The Development of Doctor’s Degree Curriculum in Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education, Kasetsart University

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to assess the need of opening the doctor of philosophy curriculum in Early childhood education. 2) to develop curriculum structure, courses, learning outcomes in accordance with
Thai Qualification Framework (TQF) for higher education, and the guidelines for conducting curriculum and instruction at Ph.D. level are nationally recognized and comparable in international standards. The participants in this research include the officials of the educational area, the universities, the schools, and the
institutes involved in Early childhood education. The target group was 30 people consisted of the officials of 8 Office of Educational Service Areas, 8 universities, and 3 institutes, and 12 Early childhood education experts. The collecting data were sending an opinion questionnaire, studying documents and focus group. The data were analyzed by means of frequency, percentage, and content analysis by presenting the data and arrangement systematically. The results of the research were as follows: 1) The results of the need assessments of the institutes from the opinion questionnaire, it was found that the most of them want to accept people who graduated with a doctorate degree in early childhood education to work at their institutes, and there is a need in education for producing people who have knowledge and expertise in research to create new knowledge and be leaders in early childhood education. 2) The results of the development of the doctor of philosophy program in Early childhood education found that the total is 60 credits consisted of at least 24 credits of core courses and 36 credits of dissertation. The learning outcomes
are in accordance with Thai Qualification Framework focus on using of research processes to develop innovations and create new knowledge in early childhood education, to be committed to seeking knowledge and directing themselves to develop in lifelong learning and professional growth, and having leadership and networking to promote ethical in practice and professional ethics for the safeguarding of children's rights and interests. Guidelines for organizing curriculum and instruction at the Ph.D. level based on researchbased
learning, leadership development for transformation in early childhood education, and making connection with academic and professional early childhood organizations both inside the country and worldwide.