Job Discussion Forums

[infidelicious]

Anyone desperate enough to actually work at this place needs to know the following (and make sure you ask very specific questions about the parts IN BOLD).

A’Sharqiyah University
General Foundation Program (GFP)
WORK LOAD POLICY

Introduction
The purpose of this policy is to established a framework of the work load distribution to ensure fair implementation occurs within the General Foundation Program (GFP)

Its implementation will be flexible according to circumstances that are unique according to other Departments/Colleges of the University. of the different Colleges

The Policy is intended to be in line with similar practices implemented within other international language programs. (HA!)

Policy Statements
 This policy is will address all duties carried out by the general foundation staff and allocate the time required for the staff to carry the different responsibilities; on an annual basis. Indicative distribution of work load and other administrative responsibilities will be presented.

 The distribution of work will be equal and consistent between all GFP staff, hence work load will be uniform; GFP titles will differentiate only the focus of responsibilities. Ex: A Course Coordinator will be required and be more administratively active, while a teaching staff member, more teaching active.

 The working day will be 8 hours ( within the period from 8 am to 8 pm )

 All GFP staff will have the following responsibilities:

 Teaching
o Course preparation
o Invigilation/Proctoring
o Consultation/Advising
o Assessment Creation
o Admin responsibilities

 Scholarship/Professional Development
 Community Service
 All GFP staff members will be entitled to an annual leave of 45 days as per their individual contracts. When not on leave the GFP staff will be expected to carry out their responsibilities

 The annual teaching load may be distributed over 3 semesters; Fall, Spring and Summer at 20 hours per week.

 In case of public of holidays both the eligible teaching hours and other services are considered a part of the staffs’ normal workload.

 The weekly work load will be in accordance with the Ministry of Manpower labor law; currently the normal working week is 40 hrs. The workdays of the GFP staff starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday, 160 hours per month. Daily teaching hours are between 8-8 pm. However, working hours is flexible in accordance with the institution’s schedule and in this case both parties must mutually agree.

 The annual work load distribution will be planned and administered at the direction of the Director of GFP. Staff may be requested to carry out extra teaching (more and above the annual load); in such cases, an overtime payment will be made. The DVC will formally approve the annual work load and required overtime.

 Time allocation is flexible time and should be mutually agreed upon by the staff member and the Director of GFP

 The GFP staff member shall not engage in other jobs, including part time work or private tutoring during their employment period without the Employer’s consent.

 The GFP staff must attend staff meetings and workshops, which are not held during working hours however this will not be considered as working overtime.
 Classes and teaching will be scheduled in accordance with the needs of the GFP.

Implementation:
TABLE 1 - Annual Workload Distribution1
ESL, IT, or Designated Teaching Staff

Teaching
Hours
Classroom Contact
20 hrs. wk. x 46
920 hours

Admin/Course prep and Documentation
@ 5 hrs. X 46 weeks
230 hours

Invigilation/Proctoring
@3weeks per academic year
120 hours

Consultation/Advising
@5 hrs. week
230 hours

Assessment Creation
@ 3 weeks per academic year
120
Teaching Total
1620 hours
(89% of total workload)

Scholarship/Professional Development
110 hours
(5.9% of total workload)

Community Service
110 hours
(5.9% of total workload)

Total Annual Workload
1840 hours

1 365 Days year-45 Days’ Vacation=320 /7days per week= 46 weeks x 40 hrs. per week=1840 working hours per year

The total number of working hours during an academic year is 1,840 hours at 40 hours per week and is distributed over 3 semesters; Fall, Spring, and Summer: 1) A normal weekly teaching load is 20 contact hours. 2) The annual teaching load will be planned and administered by the Director of GFP. 3) Any additional hours taught over the annual hours will be paid at the end of the year as overtime. 3) Overtime will be subject to the recommendation of the Director of GFP

[CVN-76]

Hopefully teachers will be smart for a change and thoroughly research the work conditions, the teacher turnover rate, and what the students are like BEFORE going to work for this employer. But I'm not betting on it. All we can do is tell them, and tell them, and tell them, and tell them, and....

[madrileno]

[veiledsentiments]

[MuscatGary]

[veiledsentiments]

I hoped that it wasn't picking up litter along the highways.

That sounds like a good thing, but IMHO, that should be under the heading of overtime possibilities for teachers, not an unpaid obligation on top of teaching one's 20 hours.

VS

[MuscatGary]

[mAnSoUri_MaDnEsS]

The community service hours are in addition to the established teaching hour minimum. The bigger fear is that any native speaking teachers that are left will be forced to do most of the community service because the management will not want to send the English teachers that cannot speak English out into the community.

[MuscatGary]

[balqis]

''refuse to do it'' doesn't exist in Khaleeje; unknown concept; they knife your for it; costs you a job instantly or at the nearest term end;exceptions are unknown; case closed;

[MuscatGary]

[balqis]

Not so simple, coz if you have a few broken contracts on your account, revelaed plainly in your cvitae, then they start sniffing around and asking questions. And jobs become hard to get.

I agree the employers deserve it. And there is an essential nobility in contract-breaking in the Middle East, and on the other hand the converse indicates sycophancy of a high degree.

Truly, compos mentis, a decent career in the Middle East is impossible, unless you know the key, which I haven't cognized so far.
One person told me: the key is antidepressants or tranquilizers, i.e. to start a day with a small pill and then pull on in half-oblivion as to what is going on around you. I think the essence of that piece f advice was: not to think.

[MuscatGary]

[CVN-76]