Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the impact of cross-boundary training for early childhood care and education (ECCE) teachers on participants and their surroundings, based on a case study of an ECCE teachers’ exchange program between facilities in Hokkaido and Okinawa. Cross-boundary training is the application of cross-boundary learning, which is used in many firms’ human resources development, to off-site training for ECCE teachers. It is characterized by encouraging participants to explore both their home and another facilities. Two participants and two directors of the facilities concerned were interviewed, and their experiences before, during, and after the training were analyzed qualitatively. The analysis revealed that the training brought about transformative changes in the participants, such as gaining a bird's eye view and structural understanding of ECCE and growing in their roles as new value transmitters. Furthermore, it was clarified that teachers and children enhanced their interest in the local region by engaging with participants in cross-boundary training.
