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Latest QU Uppers 'n Downers
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thursday12



Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Posts: 93

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:22 pm    Post subject: Latest QU Uppers 'n Downers Reply with quote

Uppers:

- recruitment big success
- lotta 'o newbies comin (bout 25)
- official teachin time � 18 hrs/wk
- lotta 'o part-time/overtime wk if ya got da release time or mornin shift
- lotta lucky people wid release time ('bout 35% 'o teachers!)
-'bout 35% teachin 14 hrs or less
- some people teachin 8 or 6 hrs
- traffic from Al Zuhoor gettin better
- huge new offices fer some lucky stiffs
- new classrooms fer some lucky stiffs
- gettin rid 'o Northstar (finally- shud be out next year)
- curriculum improving
- thinking 'about new placement test
- some people gettin' extra moolah
- some people wid release time sayin they got a cushy deal
- assistant head real fair & impartial




Downers:

- coupla runners & quitters
- 'bout 10-12 teachers quittin
- compulsory resignations fer some teachers
- most part-time work only fer morin shift people who r free in afternoons
- BIG release time disparity & inequity = BIG grievance
- shud be fair wid release time � real downer dis one!!
- 65% full load & too much ta do
- lotta people workin their butts off 5 days/wk while some teachin only 2-3 days/week
- favo 35% got too little ta do coz got too much release time
- most release time people ain't usin release time right � using it fer overtime!!!!
- spyin still goin on
- student evaluation system bad
- appraisal system biased
- biased renewal system stinks
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wilberforce



Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 647

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds like par for the course, pal. Most places have disparity and inequality but you're right - when so many teachers have release time to twiddle their thumbs and get paid overtime, it does smack of nepotism and poor management practices. Maybe the teachers should ask for fair distribution of schedules, or then again, may they shouldn't? Somebodyat one of those Zuhoor parties last year told me there's no room for negotiating with your boss. Never met the guy but that's too bad. At least at the Gulag, there's room for negotiating if what you're asking for is reasonable.
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thursday12



Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Posts: 93

PostPosted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

UPPERS

- things improvin in general way
- advertisin' fer some admin& level supervisor positions
-keepin 3 year policy fer management types - real gud news
- more teachers gettin chance fer admin jobs
- some levels need new supervisor 'cause program ain't workin real gud
- real gud release time fer da lucky guys wid admin jobs
- gud bonus fer admin guys - 1,500 extra - nice!!!
- summer school ops
- more overtime ops
- new offices real nice but no facilities
- new classrooms real nice
- curriculum goin da right way but will take time
- lotta newbies on da way

- gettin better

DOWNERS

- way too many PD sessions
- compulsory PD - jest ain't right when ya got overload
- some teachers usin' PD to get kudos
- some teachers struttin out old PD stuff (R we really learnin anythin new???)
- unfair timetable distribution
-not enuff time ta do all da work if ya ain't got release time
- Big Three still in power - no job ads fer those positions
- teacher evaluatin system biased - not realistic & unfair
- lotta pressure & stress - no down time fer people wid no release
- need more transparency



BIG DOWNERS

- parkin problems & roadworks
- parkin real mess all over da campus
- gotta walk in da blazin sun ta yer class
- real long walks
- traffic fines on campus (real downer!!!)


Last edited by thursday12 on Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
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stickleback



Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 76

PostPosted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice to know that they're following CEA recommendations. Maybe this time pre-selected candidates won't be asked to apply for the vacant positions. The head has been there for three years, isn't his job available? I heard all positions were only supposed to last 3 years.

Yes parking is a real problem and it's a hassle to walk to classrooms. But you get used to it. Some people wear hats.
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squirk



Joined: 03 Dec 2009
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:14 pm    Post subject: Re: Latest QU Uppers 'n Downers Reply with quote

thursday12 wrote:




Downers:

- 'bout 10-12 teachers quittin
- compulsory resignations fer some teachers
- too much ta do
- - spyin still goin on
- student evaluation system bad
- appraisal system biased
- biased renewal system stinks


Some of this stuff is still relevant

There are about 14 or 15 people leaving and a few are leaving now.
I haven't heard about 'compulsory resignations' but they say some people were fired. Definitely true about the spying. You even have people monitoring your grades! People complain that the student evaluation can really affect your appraisal, your salary and your contract. Most of the students haven't a clue and can use the appraisal to get back at a teacher they don't like. I don't know about a biased renewal system, but a system that gives you one week to think it over is asinine.
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squirk



Joined: 03 Dec 2009
Posts: 33

PostPosted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:


DOWNERS

- way too many PD sessions
- compulsory PD - jest ain't right when ya got overload
- some teachers usin' PD to get kudos
- some teachers struttin out old PD stuff (R we really learnin anythin new???)
- unfair timetable distribution
-not enuff time ta do all da work if ya ain't got release time
- lotta pressure & stress - no down time fer people wid no release
- need more transparency



BIG DOWNERS

- roadworks
- parkin real mess all over da campus
- gotta walk in da blazin sun ta yer class
- real long walks
- traffic fines on campus (real downer!!!)


Most of this stuff is still relevant too. And they they really do give you traffic fines on campus. The walk to some buildings is bad because there is no shade.
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lollaerd



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 337

PostPosted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This must rate as an 'upper'.

University to get health centre on campus
Qatar University (QU) is to get a primary healthcare centre on its campus. The proposed facility will serve the QU community and residents of the neighbouring areas.QU�s Board of Regents has agreed to allocate land for the centre. A decision in this regard was taken at the board�s second meeting of academic 2009/2010 on Wednesday at the Emiri Diwan.
The meeting was presided over by HH the Heir Apparent and Chair of the Board, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.The launch of a new Master�s in Engineering Management, approval for QU�s strategic plan for the next three years, and restructuring of the Sport Science Programme (SSP) were decided.The board also endorsed the recommendation of QU president Prof Sheikha Abdullah al-Misnad on the renewal of the appointment of Dr Sheikha bint Jabor al-Thani as vice president and chief academic officer for a second four-year term.

In his report on the meeting, board�s secretary general Prof Abdul-Aziz El-Said el-Bayoumi said that the board discussed the agenda items as well as decisions and recommendations that have been implemented so far following its first meeting of the academic year 2009-2010.
The board was informed of the initial consent of the Minister of Public Health and Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Health, HE Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani, to allocate the necessary financial support for the proposed primary healthcare centre in the QU campus.

The board gave its approval for the SSP to become an independent programme reporting to QU vice president and chief academic officer.
The SSP aims to meet community needs for different areas in sport education. It offers a BA in Sport Science comprising three tracks: sports management, training and physical fitness, and physical education.
The SSP comprises practical and theoretical aspects that enable graduates to secure job opportunities in a variety of sport areas needed by physical fitness centres, sports management and educational institutions.Admissions to the new Master�s in Engineering Management, to be run by the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, is expected to commence in the Fall of this year.The board was briefed on the success of QU College of Business & Economics in obtaining academic accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=338541&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56
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lollaerd



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 337

PostPosted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

According to teachers attending TESOLArabia, the head can't get his act together. It seems they are overstaffed and he keeps recruiting. They say it's because he likes to go to conferences at the university's expense. Don't they know what is going on?
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wilberforce



Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 647

PostPosted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I heard they got the CEA goodies. Good for them.
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wilberforce



Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 647

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good for this CEA accreditation business. My friend told me they've just fired a whole bunch of teachers. I wonder if they plan to do the old firin' -hirin' song and dance they did a few years ago. Maybe not as I have heard other grim news.
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wilberforce



Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 647

PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a HUGE DOWNER! Apparently teachers came back last September to hear the great news that they would receive a 60% increase in pay. A few days later they were told it was a mistake!!! Wow - image the elation and the disappointment. I hope nobody spent their money before they got the bad news. Nothing worse than hearing you're going to get money coming in and then get nothing. Sorry, no the worst thing is to get fired. That's bad.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 1:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey Wilbur... long time, no see!! Hope that all is well with you in 'murica.

What is this about some 60% raise? If this happened in September, I would think it would have seeped out by now. But, let's be serious... you've got Gulf experience... if I arrived back and was told that I was getting a 60% raise, I would laugh... yeah right. Anyone who has been around knows that when raises like this are announced in the Gulf, they are NEVER for expats, but for the locals. QU salaries are pretty competitive in the Gulf university pay scales, so why would they suddenly reward us expats with a salary higher than all other Gulf establishments. (except maybe KAUST)

Anyone who believed it was naive and/or an obvious newbie.

VS
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millie18



Joined: 23 Oct 2007
Posts: 185

PostPosted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There was an announcement in September that all Qatari government employees and pensioners would get a 60% raise - all Qatari military personnel would get a 100%+ raise. It has gone through, several quasi and non government bodies have followed suit (the banks for example) in order to stem a gushing loss of warm bodies towards the new higher pay checks.

According to my contact at QU everyone was indeed told that they would get the 60% increase irrespective of nationality. Then management had to eat their words rather quickly a few days later.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This same sort of thing has happened in other Gulf countries... and we TEFLers are never seem to be included. Crying or Very sad In Oman once we "all" got 15%, but it was after many years with no real raises - only increments.

"All" rarely means "all."

VS
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wilberforce



Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 647

PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This must definitely qualify as a downer!!!

Why are they advertising? Very strange. I saw an advert here on the caf recently. They should cancel all recruitment. It's not fair to the teachers who are already there. They must be freaking out with the news. How many are they going to fire?

Quote:
Qatar's Supreme Education Council (SEC) has said that Arabic language is to be the medium of instruction at the Qatar University (QU), the Peninsula has reported. Under the decision, Arabic language shall be the medium of instruction at the Faculty of Law, as well as in the disciplines of international affairs, Media and the Faculty of Business Administration as of the fall 2012 semester.
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