Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Better or worse than it was ? As a former inmate I will refrain from making comments.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

No one wants to put his head above the parapet ?

burgess29 · Joined: 25 Nov 2011 Posts: 26 Location: Saudi Arabia

Hi scot,

I was wondering the same thing. And I'm thinking of working at a university in Saudi now that my MA is almost complete and KFUPM sprang to mind.

I have posted a question on this forum and would welcome any info on the place. I'm told it is a good university. Is a good employer??

burgess29

PeterParvo · Joined: 18 Dec 2011 Posts: 103

I think most folks are still out on summer holiday and aren't reading this forum. I bet once they get back, they'll be ready to comment.

I found KFUPM a nice place to work. It definitely had its pros and cons.

Solar Strength · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 557 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Is Ghost still teaching there?

Haven't seen him on the BBS boards in quite some time.

What I've heard is that KFUPM had low-ish salary, comparably speaking, but longer vacations than other schools.

I'd be curious to hear some recent updates on conditions there also.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Ghost is still about but is more careful in his posts. He was naughty and was reprimanded.

CAPIVARA · Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Posts: 32

"former inmate"- funny!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

How does this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQjOsTmSYJM

compare with reality ?

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

Wouldn't you be as qualified to answer that as anyone else here? You were there for some years?

VS

Solar Strength · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 557 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It had its bright spots. The tax-free pay-cheque was one of them, but there were other positives too. I made some friends there. I miss the SUN - don't see much where I am in the winter !

Ill-health was the reason for retiring at the age of 64. Complications of diabetes got me.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Well, we have to differentiate between "Reality TV" and reality ! The YOUTUBE clip is essentially an ad for KFUPM. I enjoyed my time at KFUPM and its subsidiary, HBCC.

I ws there from 2003 until my retirement in 2011, The job was better than my previous long-term Saudi job - at Saudi Arabian Airines. I was there from 1996 to 2002.

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

Yes, it was obviously a puff piece... and I would hope that anyone who watched it would perhaps... turn off the sound and just get an idea of campus and students. Cool

VS

CAPIVARA · Joined: 23 Jan 2011 Posts: 32

or as some called "bigfoot"? must have an equivalent to continue the sequence. there were a few variants before, in the sucession. Smile

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Capivara's postings will not make much sense to those who have not had recent experience of KFUPM. "Bigfoot" was a nickname for the PYP Director. He has now gone back to teaching and there is a new dispensation.

Many of the problems of recent years were connected with rapid expansion in numbers of students doing PYP. Many of those admitted had only a slim chance of completing studies through the medium of English.

While expansion was taking place there was a focus on finding new materials. This serach has had mixed results. There have also been problems with "consultants" from outside the region, whose experience in teaching could well have been on the Planet Tralfamador.

Despite all the problems, KFUPM is still a reasonable place to work, an d streets better than most of the employers in the KofSA.