Application forms

STEP-ALICE Program

Subsidies for Babysitting Fees in Engineering

Temporary Nursery “Zundanuki’s Room”

Subsidies for Babysitting Fees in Engineering

1. Program Objectives

This program provides subsidies to help with the costs of babysitting and childcare facilities, with the objective of helping engineering academic / administrative staff members and students (regardless of gender) who have children maintain a balance with respect to work and childcare.
Having to give up a career or suffering a reduction in research opportunities due to childbirth or childcare is not only a problem for individuals, but also represents a significant loss for their institution, their field, and society in general.
This support program is unique to the engineering fields and is based on the ‘providing work-life balance support and improving conditions’ principle in Tohoku University’s ‘Action Guidelines for the Promotion of Gender Equality’ published in 2013.

2. Details

Applications will be accepted during the appropriate period every six months, and individuals for whom subsidies are deemed essential following a screening process will receive said subsidies.
However, the amount allocated may be reduced having taken into account the applicant’s situation, the budget situation, and so on.

Range Of Support

In principle, the period of support is from April 1st until late March.
The first program period is from April 1st until September 30th, and the second program period is from October 1st until late March.
Expenses for the use of babysitters, childcare facilities, temporary or extended childcare (daily fees), etc. will be applied mainly for the purposes of balancing childcare and research activities or work such as conducting research, lectures, student guidance, business trips, conferences participation, meetings and assisting the administration of entrance exams.
Extended daycare on a monthly basis and other services that are considered part of a permanent childcare system are not eligible for subsidies.
In principle, the subsidy covers fees related to childcare services provided by babysitters etc. (including transportation costs for picking-up and dropping-off, and any surcharges for working in the early morning or at nights), and does not include fees such as housekeeping services fees, initial admission fees, annual fees, cancellation fees, etc.
The temporary use of childcare and post-illness childcare at the university’s on-campus childcare facilities are not covered by the subsidy.

Application Process

Prepare the attached documents: 1. Babysitter Fees Subsidy Application Form, 2. the Reference Materials document, 3. Notification of Babysitter Fees, and 4. the Invoice for Babysitter Fees, along with a receipt with date of use and total fee. Submit these first to the General Affairs Division of the applicant’s department to be compiled, then to the General Affairs Desk in the General Affairs Division of the Department of Engineering by the following deadlines.

Submission Deadline: First round: October 31st, Second round: March 19th (Subject to change depending on the year)

Nursery/Resting Rooms

Nursery Room” Zundanu-kids room”

We provide a nursery space which all engineering faculty, researchers, and students can use on a short-term basis for childcare and breastfeeding. It can also be used for childcare during meetings or academic conferences.

Hours of Operation: Weekdays from 8:30 am until 8:00 pm.
For use of the room during weekends and holidays, please contact us.

Use of this service requires prior application. Please follow the application procedures below to apply and receive permission to use the facilities (apply up to one year prior to and at least 3 days prior to the planned date of use. For emergency use of the service please contact us).
The use of the nursery and resting rooms is done at your own risk, and management will not be held responsible for any accidents. Please observe the following guidelines when using the nursery or resting rooms.

Women’s Resting Room

This room is equipped with sofa beds and blankets, partitions and curtains, refrigerator/freezer, bathroom, shower, and toilet, and is available for use by female faculty, staff, and students for rest when feeling unwell, during pregnancy or postpartum, nursing, breastfeeding, and changing diapers.

Operating Hours: Weekdays from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm
For use of the room during weekends and holidays, please contact us.

For information on the men’s resting room, please contact the Staff Welfare Desk (3rd floor , the Central Building, ext. 4290).

Dispatching Research Support Staff

We dispatch research support staff (administrative assistants) to help researchers having difficulty securing research time due to childcare, caregiving, or public service. The aim of this program is to maintain and promote a balance between research and childcare/caregiving and public service. Support for public service is available exclusively for female researchers, while support for childcare and caregiving is available regardless of gender. Recruiting will begin in March.
Schedules for dispatch of staff support services to each lab will be determined after consultation.

Period: From April (as needed)
Eligible applicants: faculty from engineering departments with main offices or residence located in the Aobayama area.
Duties of the administrative assistant: Organize documents, prepare documents required for travel expenses and purchase of goods, etc.
*The duties of the administrative assistant are to provide light administrative assistance to the research activities of the applicant, not to provide technical support.

If you would like to apply to receive administrative assistance, please fill out the following information and send to ALicE by email with the following subject:

Dispatch System for ALicE Research Support Staff (Administrative Assistant)
Name:
Affiliation:
Position:
Age of child (including due date if pregnant):
Spouse: Living together / Living separately
Preferred days of the week: (dispatch workers will be dispatched for approximately 6 hours per day)
I have applied to university-wide support system: Yes/No
Other Remarks:

Please refer to the following link (DEI center, Tohoku University) about the university-wide personnel for research support program before applying.

TUMUG Support https://dei.tohoku.ac.jp/