----Specialist Learning: At each level, you can develop your particular interests in Environmental and Land-based Studies. You can do this by taking specialist courses relating to your chosen subject and career ambitions. You could, for example, learn about food science, horticulture skills or working safely in agriculture.
-----Additional Learning: You might choose a GCSE or A level in subjects like Biology and Chemistry, which would help you get onto a university course. You can also broaden your course by taking an additional subject that reflects your other interests and career ambitions - like a language, a science or Creative Writing.

Functional skills in English, Maths and ICT
Like all Diploma students, you will develop a good standard of English, Maths and ICT. These subjects are essential to succeed in any business or learning environment.

Personal, learning and thinking skills
All Diploma students will develop personal, learning and thinking skills, such as team-working, creative thinking and self-management. These are vital skills in both life and work, and will be useful to you in the future, no matter which path you take.

Work experience
Your Diploma will give you the opportunity to do at least 10 days' work experience. This is a great way to use the skills you have learnt in the classroom, and experience what work is like from the inside.

Student projects
During your Diploma, you will complete a student project to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you have learnt. This could be a written piece of work, like a report into the damage that food production can do to the environment, or it could be a practical piece of work, like a video to show how energy can be saved in your home.

What a Diploma will lead to
A Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies will give you the skills you need for either university or work, and is a first step towards a career in the sector.

It could lead you to a university degree in subjects like Environmental Science or Horticulture.

Alternatively, it could help you begin a career in the sector or even take a first step in starting up your own business. This could be anything from a florist to a small-holding.

However, the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies doesn't mean you have to opt for a career in this sector. Because a Diploma teaches a mix of subjects, it will give you the skills that will be welcomed by colleges, universities and employers, no matter what you choose to do.

"The Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies will be a credible route through into higher education because the course will give students lots of the skills and attributes which higher education admissions tutors are looking for. Students will enter education with a head start over many who have come with more traditional and conservative backgrounds."
Professor Brian Chalkley, Director of the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth.

Want to find out more?
To find out more about the Diploma in Environmental and Land-based Studies, speak to your teacher or careers adviser. You can also find more information about Diplomas on these websites:

www.direct.gov.uk
www.connexions-direct.com
www.diplomaelbs.co.uk