Job Discussion Forums

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

What's the schoolyear calendar? When does each semester begin, and when do they usually hire for uni jobs?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It is the usual school year that most of us are used to back home. New teachers normally arrive in August with classes starting in Sept. (variations are caused by Ramadhan the last few years) There is normally an appr two month holiday in the summer - and you may or may not be required to teach summer school.

Hiring is started early in the year, peaking in March at the time of the TESOLArabia conference in Dubai and TESOL in the US.

If you are looking for a university position, are you aware that a related MA + 2-3 of related experience is required by nearly all of them?

VS

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Not for TEFL... pretty much only at professorial level.

There are some employers who might be convinced to spring for the costs to attend something like TESOLArabia, but little chance of them sending you off to TESOL in the US or IATEFL in the UK. In fact, one would be hard pressed to even get time off to do it on your own dime.

VS

hamergirl · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 32

There is also a three week winter break from mid December to after the new year.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

The length of that break depends on the employer at tertiary level. It can be 1 or 2 or even 3 weeks. Much depends on the timing of the Eids and such. Not to mention that I have heard of employers who don't include the teachers in the break... just the students. Crying or Very sad

BTW... It also could be in December... or in January... one warning is that it doesn't necessarily or even normally include Christmas if you plan to go home for the holidays. In my 15+ years in the Gulf, I don't recall ever having Christmas included in a break - if that matters to anyone. Again timings depend on where Ramadhan and the Eids fall which are currently affecting the first semester timings.

VS

hamergirl · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 32

The break is built into the ADEC calendar which all educational institutions are supposed to adhere to. All schools and universities in the Abu Dhabi Emirate should be closed for this holiday. The timins is hardly coincidental and doesn't seem like it will change. Of course, that doesn't mean it can't.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I hear a rumor (here actually) that the universities were going to FINALLY have the same holiday schedule as the schools. In the past, they never did. This was terribly inconvenient for teachers with kids. I don't know if they are now doing so or not... and if so, whether they will continue to do so. Laughing

(for anyone reading for general information, these differences happen in all the countries of the Gulf)

All is subject to change in the Gulf as you know... often as of tomorrow.

VS

Tom Le Seelleur · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 242

All public universities have the same or similar holidays breaks as all public schools which mean that there is now a winter break (including xmas+ new year) Spring break (Easter) and your summer break which may be longer or shorter depending on the university. You have to check the university you are applying to. Khalifa University has had to change to be in line with the requirements of ADEC. Therefore our winter(xmas) break begins on 21st December and we are expected back on January 6. Our Spring Break is from 5th April unitl 13th April. We tend to give fewer weeks than ohter public universities and colleges like ZU, HCT, UAEU. For the foreseeable future this will continue from now on every year.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

So, the private colleges and universities (and private K-12) have also come into line with the ADEC rules? That must make things so much easier for teaching families.

VS

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

Yes, of course, now with Emiratisation, there are a few Emirati families who have students studying abroad and parents who are working in the schools. Therefore, we will see vacation time following a more universally cohesive schedule. After all, one would want to have those families get together for those ski holidays after spending all that money on learning how to maneuver on the bunny slopes at Ski Dubai. Lebanon not possible this year? They can do Turkey or Aspen, Colorado.