Satisfaction and Improvement Strategies for the Jinju Citizen Gardener Training Program

초록

Background and objective: This study examines participant satisfaction with the Citizen Gardener Training Program implemented in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, and aims to identify directions for program improvement through empirical analysis. The program has been operated since 2022 under the Ordinance on the Promotion and Support of the Garden Culture Industry and is structured into basic and advanced courses designed to enhance gardening competencies and community-based garden culture. Methods: Survey data were collected from 125 participants who completed either the 60-hour basic course or the 70-hour advanced course. The curriculum includes knowledge of garden plants, plant management, garden design methods, and garden operation and maintenance. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0, applying descriptive statistics, Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The basic course showed high satisfaction with understanding and management of garden plants, while the advanced course demonstrated high satisfaction with garden design methods and garden operation and maintenance. Across both courses, practical skill development and applicability to everyday life were perceived as more important than formal certification outcomes. Instructor expertise and hands-on experience were significant determinants of educational satisfaction, and future participation intention was positively associated with satisfaction and experiential learning outcomes. Conclusion: Citizen gardener training is most effective when structured around practice-based learning rather than certification-oriented objectives, providing empirical implications for the systematic development of community-based garden education programs. © 2026 by the Society for People, Plants, and Environment.

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