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[taikibansei]

A few quick corrections to Zatroof's otherwise excellent advice.  First, Zenrokyo is the more appropriate choice for foreign employees (Rengo too often will not act).  You can find more info here:

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~genunion/

A detailed description of one individual's formation of a union (in similarly heated circumstances) can be found here: http://www.debito.org/PALE/ (See the article by Korst in the 4/1998 issue.)

As they refer to Monkasho's evaluation guidelines when dealing with universities on probation, the two links shared by Zatroof are potentially very helpful.  Here is a perhaps clearer translation of the quoted text:

We had to request a significant number of corrections this year from almost 70 universities under probation.  While there certainly was a wide divergence in the problems found, all universities should pay special attention to the following issues:

• 5. Especially in the case of large faculty turnover, universities must make sure to retain enough qualified full-time faculty to avoid disruption of the curriculum.
• 6. Any transfers of faculty to new departments [e.g., to replace fired faculty in other specialties] must be done in such a way as to maintain educational standards.
• 7.   It is necessary to introduce and implement student evaluation forms, self-evaluation/assessment, and faculty development activities (including the systematic study/analysis of the content and method of teaching).

Finally, regarding this observation:

Anyone else notice just about everyone who posted on this thread has no more than 3 or 4posts to hus credit?

I think the main reason is that many (most?) foreign faculty at Japanese universities feel no need to check out/post to this board.  Personally, I'm very happy in my current position--I work with great colleagues at an excellent university which is making a difference.  I also enjoy the high salary, the 4 months (paid) off, and the yearly travel/research budget ($5,000 US)--i.e., more than the total annual budget provided to the humanities-related department (33 full- and part-time faculty) at the state university I left.

As 11113567 and others have noted, there are a large number of very bad universities here--especially if you are a foreign faculty with no Japanese skills teaching in the humanities.  However, there are also a number of good schools/positions in this country, particular if you are in the sciences, but available elsewhere as well.  The bottom line is that people do not need to--and really should never--apply to the many positions which include unprofessional and/or discriminatory conditions.  People responding to the ads of, say, AIU help perpetuate the current system; similarly, a complete lack of applicants would be a powerful call for change.

There's a list of good universities here:

http://www.debito.org/greenlist.html

If you pm me with specific questions, I can perhaps point you to a few more.

[floating]

 It seems to me that you guys are talking only about non-Japanese faculty members at AIU.

How abot the school's or Pres. Nakajima's treatment of Japanese fculty members?  Are they equally suffering as non-Japanese are? Are most of them also going to be dismissed after their contract expires in 2007?

[11113567]

quote from taikibansei:

As 11113567 and others have noted, there are a large number of very bad universities here--especially if you are a foreign faculty with no Japanese skills teaching in the humanities.

My comments were not about the treatment of foreign nationals. Some universities are good, others not. Being in a union can make things better. Other factors are involved, too, including personal relations. I have taught at enough Japanese universities to recognize that there are differences. I have taught at a wide range of American universities as well. The "university" institutions serve different functions in the two societies and are arguably not comparable. My messages here are fully consonant with Ivan Hall and Brian McVeigh's conclusions, but they are not derived from them, they are independent conclusions that have been reached by many other researchers and visitors as well.

My comments about the quality of Japanese universities were about education and research. While the general problem of discrimination against outsiders in Japanese society is a factor here, simply ending discrimination against foreigners would not solve the problems of university teaching and research, although it could be part of such a solution. Students do not have the cultural expectation that they will be studying in college, although some do study. Likewise the hierarchy of universities is much more rigid than in the States, so there is little incentive to improve, and not much chance to do so by means of research. Kyoto University, depending on how one counts, has produced more science Nobel Prizes than Tokyo University, yet almost all Japanese will rank Tokyo University higher, and there is nothing Kyoto University can do about it. The hierarchy is based on the competitiveness of the universities' respective entrance examinations, and is thus self-perpetuating. Basic education is taken care of at the secondary school level, where calculus is required. Specialized education is taken care of at the company training institutes, thanks to lifetime employment. Research is also primarily the responsibility of the corporate sector, with exceptions such as seismology (interestingly one of the first disciplines to hire foreigners). The universities' primary function is to test students and sort them. Different universities even specialize in supplying different sectors of the economy and even different bureaus and business firms. They are not expected to educate students or to conduct important research. There is some pressure to change, but not much.

It is perhaps significant to note that Koichi Tanaka (who holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Tohoku University) is the only person without an advanced degree to have won a Nobel Prize in a scientific field. Susumu Tonegawa famously insisted that he could never have done his Nobel Prize winning research had he remained in a Japanese university.

These problems are systemic, and will require more than the Ministry understands to solve.

I have taught at top ranked Japanese universities and bottom ranked ones. There are good scholars in both. I have even taught in the middle. In the middle, where universities are packed together more closely and with less of a clear hierarchy, I can see possibility of reform and improvement, but within strict limits. None of them can break out of the middle rank.

What does this have to do with Akita International University? Simply to point out that the problems with other universities that concerned8 points to are real, but that, as others have pointed out, the solutions proposed by AIU management are making the problems worse.

As for Gregory Clark, it may be that he was sidelined some time ago, but he is defending what is going on at AIU, and as Vice President he has to take some responsibility for it. It is entirely possible that he is being set up to be a scapegoat, while the perpetrators walk away. Instead of whining to friends that it isn't really his fault, which seems to have seeped its way into a rumor mill picked up by Zatroof, if Clark really wants to avoid being scapegoated for this travesty he needs to resign immediately and come clean.

[devon]

1. The chances that you will lose your job at Akita International University at the end of this contract period are 9:1. I understand that it’s natural to think your personal chances are better, that they are only firing the MSUA people, or only firing the Assistant Professors, or only firing the trouble makers or only the outspoken or only the high-salaried or only the gaijin or only the smart ones or the dumb ones, or posters on the CHE website, etc. Likewise it’s natural to believe that you will probably be able to keep your job because you are an excellent teacher, or wrote tons of materials, published a dozen articles last week, informed on your colleagues to your superiors, were smiled at by the president, bent over forwards (so to speak) for your department director, or have a Ph.d, and outstanding evaluations, have selflessly given three years of your life to the institution, read kanji backwards, or wear a tie, wingtips and a jacket with leather patches even in the stifling heat of August. Wake up, folks, it’s nearly November. If you have a job at Akita International University next year, the chances are much much higher than 9:1 that you already (think you) know it -no ifs ands or buts.

For those of you who understand that you are going to lose your job in April (and for those of you are averse to working in a climate of fear and loathing): Form a union through RENGO now. You have absolutely nothing to lose. Go to the RENGO office, fill out the forms and in three weeks you are a RENGO affiliated union. Even if you is only you-one person can form a union. (I would strongly suggest, though, at least two- one to hand President Nakajima the document that establishes that you represent a bona fide faculty union, and another to photograph the look on the great man’s face for posterity.) This won’t keep your job, but it will make it extremely costly to fire you and every other union member. Union membership is confidential and the administration won’t know who (except one) or how many people are actual union members. Only one member/representative has to show up at negotiations. The RENGO lawyer will do the rest. Now, for one, or even bunch of foreigners with no political clout (message: try to get as many Japanese colleagues to join you as possible), RENGO won’t be giving you their finest legal minds, but they are bound to give you someone to represent you and AIU is legally bound to deal with its faculty union. AIU will probably fire you anyway, but the cost of firing you will be many times that of firing a non-union teacher. Take that cost times say, 10 or 15, or more faculty, and you start getting into the kind of wasted money taxpayers and newspapers are interested in. (Maybe this paragraph alone just saved a couple positions.) Anyway, check it out:

Nabot A. Peur indicates that the reason other foreign staffers do not post concerning AIU is due to the fact that they seek to secure their jobs.  I agree with him.  However, if they are able to say sweet and wonderful things about AIU, why do they not post those wonderful things here? Would they be penalised for saying wonderful and sweet things? Or is it best to remain out of such a discussion?  We find this a bit suspicious.

Zatroof, your posts concerning AIU are rather enlightening as many others are as well.  I can only laugh at your suggestion that foreign staffers are to produce tons of publications, inform on their colleagues, bend over forward etc.  The image is duly noted. Can you speak more of the reality there?  Are foreign staffers able to publish as such..... Is the politicking that pronounced at AIU?  We have indicated before that there 2 people we know of who had unprofessional and negative experiences at AIU.  Are contracts at AIU automatically not renewed? If the foreign staffers are being abused at AIU, it would help to speak out, would it not?

It should be noted that, whatever the outcome, there are people reading this thread on AIU (as well as on Fatih University) ; therefore, some good may come of this.  If I had never heard of AIU or Fatih University or any school being given this type of treatment on this CHE forum, I would never apply to such institutions. Doing so would be idiocy.

Excellent posts

[iamwithyou]

Bottom line, no one, no matter their degree status, should apply to AIU under any circumstance.  Is this what I am reading?

[floating]

I guess that new faculty search at AIU has been completed. I wonder how many would be replaced with newly-hired. How many non-Japanese and how many Japanese are coming in next year?

[iamwithyou]

Having read all about that has been written about AIU employees, why DO people go to AIU to teach IF they know the "problems" going on there?  Are the salaries high and benefits great to warrant putting up with the "problems"??

[devon]

Bottom line, no one, no matter their degree status, should apply to AIU under any circumstance.  Is this what I am reading?

Perhaps there are no "shoulds." Individuals will do what they please. I think the OP, wailing, and the posts of mavirgi, 11113567 and taikibansei are informative and invaluable on the subject of AIU as others and I have tried to do the same as relates Fatih University. Get the word out! This is a necessary service for the readership, in my strongest view, of CHE.

After a while, masochism becomes boring and predictable.

Having read all about that has been written about AIU employees, why DO people go to AIU to teach IF they know the "problems" going on there? 

It is like asking why do abused and battered women continue to live with their abusive husbands?  Is it the woman's fault? Russian roulette?  Negative press can do much to damage a university's reputation. Universities like AIU or Fatih University must, at some point, implode.

[asa29]

Do you seriously want AIU to "implode"? That doesn't show much concern to the students, who are a lively, intelligent, enquiring bunch, on the whole enjoying their studies at AIU and further afield.

AIU is going to be severely tested in coming years - employability of its graduates and competition from the established universities which are noting its success. If they really want to self destruct by mistreating their faculty they will have plenty opportunities.

Anonymous attacks on a message board smack somewhat of personal grudges. Some subsequent attacks have been from people who have never set foot in Akita, never mind been employed by AIU.

People understand what terms they are signing up to when they take a post at a university. If those terms are unfavourable, then that's up to them, and if good faculty are subsequently put off and AIU is forced to drop standards and lose competitiveness, that's your message.

If people are taking the jobs despite the unfavourable terms, there must be something else there that is appealing to them.

Comparing university faculty to battered women is ridiculous, if not insulting to real victims.

Fair enough pass on your experiences, but this sort of implied vendetta is OTT.

For the record, I'm a westerner working in HE. I have visited AIU, have met many of the faculty, management and support staff, and was left with a favourable impression. That's my experience.

[freshair]

asa29:

You are really mistaken and misguided.

You state, "People understand what terms they are signing up to when they take a post at a university. If those terms are unfavourable, then that's up to them, and if good faculty are subsequently put off and AIU is forced to drop standards and lose competitiveness, that's your message.
If people are taking the jobs despite the unfavourable terms, there must be something else there that is appealing to them."

If you had read carefully many of the above posts, you will notice that the AIU administration has promised faculty many things, even in writing, and broken those promises routinely.  See the examples about contracts, about the reduction in research funds etc.  These people assumed good faith on the part of their new university employers and they were misled and even lied to. 

Here's another example that hasn't been given before.  The AIU administration, even with their Draconian measures of advertising for 90% of the faculty (and hence putting their heads on the block) PROMISED IN WRITING the following:

"Faculty and staff whose contracts expire at the end of fiscal year 2006 will be informed of the intention of the University regarding contract renewal or non-renewal by October 2006 at the latest."(emphasis added).  The above is a direct quote from an official document given to all faculty entitled, "Personnel Policy Principles of Akita International University, Decision of the AIU Management Committee, February 24, 2006".  This Management Committee is the highest committee of the university and includes its President and Vice Presidents. 

Nevertheless, it is now 23rd of November as this writing, and NO SUCH NOTICE HAS YET BEEN GIVEN TO ANYONE.  Additionally, the corrupt and inept university president, Mineo Nakajima, has given oral promises to various people that they would at least hear of their fate by the end of October. None of this has happened.  

Let me ask you now, asa29 how you would feel if you had been treated like this?  It means that your fate is uncertain, the fate of your family in Akita is also uncertain, you don't know whether to pursue another position or not, you cannot make plans because you might have to be in two places at once, you are expected to perform at a high level, and this is how you are treated?  The psychological strains and pressures that the AIU faculty are under now are immense.  At least 1 faculty member is on leave of absence for psychological reasons due to this, and another has severe sickness due to the stress.  Is this any way to treat people?  Broken promises and guarantees are the norm here.  What the AIU administration really is doing is trying to bring in a new group of people, people who are not yet familiar with their incompetence and lying ways and broken promises, and then the cycle will start again.  Is this any way to manage a university that is supposed to be run on international standards?

Asa29, you also indicate that you are a westerner and that you have visited AIU and have left with a favourable impression.  Fair enough. But I am here, and I have seen people like you, if indeed what you say about yourself is true (and I suspect it is NOT), being led through this institution by the nose.  Remember, as another poster has indicated, there are people who are benefiting from this awful administration.  By in large, they are the people at the top, and the "directors".  So what happens to people when they come through, they are led by faithful administrative types to these people who of course have kind words to say about the institution.  All visitors are led through on a schedule and meet basically the same "yes" people.  If you are really interested in finding out about this school, come by unannounced and just mix with faculty and students without being accompanied by a "guide."  You know, North Korea has used the same techniques to visitors and journalists, taking them to "show schools".  It is really easy to do; Stalin did the same things.  Hitler made concentration camps look good to the Red Cross.  It can be done, and doubtless was done to you and others.

But really asa29, I suspect your whole spiel is nonsense and that you are not the disinterested person you are pretending to be.  Right Mike L?  And for those on the inside, ML= the epitome of "kiss up, kick down." 

[floating]

It seems that all voices, includuing pro- and anti-AIU or Pres. Nakajima, are non-Japanese.

Would this mean that only non-Japanese are particilating in this net dialogue, or that only non-Japanese AIU faculty members are on the verge of being fired and discontented with the management of the institution, while Japanese faculty members are not?

If anti-AIU voices were only from non-Japanese, I might hesitate to trust what have critically been discussed here on AIU.

We really need to hear both Japanese and non-Japanese voices (also pro and anti) to evaluate AIU, don't we? 

[zatroof]

It seems that all voices, includuing pro- and anti-AIU or Pres. Nakajima, are non-Japanese.

On what evidence do you draw this conclusion? I find none.

Would this mean that only non-Japanese are particilating in this net dialogue, or that only non-Japanese AIU faculty members are on the verge of being fired and discontented with the management of the institution, while Japanese faculty members are not?

This is the third time you have raised this. The reason you have been ignored is the nature of your question, not because no Japanese are reading it. Akita International University is an international school with an international faculty. That means Japanese as well as foreign faculty. Look at the AIU website.

If anti-AIU voices were only from non-Japanese, I might hesitate to trust what have critically been discussed here on AIU.

Not trusting a voice based on the race or nationality of the speaker(s) is bigotry, and your questions and comments are those of a bigot.

We really need to hear both Japanese and non-Japanese voices (also pro and anti) to evaluate AIU, don't we? 

If a carload of drunks crashes into a group of people waiting for a bus, it doesn't really matter what either group's nationality is, or how it is mixed. Nor does anyone need a pro and anti argument to sus out the situation.

There are no pro-AIU posts from anyone here with any experience, only a weak attempt to defend the credentials of a couple administrators.

Let me venture a guess, floating (based on your thrice repeated question, not on your spelling or grammar.) You are a Japanese national(ist?) who has applied for a position at AIU (or a troll currently employed.)You see nothing wrong with AIU dumping its founding faculty so long as they are only dumping foreigners so they can get a refill of "fresh gaijin." Your real question is, if I take the position, is it possible that they will treat me like these posts suggest? Will I receive the same treatment as these gaijin? (If you are a troll, the questions are for the benefit of like-minded bigots who have applied and are checking this site.)

No one can give you a definitive answer, floating. You can get a strong inference by carefully reading through the previous posts for full comprehension. Or, how about emailing President Nakajima with your questions. I'm sure he'll be able to straighten out any misinformation.

Good luck.

[floating]

First, Mr./Ms. Zatroof responded to my comment, "It seems that all voices, includuing pro- and anti-AIU or Pres. Nakajima, are non-Japanese" by saying,

"On what evidence do you draw this conclusion? I find none."

I just wrote,"It seems." "Seem" would not mean that I've reached any "conclusion." At least, I DID NOT write this sentence as my own "conclusion."   

Second, Zatroof responded to "Would this mean that only non-Japanese are particilating in this net dialogue, or that only non-Japanese AIU faculty members are on the verge of being fired and discontented with the management of the institution, while Japanese faculty members are not?", by saying,

This is the third time you have raised this. The reason you have been ignored is the nature of your question, not because no Japanese are reading it. Akita International University is an international school with an international faculty. That means Japanese as well as foreign faculty. Look at the AIU website.

Is this his/her answer to my question? I do not think so.  I know AIU has many foreign faculty members. I am just asking. 

Third, Zatroof responded to "If anti-AIU voices were only from non-Japanese, I might hesitate to trust what have critically been discussed here on AIU."

Mr./Ms. Zatroof, are you so sure or confident that you are totally free from bias or prejudice?  Japanese and non-Japanese were raised in different cultures, traditions, and senses of values. One would see something unfamiliar or different in terms of his/her own sense of value or belief, consciously or unconsiciouly.  That's is why I wanted to hear both from Japanese and non-Japanese. My comment has nothing to do with "bigotry."

Your accsation of me as a bigot seems to reveal the "nature" of yourself or your critical comments on AIU.

Finally, I was so amazed by Zatroof's final comment to me. He/she wrote:

Let me venture a guess, floating (based on your thrice repeated question, not on your spelling or grammar.) You are a Japanese national(ist?) who has applied for a position at AIU (or a troll currently employed.)You see nothing wrong with AIU dumping its founding faculty so long as they are only dumping foreigners so they can get a refill of "fresh gaijin." Your real question is, if I take the position, is it possible that they will treat me like these posts suggest? Will I receive the same treatment as these gaijin? (If you are a troll, the questions are for the benefit of like-minded bigots who have applied and are checking this site.)

You are right. I am not a native speaker of English. I am a Japanese.

Yet, fortunately, I have a secure job and do not have to apply for an AIU position. I am just curious about the brandnew unique school and what is happening inside there.

And please stop insulting me, unless you use the term,"nationalist" as a compliment. I am the person who is against mistreating somebody based on race, nationality, or gender. I've personally had bitter experiences overseas, including the States, as a foreigner. I know the pain cased by bigotry, prejudice, ignorance, and racism.

You might make such daring remarks because your identity is hidden here. You might be so emotional and frustrated by the AIU administration, if you were an AIU faculty member who is going to be ousted soon. If you were so, please accept my compassion and sympathy with you. Losing a job is a terrible and painful experience, I know. Yet, you would be fine. This would not be the end of life.

[angelusnovus]

What kind, reassuring words from "floating."  Too bad they also demonstrate a total lack of understanding of what is at stake.

And too bad that Japanese academics, always highly sensitive to the discrimination and racist sentiments found in other lands, so rarely lift a finger in addressing the same problem at home.  Where they might actually make a difference.

By the way, take a look at the announcement of a position in Yokohama, advertised on the chronicle home page.  http://chronicle.com/jobs/id.php?id=0000480751-01&pg=s&cc

As usual, it says nothing about age, which, as anyone familiar with Japanese hiring practices should find odd.  Yet the site at the university itself indicates nobody over 40 need apply.

http://www.yokohama-cu.ac.jp/eng/web-content/jobs/06lai.html

"Preferred" of course meaning "we wont bother looking at anybody over 40 unless absolutely nobody else applies."  One standard for home one for the rest of the world.  Don't waste your time applying unless you are a spring chicken.

BTW I have no connection whatsover to AIU.

[floating]

Here is another case, other than Zatroof's, that someone who is trying to distort or misunderstand what someone else said, intentionally or not.

Mr/Ms. Angelusnovus, I admit that there is the case of discrimination agaist age in Japan. I would never say, "it's good."Also, I never say/said that there is no discrimination in Japan.  At least, with this regard, please do not misunderstand me.

Do you know the Japanese phrase, "itakumo nai hara o sagurareru."  If someone were done so, it would not be pleasant.

You wrote, "Japanese academics, always highly sensitive to the discrimination and racist sentiments found in other lands, so rarely lift a finger in addressing the same problem at home."  "Japanese academic" could be replaced with some other words like "Foreign instructors teaching in Japan (or overseas)," couldn't it?