Education and Academic Careers

Education and Academic is one of the Career categories in inZOI, offering university teaching and research positions at two campuses across Dowon and Bliss Bay. Education careers are rabbit hole careers: the Zoi disappears during work hours to "attend" the university. These careers offer one of the highest top salaries in the game (1,920 Meow) and feature a shorter 6-hour work day, making them one of the more time-efficient paths for Zois who want to earn well while having free time for other activities.

Workplaces

Two universities offer Education and Academic positions, one in each city:

Both universities function identically in terms of mechanics, position titles, salaries, and promotion structure. The only difference is the city in which they are located.

Positions and Salaries

Each university has three positions arranged in a promotion hierarchy. Salaries are listed in Meow, the in-game currency. Position limits determine how many Zois can hold each rank at a given time.

University of Youngsung (Dowon)

Work schedule: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (3 days per week).

Bliss Bay University (Bliss Bay)

Work schedule: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (3 days per week).

Both universities share the same schedule: Tuesday through Thursday, 9 AM to 3 PM. This 6-hour work day is shorter than most other careers (which typically run 9 hours), giving academic Zois significantly more free time.

How to Apply

To apply for an Education and Academic position:

1. Open the Smartphone by pressing P or clicking the phone icon

2. Navigate to the Career app

3. Select the Recruitment tab to browse open positions

4. Choose an Education/Academic listing and submit the application

5. Wait for a confirmation text; if accepted, the Zoi starts on their next scheduled work day

No specific skill levels are required to apply for the Assistant Professor position. The Zoi must be at least a Young Adult (approximately age 20.5 in-game). Despite the academic setting, the game does not require a degree or any prior educational achievement. Zois can also apply in person by visiting the university campus.

Role-Play Tasks

Although Education careers are rabbit hole careers (the Zoi disappears during work hours), the game implies several academic activities through text notifications, career opportunity cards, and post-work mood effects. These activities include:

These tasks are not directly player-controlled; they happen automatically during work hours. However, career opportunity cards related to these activities may pop up, giving the player choices that affect mood and career progression.

Promotion Mechanics

Promotions in Education careers follow the same system used by all rabbit hole careers. Each position has a career progress bar that fills through regular attendance.

The jump from Full Professor to Distinguished Professor is the biggest bottleneck, since only one Zoi per university can hold the top position. If the Distinguished Professor slot is filled, the player's Zoi must wait until the incumbent retires, quits, or is terminated.

Career Opportunity Cards

The v0.4.0 update (October 30, 2025) introduced 144 career opportunity cards across all career paths. For Education careers, opportunity card scenarios may include dealing with a plagiarism case, choosing between publishing research or mentoring a struggling student, or navigating departmental politics. Each choice can affect the Zoi's mood, relationships with colleagues, or the speed at which the career bar fills.

Work Day Routine

As a rabbit hole career, the Zoi disappears from the game world during work hours. The daily routine follows this pattern:

1. A reminder notification appears before the shift starts

2. The Zoi heads to the university (automatically or by manual queue)

3. The Zoi disappears for the duration of the shift (9 AM to 3 PM)

4. At 3 PM, the Zoi reappears near the university campus

5. Salary is deposited into household funds after each completed work day

The 3 PM end time means academic Zois have the entire afternoon and evening free. This is a significant advantage over careers like Corporate and Finance at the Aramir Group (which runs until 6 PM) or Active Careers that may demand longer hours.

Attendance and Termination

Missing a scheduled work day counts as an unexcused absence. After 3 unexcused absences, the Zoi is automatically fired. The counter resets upon attending a work day. Zois can voluntarily resign through the Career section of the Smartphone, though this resets all career progress.

Retirement

Zois face mandatory retirement upon reaching the Senior age stage. They are automatically removed from their position and cannot reapply. Since the game does not provide a pension, academic Zois should prepare for retirement by building household savings, training a second earner, or investing in a Business before reaching Senior age.

Salary Comparison

Education careers have the lowest entry-level salary among the major career paths at 342 Meow, but the Distinguished Professor position (1,920 Meow) ranks among the top tier of salaries. Combined with the short 6-hour work day, the hourly earning rate is actually quite competitive.

When factoring in hourly pay, the Distinguished Professor position earns 320M per hour, which is comparable to the highest-paid careers. The shorter work day also means more time for skill building, socializing, and side income.

Career Details

Both universities are functionally identical. The only difference is location. Pick the university in your Zoi's home city to avoid commute time.

Tasks

As a rabbit hole career, your Zoi disappears during work hours and you cannot directly control their actions. However, the career offers optional task selections through the briefcase menu that provide role-playing flavor.

Assistant Professor Tasks

Full Professor and Distinguished Professor Tasks

Important: These tasks are purely cosmetic. Selecting a task does not contribute to skill gains, career advancement, or any gameplay mechanic. The promotion bar fills automatically over time based on attendance alone. The tasks exist for role-playing flavor to make the rabbit hole experience more immersive, but choosing or ignoring them has no effect on your Zoi's career progression.

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