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[s_parker]

Hey Everybody,

I am in a similar position to Jed. After going through this discussion, I am uncertain about applying to study abroad at AIU. Even if the academics are decent and the language study is intense, supporting this institution seems like it might be a mistake. The college at which I am studying in Pennsylvania has an newly created exchange program with AIU, and with only a handful of students applying abroad in Japan this semester for full-year study, our instructor is looking for at least one of us to go to this school. What would the reality of going to AIU be? How are the students treated, if the faculty members are penalized for having left-leaning ideals. And how do the language and culture studies sit?

As I have been scanning the interwebs for more useful information, as well as in this thread, most of what I find has lead me to believe that this incestuous, seemingly xenophobic administrative behaviour is the norm, or at least widespread. Although yes, I am aware that this is Japan we are talking about, I thought maybe an international school would not exhibit as many of the country at large's less admirable tendencies. I guess I am naive. It really has me discouraged, and I am not sure what to do.

So, I don't really know what to ask. How do I go about approaching this and other prospective schools for study abroad?

S Parker

[yoshidashoin]

For foreign students who want to study in Japan, there are many programs available. The best would be with renowned universities, such as Kyoto, Sophia and Tsukuba. Please do a web search or speak to your counselor. Avoid AIU if you want to study with a reputable program where teachers are treated with respect.

[freshair]

To Jed and Parker,

who are worried about studying at AIU.  I can relate the experiences of some exchange students from Canada who thought AIU was provincial, the administration was inept and corrupt, and they did not learn much.  They did not enjoy their experience but were "asked" by their university to attend.

As another poster points out above, there are good schools to study at in Japan but AIU is not among them.  As he recommends, try well-regarded schools that have been around for a while like Sophia, Kyoto or Tokyo U.  Your home institution likely has other options than AIU--speak with your advisor and choose another place. 

Here's a fact for you:  AIU (a school with a student population of less than 500 and only 100 students or so a year going overseas) has 73 partner institutions abroad.  There are several reasons for this like President Mineo Nakajima of AIU insists on the perk of visiting these schools (a nice way to spend time and money, no? As Mel Brooks said, "It's good to be the King.").  Another reason:  AIU needs to get foreign students. 

[bob_j]

Jed & S. Parker--

The postings here put the university in the worst possible light, and are therefore not entirely reliable. 

You know what I do, go to Facebook or something and get information directly from students who are there. 

BTW, from the postings here it seems that the turmoil has only been with the English department.  Since you are going to be with the Japanese language & culture, you probably will have nothing to do with these problems.

[11113567]

The postings here put the university in the worst possible light, and are therefore not entirely reliable. 

I fail to follow the logic of that. Messages here are critical, therefore they are unreliable?

Would criticism of anything else (say, flat-earth theory or Holocaust denial) be unreliable?

BTW, from the postings here it seems that the turmoil has only been with the English department.  Since you are going to be with the Japanese language & culture, you probably will have nothing to do with these problems.

The messages here have been mainly about the English department because they are in English. Some of them have mentioned problems with Japanese studies professors who were let go in favor of less qualified replacements. Furthermore, there are many links in this thread to Japanese language sources critical of AIU as a whole, not just the way the English Department was treated.

How are the students treated, if the faculty members are penalized for having left-leaning ideals.

None of the faculty members had left-leaning ideals, AFAIK. If they did they certainly didn't advertise it. We are talking about an administration that would probably consider the LDP left-leaning, but what really upsets them is competence among the educators.

Unfortunately, that is all to common in Japan: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/rc20070103a2.html

[allies]

Well said 11113567. It is true the the main problems were in the English department. However, the problems outside the English department far exceeded what would be expected of a sane institution. A Director (not English dept) forced to step down for dubious reasons; Directors fighting (not English department); and a general gloom that affected everyone. I had foreign students coming to discuss the issues with me and some were clearly disgusted.

For the record, I am a former faculty, and I am pro-peace and pro-justice (some call it left leaning). In fact the injustices I suffered from the pro-war emperor (some call it right leaning) inspired me to continue to fight injustice wherever I can. See my article link below:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080219zg.html

Finally, the reports pouring out of this poisoned institution are as bad as ever. Control freaks and back-stabbers are prompting the talented faculty with options to leave. All that being said, yes, it's not a bad idea to join facebook and query students and foreign students directly. But why waste your time? Spend your time investigating reputable institutions instead.


 

[heiwa]

After accessing the links mentioned in the posts above, try this one on for size:

http://kassandraproject.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/the-psychopath-in-the-white-house/

...

To say that AIU's problems are limited to EAP is just plain wrong. But the maladjusted behavior, decision-making and blatant manipulation that is routine in AIU's EAP program is reflective of what happens and is condoned in the institution at large.

Only in Japan....

[allies]

I'd like to make one more point for Jed & S. Parker to consider. Even if the turmoil didn't and doesn't affect the international students at all, it still makes sense to boycott that university. Someday you'll join the working world if you haven't already, and ask yourself what kind of institution you'd like to work for. Here's what I suggest you do.

Call Mineo Nakajima and introduce yourself as a prospective international student. Tell him an ex-faculty member "Allies" (or you can find my real name easy enough) says that AIU lost mediation hearings heard by an impartial panel--but AIU refused to abide by the ruling that ten faculty members be paid compensation because AIU acted improperly. Furthermore, if this is not true Allies said he would pay an international student's full AIU tuition; if it is true you'll refuse to apply to attend because such conduct is reprehensible (ideally you'd also ask your university to withdraw their sister school relationship).

Of course my offer is theatrics; I know the story directly so I'd never have to pay. I don't even believe AIU would lie about that description. Try it and see.

[freshair]

Good point "Allies" about the boycott.  There might be another reason related to this:  students should consider that attending a questionable university and having it on their transcript does not help them in the long run.  Better go somewhere else that is reputable.

You made another good point on the nature of AIU being poisonous.  Some news coming out of AIU about their revised faculty evaluation system, for example,  supports this.  For instance, if someone gets a donation to the university--that is considered in the evaluation under "contribution to the university."  I don't think I've ever seen something this blatent!

The new modifications, of course, are a mess and unclear themselves (nothing new there at AIU).  It appears that they also penalize faculty who teach small classes.  Rather odd since AIU routinely boasts that most of its classes are small and that the school prides itself on this.  Contradiction?  No, that's Mineo Nakajima-think, such as it is!  Here's the official AIU language on that point: "The total number of annual teaching hours (i.e., January to December) will be multiplied by a certain coefficient ［e.g., 0.22］, thus fixing the weight for this category automatically. However, adjustments will be made as shown below.
・If the number of students is greater than 35, the number of teaching hours will be multiplied by 1.25.
・If the number of students is fewer than 5 and the instructor will teach the course in tutorial format, the number of teaching hours will be multiplied by 0.7."

It looks like they are sticking it to people who might teach advanced courses and tutorials. 

Also, the new guidelines divide the evaluation into 4 categories but guess what?  The good old President, Mineo Nakajima, has a catchall in virtually every category to assure that he can pat his favorites on the back.  Thus, under "contribution to the university" Nakajima can award "additional points to those who made oustanding contributions".

And here's the super clause that allows the Uber President, one Mineo Nakajima, to do virtually anything  he wants with these evaluations:  "Reflecting 1 to 4 above {the 4 categories} a final adjustment may be made by the President."  But I guess that's needed for the Librarian Director without advanced degrees and other cronies. 

Doesn't this instill confidence in you?  Isn't it a wonder, as pointed out in the thread above, that the arbitrators in Akita--all well-regarded professionals--actually laughed when the AIU staff told them that the faculty evaluation system was clear and transparent.  No wonder they found for the 10 faculty members. 

[jtsmr]

Good point "Allies" about the boycott.  There might be another reason related to this:  students should consider that attending a questionable university and having it on their transcript does not help them in the long run.  Better go somewhere else that is reputable.

You made another good point on the nature of AIU being poisonous.  Some news coming out of AIU about their revised faculty evaluation system, for example,  supports this.  For instance, if someone gets a donation to the university--that is considered in the evaluation under "contribution to the university."  I don't think I've ever seen something this blatent!

The new modifications, of course, are a mess and unclear themselves (nothing new there at AIU).  It appears that they also penalize faculty who teach small classes.  Rather odd since AIU routinely boasts that most of its classes are small and that the school prides itself on this.  Contradiction?  No, that's Mineo Nakajima-think, such as it is!  Here's the official AIU language on that point: "The total number of annual teaching hours (i.e., January to December) will be multiplied by a certain coefficient ［e.g., 0.22］, thus fixing the weight for this category automatically. However, adjustments will be made as shown below.
・If the number of students is greater than 35, the number of teaching hours will be multiplied by 1.25.
・If the number of students is fewer than 5 and the instructor will teach the course in tutorial format, the number of teaching hours will be multiplied by 0.7."

It looks like they are sticking it to people who might teach advanced courses and tutorials. 

Also, the new guidelines divide the evaluation into 4 categories but guess what?  The good old President, Mineo Nakajima, has a catchall in virtually every category to assure that he can pat his favorites on the back.  Thus, under "contribution to the university" Nakajima can award "additional points to those who made oustanding contributions".

And here's the super clause that allows the Uber President, one Mineo Nakajima, to do virtually anything  he wants with these evaluations:  "Reflecting 1 to 4 above {the 4 categories} a final adjustment may be made by the President."  But I guess that's needed for the Librarian Director without advanced degrees and other cronies. 

Doesn't this instill confidence in you?  Isn't it a wonder, as pointed out in the thread above, that the arbitrators in Akita--all well-regarded professionals--actually laughed when the AIU staff told them that the faculty evaluation system was clear and transparent.  No wonder they found for the 10 faculty members. 

On another thread that focuses on the corruption, lies and unethical behavior of another university, Fatih University, one poster who may be a troll asked a strange question:  why do I care?  Why do I care about exposing the university in question for what it is? Why do I care how they treat foreign professors? And why do I care to continue highlighting this university's corrupt behavior.  The most important reason is that this university will continue to dupe and deceive potential and future professors.

My question here is how woud some of you answer the "why do you care"? question about Akita International University? 

I'm curious about your answers.

Thanks.

[aiu_pr_office]

The first and foremost concern of AIU is for its students. We invite prospective students to visit AIU’s website to become familiar with the facts about the university. It is quite possible that there are students at your home institution who have already studied at AIU. We encourage you to speak with them. Members of the faculty and professionals from your office of international programs may have visited the campus. In a few cases, faculty members from our partner schools have taught at AIU. These sources will be helpful in providing first-hand perspectives and insights on the quality of AIU academics, faculty, dormitory life, club activities, and the general environment.


Caring environment for international students:  International students comprise about 15% of AIU’s student population on campus, coming from more than 70 partner schools around the world. Japanese students come from all over Japan (nearly 20% from Akita prefecture where the university is located). AIU is a residential campus. International students and Japanese students live on campus in dormitories and student apartments, including AIU’s brand new Global Village housing complex. Our campus is surrounded by a large cedar forest, but is only 7 minutes by car from Akita airport, which provides easy access to Tokyo and other major cities. Across the road from the campus is the largest park and sports complex in Akita prefecture, with many tennis courts, an indoor soccer field, basketball courts, baseball and track and field stadiums, an archery range, nature paths for bicycling, cross-country skiing, roller-blading, workout rooms, and much more. Nearly adjacent to campus is a public 27-hole golf course. Nearby campus are rivers for canoing and kayaking, mountain ranges for skiing and snowboarding, and Japanese hot spring baths (onsen) and inns (ryokan).


AIU’s Japanese language program offers a full range of courses in Japanese language instruction, from beginning to advanced levels. The Japan Studies program offers a wide range of courses (taught in English) on Japanese traditional arts, culture, politics, business and economics, and martial arts. For international students with advanced Japanese language skills, some courses are offered in Japanese language. International students are welcomed to take courses that are part of the curriculum for degree-seeking students. Except for foreign language courses (Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, and Russian) and courses related to a teaching license for Japanese students, AIU’s entire curriculum is taught in English.


AIU is located in beautiful Akita prefecture on the northwest coast of Japan’s main island–Honshu. International students have many opportunities to immerse themselves in traditional Japanese culture and interact with the regional community during field trips and AIU-sponsored, off-campus events. In April 2008, AIU will unveil a new, beautiful, 24-hour library. We welcome you to visit our website for photos and facts about the University. AIU’s friendly, professional English-speaking staff and faculty will be happy to answer your inquiries.


AIU Quick Facts
English name:  Akita International University
Japanese name:  国際教養大学 (“Kokusai Kyoyo Daigaku”)
Japanese name in English:  “International Liberal Arts University”

Standing among 155 national and public universities in Japan: * 
- in Humanities:  among top 5, along with Kyoto University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Tsukuba University, and The University of Tokyo
- in Social Sciences:  among top 5, along with Hitotsubashi University, Kyoto University, Osaka University, and The University of Tokyo
* Based on degree of selectivity/difficulty of entrance
* Source: (Annual Survey by Sunday Mainichi, February 10, 2008, pp. 127-132)

Established:  April 2004 as a public corporation university
Language of instruction:  English (except for foreign language courses in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, Russian, and soon French and Spanish)

Majors:  Global Business, Global Studies

Current total enrollment (January 2008):  558 regular students (555 native Japanese)

International exchange students on campus:  71 (14 countries/regions)

Number of exchange partners:  73 (25 countries/regions)

Number of international students who have studied at AIU:  380 (26 countries/regions)

Total number of AIU students who have studied abroad:  310 (23 countries/regions)

Average class size (Fall semester 2007):  17.4 students

Number of regular faculty:  44 (PhD: 27) (representing 10 countries/regions)

Partial List of AIU exchange partners:  Aberdeen University, Australian National University, Chulalongkorn University, Exeter University, Hong Kong University, Korea University, Nanjing University, Nankai University, National University of Mongolia, National University of Singapore, National University of Taiwan, Seoul National University, St Mary’s College of Maryland, Universite Laval, University of Bergen, University of California-Berkeley, University of Colorado, University of Glasgow, University of Leeds, University of Oslo, University of Sheffield, University of Stirling, University of Stockholm, University of Toronto, University of Washington, Ursinus College, Washington & Jefferson College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Yonsei University (44 others)

Partial list of companies that recruit at AIU:  Aeon, All Nippon Airways, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Daiwa Securities, Eisai Co., Ltd, ITOCHU Corporation, Japan Airlines, Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Komatsu Ltd, Meiji Seika Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials, Mitsui & Company, Northwest Airlines, Sumitomo-Mitsui Banking Corporation (plus more)
Partial list of companies that have offered employment to AIU students:  American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC), Akita Bank, Bosch Corporation, Fujitsu Advanced Solutions, H.I.S. Travel, IBM Japan, Japan Tobacco, Japan Tourist Bureau, Kureha Corporation, Lehman Brothers, Meiji Seika Corporation, Mizuho Securities, Morgan Stanley, New Otani Hotel Tokyo, Nikko Cordial Securities, Nippon Express, Northwest Airlines, OSG Corporation, Palace Hotel Tokyo, Seven Eleven Japan, Uniqlo Corporation, Yokohama Rubber Corporation, Yamato System Development (plus more)

Visit our website for more information: www.aiu.ac.jp 
Email contact for more information: info@aiu.ac.jp

Public Relations
Akita International University

[taikibansei]

On another thread that focuses on the corruption, lies and unethical behavior of another university, Fatih University, one poster who may be a troll asked a strange question:  why do I care?  Why do I care about exposing the university in question for what it is? Why do I care how they treat foreign professors? And why do I care to continue highlighting this university's corrupt behavior.  The most important reason is that this university will continue to dupe and deceive potential and future professors.

My question here is how woud some of you answer the "why do you care"? question about Akita International University? 

First, why should you care about what others think about your thread?  Why the heck would you need--or want--validation from people posting to another thread?  I personally haven't followed the Fatih thread closely.  If you think Fatih is an important topic, though, keep posting on it!

As for AIU, the singular post from the "AIU_PR_Office" above underlines at least my fascination with the topic.  When "official" voices burst so regularly, so clumsily and so (unintentionally) destructively on to the scene, how can one look away?  Remember the VP posts from last year, blatantly slandering the departing faculty, lying about working conditions, and even falsely claiming (in defiance of their currently posted job ads) that the university offered tenure?  This thread is an extended, and ongoing, car wreck!

I don't work at AIU--never have.  I do know, however, a number of the people who were fired.  Ironically, these English faculty, all original members of the department, set up the original English curriculum--a curriculum that got the university special recognition from Monkasho (in the form of a grant and an award).  This award used to be featured prominently on their website and in their Japanese language advertising fliers.

The reward for the faculty setting up this English curriculum? Dismissal (all of them), not to mention slander by name (!) on the AIU Japanese language Wiki page (since removed), and a number of crazy, "official" posts on boards such as this one.  AIU also lost a court case on these dismissals--i.e., they broke Japanese law and are now supposed to pay.  Indeed, they are currently ignoring a court order against them.  Yet, the "official" posts keep coming!

Again, fascinating stuff...to me.  I could care less what others think!

[allies]

Blessed Mary, aiu_pr_o, you've got to be kidding. From what PR propaganda piece did you copy and paste that rubbish? Well, if you want to defend AIU, fine, but why not write something original and relevant? And, is stating AIU's 'first and foremost concern for students' another way of stating AIU doesn't give a stuff about faculty, in particular foreign faculty? Your PR paste makes the campus sound like some sort of nature paradise. I assure you my campus here in Tokyo is far nicer, with many more trees. In addition, here in Tokyo I ride my bicycle to work, much of the way along a bike path along a stream while in Akita I was forced, like nearly all my colleagues, to drive everyday (or die a slow death by isolation in one of those god-forsaken overpriced university apartments). I'm closer to a mountain hike here as well, and had plenty of breathtaking nature in all the other places I've lived as well. So there are hot springs near AIU? As if that's novel in Japan! Well, Akita is neither a hell or a paradise, but easily my least favorite city of many I've lived in and visited in Japan (and that criticism is independent of the 'top-down' dictatorial management style employed there, which is the main focus of this thread). I hope talented students wake up and choose a progressive institution in a more vibrant region instead of AIU.

[heiwa]

Why is any act of harm, be it fraud, malevolent practice or other corruptions worth writing about and revealing to outsiders? As a warning. And in hope of change. This is all part of human evolution, my friends. Has AIU changed in the last 4 years, since its inception?

Well, as the PR note above shows, it has more students cashing in, more PhDs teaching and more partner schools in the wings than ever before. Maybe Akita-ken has more onsens than other university playgrounds as well.

Yes, it might have all the brains in the world---but does it have, or will it ever have, an **administrative** heart?

[11113567]

Yes, AIU cares about students, but only because if they don't get students they won't have a university. When students and prospective students finally found out about this forum the AIU PR office followed them here. The quality of the faculty doesn't matter. The AIU faculty don't matter because Japanese universities are not educational institutions and AIU prefers to have less qualified faculty.

If you want proof that AIU hired less qualified faculty there are now objective tools to do that. Use the recently developed Publish or Perish software published by Harzing.com http://www.harzing.com/resources.htm#/pop.htm to compare the output of scholars who used to teach for Minnesota State University with their replacements working for AIU. AIU has gone out of its way to get less qualified scholars, and not just in the English language program.

If students really want to learn Japanese or about Japan they should go to an American university in Japan. Unfortunately there is only one left, Temple University's Japan campus. As the new dean said recently in the Chronicle http://chronicle.com/weekly/v54/i21/21a02601.htm:

"Temple U. is the embodiment of all the reforms that need to be made in Japanese higher education," said Mr. Stronach, citing the university's hiring system, undergraduate liberal-arts program, and multinational intake: nearly 3,000 students from about 40 different countries.

http://www.tuj.ac.jp/