Rektorers handlingsutrymme i arbetet med Erasmus + : en studie av meningsskapande, organiseringoch strategisk styrning i förskolan

Sammanfattning

Abstract This study aims to contribute knowledge about how preschool principals understand, shape, and use their scope for action in work with Erasmus+. The study focuses on how principals make sense of Erasmus+, how they prioritise the work, and how they organise it as part of preschool development. The study is based on a qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews with six principals in a municipal preschool organisation. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. The theoretical framework is based on scope for action as the main analytical concept. It is also supported by perspectives on communicative, strategic, and instrumental action, as well as organisational governance. Previous research shows that internationalisation in education often requires local interpretation, organisational support, and professional sensemaking to become meaningful in practice. The findings show that principals' scope for action is shaped by the meeting between Erasmus+ as an external opportunity, the preschool's core mission, staff engagement, and local organisational conditions. Principals use their scope for action by informing, motivating, prioritising, creating shared understanding, and linking international experiences to existing development areas. At the same time, the results show a vulnerability when the work depends strongly on voluntary participation and individual staff members' engagement. The study shows that Erasmus+ can contribute to professional learning and preschool development. However, this requires continuity, strategic anchoring, and shared structures so that experiences can be used in the organisation. The results point to the importance of understanding internationalisation not as a separate project, but as part of the preschool's long-term quality and development work. Keywords: Erasmus+, preschool education, principal, scope for action, internationalisation, sensemaking, organisational governance, preschool development.