Job Discussion Forums

mateacher · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 180

Which one would you go for supposing you got offers from both these places?

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

Depends on whether you can or want to put up with the restrictions of living in Saudi Arabia. KFUPM is one of the best employers in Saudia and HCT is in more desirable UAE, but quickly becoming an undesirable employer.

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

KFUPM wins !

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

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The UAE is a Temple dedicated to Mammon!

Reputation of HCT has been going down the tubes for a while.

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

Both true, but Mammon is powerful in those that go to Saudia. Pretty much the only teachers that aren't just there for the money are those that are Muslim... and it is just as often the reason that they are there too. Cool

For the younger crowd who like an active open social life and/or clubbing... or those that only like living in a bigger city... or those whose lifestyle requires the daily availablity of alcohol that wasn't made last week in the bathtub... or those whose religious beliefs cause them to want and/or need that weekly trip to the church, the UAE is a better choice even if it means working for HCT. (which is no worse than the iffy employers in the KSA - excluding KFUPM, of course)

VS

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

And there is still the issue of his wife's aversion to complying with the Saudi cultural rules. Laughing

VS

mateacher · Joined: 07 Sep 2013 Posts: 180

I didn't actually say she won't comply, I just said she doesn't want to wear an Abaya, not that she won't. Everyone is making out that she is some kind of diva Kim Kardashian woman!!

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

Not quite... only you can confirm that detail. And I said that she had an "aversion" which merely suggests that she'd rather avoid it. But, you were rather emphatic in a previous thread about the fact that she didn't want to wear an abaya and cover her head... and wanting to live on a compound where she wouldn't have to do so.

If she isn't going to be happy, it does affect your life too... and good for you that you have included it in your research. (though seriously, I don't think that she would find it all that big of a deal when she gets there... many of my friends grew to like it since they didn't have to worry about what they wore when they went out. And head coverings are very handy for bad hair days...)

VS

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

KFUPM. Here are some reasons:

1. 100% (or very near) native speakers of English in the prep-year program.

2. 2,000 students in the prep-year program. At KAU, we have around 10,000.

3. it’s completive. At the other government universities, any Saudi student that applies should get in. At KFUPM, students have to go through an application process. The university looks at grades and the English placement test.

I was speaking with the Vice-Dean of the ELI yesterday about KFUPM and these were his thoughts.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

KFUPM has a selection process for entry. In exams at KFUPM, some students actually FAIL !!!!

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

HCT fails students too. There is normally a significant number of students who fail out in the first year.

There is some pressure to hold onto male students because there is usually fewer of them... and their level is usually lower than the females. These are the males that couldn't get into UAEU.

VS

Fatboy · Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 66

I have worked at KFUPM and I am currently working in the UAE (not HCT). I can say that the stability offered by KFUPM makes it a better choice. Most of the people I work with seem worried about losing their job or not being renewed. HCT seems to be one of the worst organisations for randomly firing their employees.