Job Discussion Forums

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

I have just been told that I have 300k that I literally "have" to spend. I guess all university professors have the same amount. I've been given the university co-op catologue. Do all universities get the same catologue?
I was wondering how you spend the money? I mean the the catologue is full of computers, digital cameras and other goodies but I couldnt really order anything and say that I "needed" it for my classes.
Do you think that it is ok for me to just order anything I like? I mean will it raise an eyebrow if I order the 12m pixel camera and an IPOD? The guy I took over from was there for 10 years I believe. I took over his office. There sure as hell aint 3million worth of equipment there. Smile

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I think anything that will help you do your work would be appropriate. If you use ipod recordings in class, go for it. It could be books, a better laser pointer, scanner, etc. Now if I only had a job where I had this 'difficult' decision to make... Razz

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I hate this problem too. Wink

I have bought computers, anything related to computers, cds, dvds, books, cameras, trips abroad and within Japan for conferences (separate budget).

Yeah Sid, this is the big difference between p/t and f/t. Many times I have bought something and then later give them the receipt for it.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

sid,
I work at a (de)nationalized uni, too. I'm very lucky with a bigger budget than you.

Spent mine so far on a new laptop, printer, microwave, portable CD/MD/cassette player (for classes, of course), a tiny fridge (other teachers have full-sized ones), a teaching video set, and on paper and ink. Over the course of the year, I'll probably also invest in some journals, membership in JALT, a trip or 2 to a conference, and other teaching supplies.

I also have to pay for photocopies and my own phone calls, so keep that in mind. Any miscellaneous things might as well go on the bill, like prizes for students in some activities in class.

I also get the school co-op catalog. Haven't looked at it much yet, but I will.

3 million in 10 years doesn't have to look like it. Journal subscriptions and trips can suck up a lot.

Chris21 · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 366 Location: Japan

I think every university has a different policy on research money. 300K sounds like a good amount. Some schools have more, and some much less. For a contract teacher, the highest amount I know of is 490K, and the lowest I've heard is 10K (actually, I've heard of schools that don't offer any). There's one school I know of in Kansai that has a pretty big allowance of 400K, but you can't keep anything that costs over 10K (it all has to be returned to the school), although the allowance can be used to cover tuition for upgrading education.

abufletcher · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 4:19 pm Post subject:

My understanding is that you can't keep any of it! Technically it all belongs to the university -- not you. At least at my university all major items (computers, cameras, etc.) are tagged. If and when I were to leave one of the procedures is to run through an accounting of all these items. That's why I've got 8 year old broken laptops sitting around that are no more than junk. But I can't throw these things out.

My budget is 450k a year (the first couple of years it was 500k) and over the past 10 years I've bought/ordered an incredible mountain of stuff. I've also used it for conference travel and books. But since I like to keep my books and I don't mind giving back a 10 year old computer, I prefer to spend my research budget on gear. All this gear sure made doing a Ph.D. much easier.

Also one year we were all given 300k additional specifically to upgrade our "office" computer equipment. This money was some special fund from Mombusho intended to bring Japanese academics up to some western par in terms of wiredness. In 10 years I've purchaced 3 lapstops and 3 desktops, 3-4 printers, scannners, camcorders, digital SLR's and innumerable smaller items. This year I've bought 10 tape recorders and telephone recording devices to use for class research projects.

You can order ANYTHING you want. It doesn't just have to come from the university catalogue. What I usually do if find a brochure or website for the item I want (it needs to be purchased in Japan) then I turn this in to our department secretary who fills out some request form that is then sent to the finance department. They are required to find 3 prices on the item and then buy it from the cheapest source. For items under 30,000 I just buy them myself and turn in the receipt. But you can't spend in on used items.

Cetainly makes browsing through the local denki shop fun!

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

as well as the hardware what about software (and courses on how to use it) I'm thinking of things like website creators, video editing, desktop publishing, photoshopping, etc.

abufletcher · Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 4:29 pm Post subject:

Now the downside. From here on every other EFL job in the world is going to seem like a step down in pay and perks. Eventually you'll tire of lackluster students but you'll be hooked.

I'd have to take a $20,000 cut in annual pay to take any tenure track assistant professorship in the US -- and I'm not one of those guys always hustling privates (in fact I don't teach any privates). At this point in my career I'd like to be doing the US tenure track thing -- but it just doesn't make any economic sense at the moment with three kids in (or soon to be in) college.

So here I am in Japan all by my lonesome while the family lives in the US. well at least I have lots of toys to play with.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I've used my budget for software. Last year I bought dreamweaver (45,000 yen) Ouch! and this year i bought an imac so some software for my mac too.

We are allowed to keep anything from our budget as long as it is under 50,000 yen. But from this yr onward, we'll have to give it back when we leave.

sidjameson · Joined: 11 Jan 2004 Posts: 629 Location: osaka

Thanks for the replies. I have mentioned elsewhere about how fortunate I am with lack of meetings, office time etc, but this also applies to any sort of contact whatsoever. Smile

............Wasn't at all sure what or how I could spend the money, but I have a better idea now.

Yep Abu is right. As far as I can see Japan is Shangrila. I mean, I just got paid and just found out that I get paid travel expenses. Nothing new about that, except that they pay for every working day of the year. I only work about 55. Thats 300k tax free right there. Shocked

Why would anyone want to leave Japan? And why aren't there more of the Middle East guys here? It's got to be one of the biggest EFL myths that it's the dunes that have the best pickings. Any theories Abu?

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:14 am Post subject:

abufletcher · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:24 am Post subject:

Or to put this another way, Japan's probably got more of the "top end" jobs in the EFL field in terms of cash and perks but there's a very large gap between these relatively few top end jobs and the large numbers of not so hot entry level jobs.

The ME by comparison has relatively few reasonable entry level jobs, a large number of excellent mid-range jobs, and vanishingly few top end jobs. There ARE jobs in the Gulf that pay as much or more than we're earning but they are fewer and farther between than the top end jobs here in Japan.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Sid, how many uni jobs in Japan do you know that pay 8-9 million yen tax free, free housing and utilities, free flights home yearly for you and your family, free int'l school fees for your kids? Not very many. In total, this could be a 15 million yen expense/year!! This is one of the better paying positions in the ME, but it is certainly possible.