Job Discussion Forums

[Deats]

I understand that most countries in the ME won't accept online MA's.

But where will they accept MA's from? Is South Africa a possibility (in class)?

Thanks for your advice!

[nomad soul]

Stick with universities in major Anglophone countries.

[aliasrachel]

Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a new law in SA that states MA holds are not entitled to bring their families with them to SA. Not just that the employer won't pay costs; the family can not even get a visa to come live there.

[veiledsentiments]

[aliasrachel]

Yes, I mean KSA, and I do work here. While I don't have a link to this new law, my employer is currently recruiting new teachers and they have told potential hires that if they hold an MA only, they will not be allowed to bring their family with them. The family is allowed to visit, but can not stay past a certain period of time. This is what my employer has told us; I don't think they would say so if it weren't true, especially as a few qualified instructors have self-selected out of candidacy because they would have to come here without their families.

[scot47]

I would check this. Is it a new regulation or an excuse by an employer to minimise costs ? Does it apply to females trying to bring in dependants and only to them ?

[spiral78]

Yes, but that may be because your employer doesn't want to jump through the hoops - nothing you've written backs up the notion that it's a new national law.

[nomad soul]

[aliasrachel]

I am a direct hire. No dependents. It may well be that this is untrue, but I can say that we need female teachers and if the uni just doesn't want to jump through hoops, then they are going to lose out on faculty hires. A colleague on the hiring panel says they interviewed a wonderful candidate but she will only come if her family can.

[nomad soul]

There was at least one other female poster in the last 3-5 months who had mentioned this issue. I suspect it applies only to women.

[myohmy]

I would be surprised if there is any such law. In fact, where I work, I have heard that only MA holders can bring dependents. If you have a mere BA, you are out of luck.

[aliasrachel]

I just spoke with one of our management and was told that the uni wanted to hire a male teacher with an MA but when they told him his family won't be able to come along, he declined the job offer. Word around our HR/hiring committee is only Ph.D. holders can bring families. Those MAs who are already here with families are grandfathered in.

[veiledsentiments]

Every employer in KSA has always tended to make their rules as they go along. There have been many employers that only did single status contracts for years. Since employers are always looking for ways to save money, this is an easy choice. I don't see this as a government rule or law.

VS

[aliasrachel]

Update: One of my colleagues (an MA holder) was just told that her husband's iqama won't be renewed because she's on a PhD. Our Dean is trying to grandfather him in, as he had an iqama last year.

[scot47]

I am fairly sure that if this is a new rule from the Jawazat that it applies only to women trying to bring in their husband.