Job Discussion Forums

ETA · Joined: 14 Jun 2010 Posts: 60

We all know there are opportunities to teach at private companies, academies, and some public school programs in Europe. But how about opportunities teaching university in Europe? Has anyone done it before? Advice on how/where to look?

Thank you

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I've spent the past 15 years nearly at two European universities, and we have connections with other institutions across the continent. I am speaking of 'real' universities, not private ones; I know little about those except that they are bound by the same EU hiring rules as any other school.

For the 'real' universities you usually need related MA and experience. Even then, there is lots of competition for relatively few job openings. The jobs are usually held by long-timers in a region, who have families and long-term ties (and local connections and language skills), so there's not a lot of turn-over.

Basically, the best way in is to pick a city (where you can work legally; if you're not from an EU member country, you're limited to Central/Eastern Europe or Germany), come over and pay some dues. You MIGHT find something from abroad, but it's pretty unlikely.

gregory999 · Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Posts: 372 Location: 999

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Not for profit. Where you can't buy a degree.

gregory999 · Joined: 29 Jul 2015 Posts: 372 Location: 999

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I'm not at all sure that 'most' is accurate - I think it's very region-dependent.

But the alternative explanation for 'real' in my context would be public/state. They require solid qualifications for faculty (I am faculty), have fairly high academic standards for student admissions, and students can (and unfortunately do) fail and leave the institution without degrees if their work warrants it.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I taught at the University of Shumen in Bulgaria in the 1990s. There was at that time a large expansion in the production of English teachers and others with English related skills. That boom is over now. Bulgaria is self-sufficient in English teachers.

Salary was very low when I was there, although the university made every effort to pay me a salary I could live on.

markcmc · Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Posts: 262 Location: Taiwan