Analysis of the Demands of Incumbent Kindergarten and Childcare Center Directors for the Director Qualification Program of the Integration of Early Childhood Education and Care Institutions: Focusing on Focus Group Interviews (FGI)

The purpose of this study was to explore the direction of the director qualification program for the integration of early childhood education and care institutions and to examine the perceptions of the current director qualification program of the incumbent directors of kindergarten and childcare center and the demands for the director qualification program of the integration of early childhood education and care institutions. To this end, 16 incumbent kindergarten directors and childcare center directors, who were participants in the study, were formed into five groups and conducted focus group interviews (FGI). The results of the study were as follows. First, regarding the direction of the director qualification program, they demanded to strengthen the director's professionalism, consider the purpose of the integration of early childhood education and care, and consider a paradigm shift. Second, regarding the method of acquisition of the qualification of the director, they demanded diversification of the composition of the director qualification program in consideration of the institution type, target and career, degree programs and teaching courses, and so on. Third, they demanded the strengthening of the competence and professionalism of directors, supporting the jobs, and considering the diversity of institutions and directors as educational content. As an educational method, they demanded participatory education, customized education, provision of sufficient educational time, optional participation in programs, and provision of specialized curriculum. Fourth, the director’s competencies emphasized competence of refinement and philosophy, leadership, professionalism in education and childcare, organizational and operational management, and relationships and communication. This study is a preliminary study on the director qualification program of the integration of early childhood education and care institutions, and it is meaningful to collect practical opinions such as the demand for the director qualification program of incumbent kindergarten and childcare center directors.