JBNU Department of Child Studies (Chair: Professor Kim Ri-jin) has proactively introduced a new training approach in line with this year’s restructured childcare teacher in-service training system and is presenting a new direction for the continuing education of current childcare staff.

Beginning this year, general in-service training for childcare teachers and childcare center directors will be reorganized to reduce childcare staff workload and strengthen field-centered job competencies. Ahead of these changes, JBNU has drawn attention by piloting a new training method called "elective and distributed in-service training."

The JBNU Department of Child Studies is developing new in-service training courses that reflect actual demands from local childcare settings with budget support for incumbent staff training from the Glocal University 30 project starting in 2025. As part of this effort, it has developed five new courses to date and is delivering face-to-face training for current childcare staff.

In the first delivered lecture, "Professionalism of Childcare Staff," participants revisited the professional identity of childcare teachers and reviewed core competencies that comprise professionalism, including instruction, caregiving, communication, and operational management. The session emphasized participatory learning focused on real-world tasks using action learning and the nominal group technique.

The subsequent lecture, "Understanding Maladaptive Behaviors in Infants and Toddlers and Response Strategies for Childcare Settings," clarified distinctions among maladaptive behaviors, developmental delay, and disability, and addressed concrete response strategies for childcare teachers from the perspective of behavioral function. ABC observation records, prevention-focused environmental adjustments, and co-regulation strategies were presented as immediately applicable practices and received strong positive responses from participants.

In February, additional courses will be offered, including "Human Rights Sensitivity in Childcare Settings" (Professor Lee Jin-suk), "Literacy Development in Infants and Young Children" (Professor Noh Bo-ram), and "Childcare Practice from a Family Diversity Perspective" (Professor Jeong Yu-jin).

The pilot’s most significant features are expanded course choice and flexible delivery. Whereas traditional in-service training required completion of fixed courses at set schedules and times, this program adopts an individual course registration and delivery model.

Participating staff can choose between one and up to five courses depending on their work conditions and interests. All classes are scheduled after core childcare hours to minimize on-site burden. This arrangement responds to field demands that, while in-service training is necessary, participation is often difficult in practice.

All courses were developed and are operated directly by faculty of the JBNU Department of Child Studies, focusing not only on theoretical delivery but also on practical application and implementation strategies for the field.

Using funds from the Glocal University 30 project, the program covers all instructor fees, operating expenses, and course materials, eliminating financial barriers to participation. Course materials are provided on the day of training, and certificates are issued immediately upon completion, which offers tangible benefits to on-site staff.

Kim Tae-yeon, Director of the JBNU Childcare Staff In-Service Training Project Group, stated, "This pilot operation is an experimental model intended to inform the reform of general in-service training for childcare staff after 2026. We plan to continue expanding elective and customized in-service training that reflects field demands."