Job Discussion Forums

[veiledsentiments]

[squareandfair]

I have worked in two universities in the USA (California and Oregon); I have worked at a university in Sharjah and now am working at an affiliate university at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Ed City in Qatar. At none of these universities have I been required to have more than 15 contact hours. Here at Ed City as a lecturer I have 10 or 12 contact hours. The rest of the time is for preparation, marking, review, assessments, etc. I have never heard of a university that makes lecturers sign a contract that requires them to have 35 on campus contact hours. It is insane and demeaning. It is an insult to teachers to treat them as 3rd class academics. [b]If an instructor is hired as an instructor then this should be respected. An instructor is not a teaching assistant. [/b]Name one university in the world when instructors have a contract for 35 teaching hours.

Even language institutes and schools usually only require 22 -24 contact hours unless you're working in China and even that I doubt. I worked briefly at an institute in Sharjah where I had 22 contact hours. Anything more was paid overtime. I also worked for a few years at ADWC where I had between 16-20 contact hours. And we did not have to sit there for 7 hours until the Claw turned up. T I quit - like dozens of others - because of this madperson and monstrous blob. Prior to that we had a very flexible time-management policy. Time onsite varies from college to college - some are more stringent than others. However, your description of the office is partially accurate - some HCT offices did not have the kind of raucus you are describing but I've been to colleges that did.

My friend, who is a Teaching Assistant at QU told me she has to clock in 35 hours. Although she has an MA she says she is classified l like technician or a secretary. It appears that the new Foundation Management wants to punish the QU Foundation English teachers by forcing them to accept the same demeaning contract conditions. It shows a complete lack of respect for the profession of ESL instructor, for educated and experienced staff. It is no surprise that so many teachers have quit - even forfeiting their gratuity because of late resignations - with such drastic policy changes. It is very clear that the Foundation English teachers are take the blame for linguistic issues not of their making. A university which treats its lecturers like 3rd rate employees is never going to be a first class institution. All around the city you see posters promote the professionalism of the university - evidently the real situation with regard to the English teachers is very different. QU should look at how instructors are treated at the Ed City Universities. We are accorded respect, excellent wages, decent accomodation and a workable teaching timetable. The QU teachers seem to have no voice and no options. My question is - will every QU lecturer be obliged to sign the same contract requiring them to be onsite and teach for 35 hours a week? If not, then it is clear that the English teachers are being targeted. Total disrespect. Absolutely outrageous. Nobody at Ed City would ever condone such a ridiculous and debasing contract.

[veiledsentiments]

Other than you (in each of your various names), you are the only source on the current rumor. Being on site for 35 hours is not uncommon. It was, in fact, exactly what was required at ADW/HCT in the UAE even twenty years ago. I would consider it the norm in national universities in the Gulf. In fact, many require 40 or more. I also know of universities that require clocking in and out around the Gulf.

As to the number of contact hours, we don't have anything yet from a more reputable source than you - whichever name you are posting under today.

VS

[squareandfair]

QU teachers have been offered a 35 hour contract. A friend emailed me this contract tidbit. Your comments are not on, either. Ed City universities offer a better deal, all teachers in Qatar know this.

[veiledsentiments]