| Summary: | There are different levels of leadership in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Finland. Municipality level leaders hold a position between legislative authorities and ECEC center directors, which makes their position high in the hierarchy of the organization. They are at a key position in leading the changing and developing ECEC field. Shared values, visions, and missions help guide or- ganizational change and direction. However, clear definition regarding shared visions and missions for the ECEC field nationwide are yet to be established. Thus, the direction of ECEC needs to be discussed further.
The purpose of this study was to define and describe ECEC leaders’ focus points regarding the future of ECEC in Finland. The present study implemented a qualitative approach with a narrative perspective. Research data was collected through ten semi-structured research interviews that were conducted either in person or online via zoom. Participants were selected to this study based on their leadership position in ECEC on municipal level in the organization. Transcribed interview data was analyzed through a thematical analysis.
The main findings of the current study included recognizing and defining issues that municipality level leaders emphasize in their discussions about ECEC field’s future. I was able to discover and identify five key perspectives that ECEC leaders highlight when they describe the future of ECEC in Finland: diversity perspectives, the role and importance of ECEC in society, factors related to per- sonnel and the attractiveness of the field, child-centered and wellbeing-focused ECEC, and the organization of ECEC. As the study focuses in the leaders’ per- spective on the topic, it may also add understanding and possibly strike conver- sations about the long-term visions and goals for the ECEC field more broadly.
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