Employment post-65

[MacAddict]

"This is a safe space to ask any questions, no matter how basic."

Well, I have very basic question. Can I work after 65?
I know in a public university one has to 'retire' at 65, but how private universities?
Or would I only be eligible to work part time?
Would a university hire a 65 year old full time; even with specialized post-graduate technical research knowledge?
It's a few years to go, but thought I'd better start thinking about this

[Tokyo]

Yes you can work after 65 but the devil is in the details.

Private unis generally do not hire people who are mid-60s but there are exceptions. Those retiring from public unis often find employment at private institutions. People with big names and reputations are also welcomed, even those with no prior teaching experience. Or those lucky enough to have friends in the right place since private universities do not always follow fair and democratic hiring practices.

Also, many post-retirement or foreign profs are only given contracts, rather than tenure. Less money but also less responsibility. Foreigners without fluency in Japanese may have no choice but to accept contracts since they cannot contribute to meetings and committees. Part-time teaching should be possible. But to have a better chance of any employment, prior teaching, publications and presentations would be advantageous. Good luck!

[captainspoke]

Your first/best bet is to stay on where you are now, and it will likely be as a part-timer, tho you may be able to exploit your experience/connections/history there to your advantage--which courses you'd be given, weekly schedule... Tho I haven't heard of it being offered to a foreigner, the status 特任教授 was used at my small private uni for profs that they kept on full time post-65 retirement. I'm sure it was on contract, and at a salary less than the immediately preceding years as f/t, but (much?) more than for a part timer doing the same schedule.

I know of any number of folks who teach post-65, usually a mix of things. Nothing concrete, but I'd think uni would accept someone till they are 70, the next threshold to consider.

EDIT: Sorry, rereading your post, it seems like you are (probably?) a new applicant for uni work, i.e., no previous connection to a school. If this is the case, then no, I don't think any school will take you on. You'll probably be limited to part-time work.

[MacAddict]

Thank you for your advice.
I am currently a tenured professor at a public uni in Japan

[RetireJapan]

Thank you for your advice.
I am currently a tenured professor at a public uni in Japan

I'm at a national uni. Many of my Japanese colleagues have moved to (much better paid) positions at private universities, some of them post-retirement or close to retirement. Definitely worth exploring.

[MacAddict]

That's good to know. Thank you.

[regular]

I am a tenured professor at a private university of health sciences. Our full professors are mainly coming from a nearby national university, after retiring at 65 there. They work here till 75. However, these are ALL Japanese and ALL with qualifications necessary for this schools mission. Also none of them till now were foreigners.

Very few are actually promoted from within, even if they join this university at a young age. I am one of only two visible minority faculty here. I also came from another national university, but at a younger age. We have more faculty members of Asian heritage.

Neither me, nor any of the retired professors coming from national univ system are English teachers.

We also have people joining here post-65 from private university system.

All of them work as tokunin kyoju, at 60 to 80% of their final salary. MOST, if not all of them, are appointed because they are known by people inside.

Hope this helps.

[Tokyo]

At my former private uni, retirement age is currently 65. Retired profs from national universities, however, are permitted to stay on tenured until 68. After that, many stay on for a year or two on a reduced salary contract.

At my wife’s private uni, retirement age is now a firm 65. There are several notable exceptions of Nobel Prize winners and current candidates who are hired - for life - after retiring from national unis.

Unfortunately, at neither uni were any of these post retirement hires non-Japanese profs.

[MacAddict]

It seems 'who' you know is essential.
My specialism is Virtual Reality research and this niche area has served me well. But as VR is gaining popularity and investment, I am hoping opportunities for seasoned researchers to be desirable to private universities in the near future
But not being Japanese will probably limit opportunities here.

[beanhead]

I know a non-Japanese guy who was forced by his company to retire at 60, but then offered the opportunity to continue as a contractor doing the same job, with less money.
Standard operating procedure for many Japanese companies.

But he insists that this is the law, and that all companies have to do this.
Be careful what advice you take from guys you know!