The difference between associate professors and assistant professors
Associate professor is a new title established about six years ago. At that time, the titles of university teachers were only professors, assistant professors and teaching assistants (equivalent to teaching assistants). However, according to the revision of Japanese school education law, the title of assistant professor was abolished in 2007, and the title of associate professor was newly established.
According to the school education law before revision in Japan, the main job of assistant professors is to assist professors. But in fact, it is to guide students independently and engage in research by themselves; Professor Zhu's word "gang" does not necessarily reflect the actual state. Therefore, the position of assistant professor is revised to "have the qualification and ability status of associate professor".
The English of an assistant professor is "assistant professor", so countries in the English circle will think that he is the assistant of the professor. Associate professor's English is "associate professor", which can clearly indicate that it is second to professor's position.
According to the law before revision in Japan, old teaching assistants are divided into new teaching assistants and teaching assistants. In the past, assistants included assistant professors and general staff researchers. Therefore, the new law will position the workers who focus on teaching and research as teaching assistants, and those who focus on assisting research and courses as teaching assistants.
Also, the so-called "distinguished professor" and the so-called "distinguished guest" are not legal terms. Basically, it refers to informal teachers hired for specific research projects and lectures. Distinguished professor has a certain term of office, which is also called "distinguished professor" or "distinguished professor" according to different universities.