next »

[heiwa]

Nah, if only we'd now hear from well informed sources...

that no one at seemingly sunny AIU who acted to disgrace the high ideals at the university of fair treatment for all, honesty, integrity and enlightened leadership has "gotten away with it." On recommendation from the prefecture labor commission:

     The director of the library, after a full review of his various transgressions has been removed from that position.

     The director of the EAP program, after numerous revelations of misconduct in his position has been removed from that position.

     A former vice president -- back at his brief with Monkasho -- was found to be one of the architects of the recent upheaval at the university, and an investigation of his role is underway.

     The president of the university, in light of his blatant and malicious cronyism, stifling of free speech and gross mismanagement of academic and general affairs, especially in regard to personnel, including the waste of hundreds of millions of yen in an ill-advised approach to faculty renewals/nonrenewals ("scrap and build"), has been told that his contract, due to expire this year, would not be renewed.

These actions, taken by the management board at its most recent meeting, are effective....

Oh to the dogs with this.......enough flights of fancy.

                        It is surely a pity that we do not live in a just world.

[allies]

Silence has descended on the Akita International University thread. Too bad. The press is still on it, although they had to beware the bite of a desperate, wounded dog. AIU hit the Japan Times in a big way at

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20070710zg.html

Can I be sure this is about AIU? Sure, I wrote it. (Apoligists' comments especially welcomed).

[zatroof]

Very nice work, allies. But why didn't (or couldn't) you specifically mention Akita International University and its president, Mineo Nakajima in the article?

[yoshidashoin]

Allow me to ask what students at this university think.

The quality of student education (and faculty research) under the "guidance" of such leaders as Nakajima-sensei and the other university directors has to be put in question. How can a parent explain to his child, or a graduate to his future employer, that at a university where for teachers there in no freedom of speech or intelligent debate, and from that point, no critical thinking, there is quality education for students?

Mr. Clark, no answers?

Nakajima-sensei, only authoritarian rule?

[allies]

Very nice work, allies. But why didn't (or couldn't) you specifically mention Akita International University and its president, Mineo Nakajima in the article?

Japan Times asked that all references to the university be erased, including my real name, since that too would make it recognizable. I understand that they have legal considerations regardless of the level of trust they have for the writer. Sure, AIU gets off lightly, but the main purpose is to rally teachers, employees and workers, to give them information about their options when dealing with dictator-like bosses (especially in institutions of higher learning). So I feel appreciation for Japan Times, and its Zeit Gist column, which highlights labor issues.

I too would like to see AIU students become involved, and question the policies and actions of the AIU administration and president. I believe if they did that at least some would be moved to demand that he step down. Given the ways he has abused his power, he is not fit to serve as university president. Do they want a truly international university or one that implicitly barks, "Nippon!" while waving that archaeic embarrassment of a manifesto, Bushido. They should also demand that be taken off their required reading list.

Finally, while Mr. Clark has made some outrageous statements and apologies for AIU, he also has, at least privately, supported us at times. In fact, he personally told me the fact that I got a pay cut was "terrible" and "no way to run a university." Unfortunately, it takes a rare man to truly stick his neck out to fight injustice when he himself is benefitting from a particular system. Still, in my view, he's not the culprit (although I still would be interested to read his view at this point).

[freshair]

Some good news from Japan.  Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, son of a convicted WWII war criminal, and the ruling party suffered a massive defeat in Sunday's election to the Upper House.  AIU President Mineo Nakajima, has often explained his absence from the AIU campus (he is only around for 1 or 2 days a week and lives in Tokyo, 400 miles away from the campus he "heads") in terms of his role as a government advisor to Abe and educational committee work. 

While the Western traditional media has usually used the word "reform" when talking about Abe's policiies, his program is actually akin to a a Japanese neo-con one (and fully supported by Mineo  Nakajima who has penned ultra right national views under other names).  Abe's program consists of:  privatization of many successful elements of Japanese government; a military buildup and change of the Japanese peace constitution so as to allow a more militarist and expansionist policy (directed toward Korea and ultimately China); privatization of the educational system where "top down" management (little dictators) like Mineo Nakajima make all the decisions; further minimalization of women and their role in anything but childrearing etc.  Far from being "reforms" these moves actually harken back to the old feudal and militarist days of Japan--but it is hard for people like Abe and Nakajima to sell these reactionary positions unless they are relabeled and sold under a massive PR campaign. 

Fortunately, the Japanese electorate is starting to look through these already failed policies and the failures of people (like Nakajima who was voted out of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies by his own faculty) and the born loser--Abe.  Talk about a Prime Minister who has a eye for choosing failures as leaders and advisors! His second agriculture minister in the past few months had to be replaced (the prior aone committed suicide) for incompetence and corruption--all hallmarks of Abe and Nakajima too.

Now, if only the the people of Akita Prefecture would take a more critical look at the "educational reforms" under AIU which is international in name only.  The same kind of cronyism and corruption the electorate rejected this past Sunday may be found under their noses at AIU. 

[11113567]

will make no difference. The upper house in Japan is not the US Senate, it is a vestige of the former House of Lords, and a retirement job for washed up former comedians. This election was more a rebuke to the LDP about the pension scandal than about any concern for reform, and the DPJ, which won, is a fairly recent offshoot of the LDP itself. There will be no substantive changes from it, especially as regards AIU.

Contrary to coverage in the Chronicle, the real story of AIU has not been the denial of jobs to foreigners. After all, there are still plenty of foreigners employed by AIU. The real story has been the replacement of a mediocre university with an abysmal one, and the replacement of qualified faculty, staff and administrators with less qualified ones. The system in Japan encourages, almost demands, mediocrity because it doesn't reward those who produce. Those who succeed in such a system are not those with important research findings or new theoretical insights, they are those who can convince everyone else that they are really on their side, whether they are or not. The ones who get jobs at Japanese universities are the ones who tell those who get screwed by the system that the way they are running their own university is "no way to run a university." Oh, but they only say it in private, of course. The rotten system is the same whether they hire foreigners or not.

Wake me up when Japan abolishes the infamous university journal system, or institutes peer review, or sets up a system of earned tenure, or ranks universities by anything other than the hensachi of entering students, or gets a clue about what universities could be. Even the university sports programs are better in the US!

[allies]

I agree with 11113567's comments on Japan's current political situation--unfortunately. Still, it's great to see Abe's party take such a drubbing.

As far as "that's no way to run a university," recall that AIU's very own Mr. Clark told me that in regard to the pathetic and corrupt evaluation system.

Also, check out AIU's EAP webpage. It lists 8 M.A.'s, several of them new hires. More proof that the claim "we needed to hire Ph.D.'s" was a lie (as if we needed more proof at this point).

http://www.aiu.ac.jp/cms/index.php?id=777

[zatroof]

Akita International University (AIU) is already advertising again for an English (EAP) position.

https://www.insidehighered.com/employment/dashboard/?event=ViewJobDetails&job_posting_id=28889


The ad says it's a

a newly established undergraduate teaching position

.

But I wonder if this isn't just another of the not-so-uncommon cases in Japanese higher ed. of "newly establishing a position" and simultaneously abolishing a course/position that fulfilled the same function in order to dump a teacher (or like at AIU last year, a massacre a passel of 'em). This 'back door' approach is a cover for what, otherwise, would be obviously arbitrary or capricious staffing decisions. The victims end up hearing something like this: "We thank you for your honorable hard work, but we no longer offer an English program at this institution and we don't have a comp course position for you. You may apply to our newly established Language program for the writing course we will be offering, but you're probably not qualified for it."  And so on.

Last year's wholesale canning approach didn't go over too well. With AIU's track record with their employees,. ..like I said, I'm just wondering. Anybody know what's up with that?

Other points of interest in the ad:

1.

Contract terms: The successful applicant will be offered a three-year renewable teaching contract dated from April 1, 2008 when the spring term begins. (The university is, however, preparing to adopt a tenure system.)

Although last year's AIU job ad didn't boast the "possibility of tenure", on this thread, informed source concerned8 did (and was called to task for it by other contributors), but a year later there is not yet a tenure system at AIU. Maybe they are preparing to adopt some sort of tenure system some day, but why mention it when it's a three-year contract position that you're advertising?

2.

Salary and Benefits
 Salaries are competitive.

Previous teaching contracts at AIU contained a clause that allowed the administration to lower salaries up to 20% per year. Is this still part of AIUs competitive salary system? Does anyone know?

3.

Akita International University (AIU) is a highly competitive, three-year-old liberal arts institution established to serve as a model for the reform of the Japanese higher education system. AIU’s president is a member of the Prime Minister’s Education Rebuilding Council.

It seems all official AIU correspondence is required to pay tribute to and sing the praises of the school's Right-wing President Mineo Nakajima. And of course there was no way for the ad writers to foresee the winds of political change about to whip things around a bit. Prediction: Nakajima won't be on the Prime Minister's Education Rebuilding Council much longer (even if it continues to exist).

The LDP Rightist Abe has resigned as prime minister. Most likely, moderate Fukuda (not the extreme Rightist Aso) will be the next PM and the PMERC will find its mission redefined. As soon as Lower House elections are held (and that will be soon),  Japan will likely have a new ruling party with a new PM whose ideas aren't likely to be in sync with Nakajima's. Doesn't much matter, though, PMERC's recommendations are already being rejected. From today's Daily Yomiuri:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070920TDY02006.htm

Who knows? Maybe mastery of Bushido will even be dropped as a requirement at AIU.

4.

Description:
In today’s globalized world, peaceful solutions to a wide range of serious problems require unusual capacities to understand and respect diverse values and to assume world perspectives.

Maybe it's just me. I mean it's their description so they can do what they like, but just the phrase, "In today's globalized world,.." gives me the willies, and the rest ….? Do y'all let your students write sentences like this? Just asking …

[jetmuzer]

Students are encouraged strongly to live in AIU’s campus housing. For international students, residence hall rooms are guaranteed. Accomodation prices are based on shared occupancy (two students per room). Meals include three meals daily during the week and two meals daily on weekends. Students may NOT enter AIU’s residence hall before the designated date.

[jlm58601]

AIU continues to act unprofessionally.  After I had accepted an invitation to interview, I stumbled across this thread and decided to ask some questions prior to my flight.  That invitation was abruptly withdrawn, which is good in the end since I don't want to teach at such an institution.

[zharkov]

AIU continues to act unprofessionally.  After I had accepted an invitation to interview, I stumbled across this thread and decided to ask some questions prior to my flight.  That invitation was abruptly withdrawn, which is good in the end since I don't want to teach at such an institution.

So disappointing to hear that Akita has really gone to the dogs.

[freshair]

Thanks, jlm, for sharing your story with everyone.  The word is out on Akita International University and its horrific administration.

You might be interested to know, jlm, that only 13 people applied for the same job as you.  This tiny number despite an international search and despite the job description preferring someone sans a Ph.D.  (so much for the "quality" argument that some AIU apologists on this thread used to make--that the university was trying to upgrade its faculty by hiring more qualified individuals). By contrast, the Chronicle reports that a branch campus of the U. of Maine has received more than 260 applicants WITH Ph.D. IN HAND for every position it recently advertised.  That should tell the geriatic leadership at AIU something but they are beyond listening or even discussing things as you found out. 

Moreover, of the 13 applicants, AIU narrowed its search to 2 people:  yourself and another candidate.  The other candidate also declined an interview with AIU. 

Here's some other disturbing news for AIU.  It seems that many of its students going abroad to study now realize that their own home institutiuon, AIU, is in contrast to these institutions poorly run, inefficient, has a tiny number of course offerings, and has lost many of its best teachers.  They are not returning as happy souls to "Bushido University". 

[heiwa]

Sou desu ne....it is true, the word IS out on Bushido University, externally and internally. The hypocrisy of last year's purge of long-term faculty is now obvious, especially to students. Much talk has centered on how a group of committed and talented sensei were cast out only to be replaced by a group that includes several who are barely competent novices. Student rebellion against the charade has only narrowly been quelled. Insiders also speak of mutiny amongst the rank and file teachers, with the admin's lies and back-stabbing of years gone by repeated yet again.

Appropriately, it has become well known within the Akita local community that those who have commandeered the institution away from its original design and honorable intentions have done so with much malice, arrogance and continued subterfuge ---not to mention the pathetic managemnet skills. When will the real story of the disservice that AIU has done for tertiary education in Akita ever be fully told? Only when the hacks now in charge are chased out of town!

 

[jed_87]

Hello,

I am a student at the university of Oregon. I am a japanese major here and was considering studying abroad at aiu b/c we have a connection with that school. I just did a google search and found this thread. now I'm worried about my plan to study in Akita. what is it like for exchange students there? Can i get a good education? it sounds like yoru problems only with some administration? Will that effect me?

thanks for any information.

Jed