MENU

Gender Equality Initiatives

Support for Life Events (Childcare, Nursing Care, etc.)

Gender Equality Initiatives

Support for Balancing Life Events with Education and Research Overview

Support for Balancing Life Events with Education and Research Overview

Support for Balancing Life Events with Education and Research Overview

Education and Research Support System for Life Events

The Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will add a new system (to be implemented on a trial basis in FY2026) to the existing system as part of its efforts to improve the environment to support university faculty members in balancing research and education with life events. The education and research support system will be implemented on a trial basis.

Outline of the system

Each student will be able to select and use one of the following support systems. Duplicate use within this system is also possible (with a limit on the amount of support).

a. Support for balancing school duties [DEI Center

(a) Application for consideration of school duties due to life events

b. Support for balancing school work and research [ DEI Center, Trial implementation in FY2026] (a) Support for balancing school work and research [DEI Center] (b) Support for balancing school work and research

(a) Employment of temporary research assistants
(b) Employment of undergraduate teaching assistants and graduate teaching assistants (T/A)
(c) Use of outsourcing

c Support for balancing education and research (2) [ Human Resources Department] (c) Support for balancing education and research

(a) Subsidy system for use of childcare services for specific work on Sundays and national holidays
(b) Subsidy system for use of nursing care services related to specific duties on Sundays and national holidays
(c) System for using discount coupons for "babysitter dispatch service

Trial period (only for support for balancing work and education/research (1)): April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027 (Application period varies depending on the system.

Eligibility: Full-time faculty members of the University who are pregnant, raising children, or caring for family members (regardless of whether they are tenured or not) * Excluding those on leave for infertility treatment.

List of Major Systems Related to Childbirth and Childcare

Birth Support Leave

Full-time faculty members who wish to take a leave of absence to undergo infertility treatment and are undergoing (or planning to undergo) infertility treatment are eligible to take a "birth support leave of absence" in accordance with the regulations.

Maternal Health Care Measures

Those who are pregnant may receive maternal health care measures upon their request or under the guidance of their doctor or other health care provider.

Maternity leave before and after childbirth
  • Maternity leave... Faculty members (*) can take leave for the requested period within 8 weeks (maximum 56 days) including the expected date of childbirth.
    (* Positions that have a provision for "special leave for women" in the applicable employment regulations. (* Positions without such provisions are limited to a requested period of 6 weeks or less in accordance with the Labor Standards Law.)
  • Postpartum leave... 8 weeks (56 days) from the day following the day of delivery (by law, employees cannot work for 8 weeks after delivery).
Childcare leave

In principle, faculty and staff who wish to take leave for childcare can take the leave up to twice per child (*) until the child reaches one year of age (the day before the child's birthday).
(*In the case of a spouse giving birth, childcare leave at birth can be taken separately from regular childcare leave for up to four weeks within eight weeks after the birth of the child. (The leave can be divided into two installments.)

In addition, if the employee wishes to enroll the child in a daycare center, etc. but is unable to do so, the childcare leave can be extended until the day the child reaches 1 year and 6 months of age (the day before the anniversary of the child's first birthday) or until the last day of April after the child reaches 2 years of age.

Child nursing care leave

In addition to annual paid leave, teachers and employees who take care of a child up to the fifth grade of elementary school may take childcare leave up to five days per year if they have one child, or up to ten days per year if they have two or more children, to take care of an injured or sick child, to have the child receive immunizations or medical examinations, to deal with class closures due to infectious diseases, or to attend the entrance (or entrance) ceremony or graduation ceremony of a kindergarten or kindergarten. Up to 10 days per year for two or more children.

Issuance of discount coupons for babysitter dispatch services

When a faculty member (employee pensioner) uses a babysitter, a discount coupon for the Babysitter Dispatch Project can be used if the Child and Family Agency implements the Babysitter Dispatch Project (*).
(*Whether or not the babysitter dispatch service will be implemented in the current fiscal year will be decided after the start of the fiscal year. (*Whether or not the program will be implemented in the current fiscal year will be decided after the start of the fiscal year.)

Subsidized use of childcare services for specific work on Sundays and holidays

Faculty and staff members can apply for assistance in using childcare services on Sundays and holidays so that they can devote themselves to their duties.
This subsidy is available on the days when university and graduate school classes are held, when entrance examinations are conducted, and when affiliated schools hold cultural festivals, sports festivals, welcome festivals, and entrance examinations.

List of Major Systems Related to Nursing and Nursing Care

Nursing care leave

Faculty and staff caring for a family member in need of nursing care* may take nursing leave in accordance with the regulations.
(*Under the University's regulations, "in need of nursing care" is defined as "in need of constant nursing care for a period of two weeks or more due to injury, illness, or physical or mental disability.)

Nursing care leave

Faculty and staff who care for a family member in need of nursing care (*) are entitled to take nursing care leave, in addition to annual paid leave, up to five days per year for one family member or up to ten days per year for two or more family members.
(*"Needs nursing care" is based on the criteria set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.)

Assistance in using nursing care services for specific duties on Sundays and national holidays

Faculty and staff may apply for assistance in using nursing care services on Sundays and holidays so that they can devote themselves to their eligible duties.
Eligible days are university and graduate school class days and entrance examination implementation work days, as well as cultural festivals, sports festivals, welcome festivals, and entrance examination implementation work days at affiliated schools.

 

Research Support [Research and Development Center

Research Activities during Childcare/Nursing Leave, etc.

Please refer to the following page for information on the handling of research activities and research expenses at the University and the research expenses that researchers returning from childcare leave are eligible to apply for.

Consultation System for Persons on Childcare and Nursing Leave

Please refer to the following page for information on the consultation system for research activities during childcare leave (for full-time faculty members of the University).