Job Discussion Forums

boundforsaudi · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 243

Can somebody describe (1) working for SUC, and (2) driving between Sur and Muscat? Thanks.

Neil McBeath · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 277 Location: Saudi Arabia

SUC git a lot of neghative publicity about four or five years ago. Since then, the boards have gone quiet, so that may suggest that things have improved.

Driving from Sur to Muscat, you have a choice of two roads.

The long way is through the Sharquiyyah, going through Al Kamil, Ibra, Wadi Aq and then joining the main Niwa-Muscat highway just west of Bid-Bid.

The shorter route is up the coast through Kalhat, Tiwi and Shab through Fins and Quriat. After that you enter the urban sprawl of Al Amerat, but then you have to negotiate the road works at Wadi Adei.

It really depends exactly which part of Muscat you are going to. If you want to go to Muttrah or Ruwi, then the coast road might be your best bet. For SQU or the International Airport, the longer route would make more sense.

TheSilentKind · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 23

My advice is avoid SUC in Sur. The pay is usually lower than other places and they require more work from their teachers. SUC is owned by a member of one of the richest families in Oman and the sole purpose of the place is to generate money. Class sizes are (in 2009 at least) usually always over 20 and academic standards are low. They were supposed to move to a newer site on the outskirts of Sur but I don't think that has happened yet. One of the recruiters is the same one who recruits for Sur College of Applied Science, Mr. Majali. In fact, he is even on the board at SUC. You might want to check out his rep in other threads.

If you decide to take the job, (SUC may have improved since I was last talking to people from there,) I'd advise to always take the coastal road. It's not that complicated especially if you ask people when you feel a little lost. True, the Wadi Adei is still under construction and sometimes has problems when it rains, but that is very rare. The dual carriageway on the coast is amazing and is now about two thirds complete, meaning you can reach Sur from Muscat (Qurum) in less than 2 hours. (I do it in under 1.5 hours.) From the airport, just add about 30 minutes. The inland road is windy and dangerous, and only single carriageway for most of the southern leg. It has one of the highest accident rates in the country.

Hope this helps.

Need_an_epiphany · Joined: 27 May 2012 Posts: 23

Since this was posted, does anybody have any up-to-date information on SUC? I've left it a little late in the day for applications, and SUC are accepting applications...

Eijse74 · Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Oh, man...

The Steakinator · Joined: 13 Apr 2012 Posts: 71 Location: Oman

This year at SUC, of the 19 Foundation teachers, 12 were fired, weren't renewed, or decided not to renew. Of the remaining 7 teachers, several of them are scoping out other places to work and have expressed that they're 50/50 on staying.

The Steakinator · Joined: 13 Apr 2012 Posts: 71 Location: Oman

I posted about my experience at SUC in the 2011-2012 year under the title "My Experience at Sur University College (SUC)"

If you want to know more about the place, that's pretty much everything you need to know to justify avoiding it.