Job Discussion Forums

08mansoor · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 22

Hello,
I want to thank all the the contributors to this forum. I read daves esl cafe international forum almost everyday for the last two years. A colleague of mine was hired by the same company and he received his bachelors/masters from the university of phoenix. I was surprised that the university was accepted by the saudi government. Are these online/on site institutions accepted by KSA. Because I would like to pursue a masters program from one of these institutions, while I am working in KSA. Any feedback would be helpful and thanks for all the help.

revilo · Joined: 05 Oct 2013 Posts: 181 Location: Mos Eisley

I am surprised that Saudi Cultural Mission is accepting online degrees. Confused

It's a sign that they are getting desperate.

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

I would suspect that he has a degree from elsewhere in addition to the online quals. He really did a BA and a MA at Phoenix? That sounds suspicious as well..

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

My degree was from SUNY. The degree copy was not signed and I assume not attested when it was returned to me. With this post, I find that to be even more irritating.

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

University of Phoenix is not a well-respected educator in the US, but they are accredited. Yes, it does have both BAs and MAs, so that is no suspicious at all. They also have combination degrees and some classes held in an actual building. Who knows if KSA realizes that it is a mainly online university.

BTW, I looked at their MA that would relate to our field and wasn't impressed.

VS

08mansoor · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 22

I was really skeptical too. I was always under the impression that KSA did not accept any online programs. He received his BA and MA from University of Phoenix. He told me he originally worked as a direct hire for four years. This is my first month in KSA and I was surprised to see an award ceremony for the students at the college. Do all universities/colleges celebrate the English department?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

08mansoor · Joined: 29 Sep 2012 Posts: 22

It turns out he earned his ba at a state school and earned his ma from phoenix. However, he did say they accepted his ma without any issues.

EYEBALL · Joined: 17 Apr 2013 Posts: 34

You can do a HELL of a lot better than UOP! It's almost a joke in the online teaching/learning world. Here is a forum from Online.Degree.Net. A lot of very knowledgable people post there. I recommend you first decide what kind of degree you want. Second, post pretty much what you posted on Dave's and you will more than likely get some good advice. There are MANY places to do degrees, far better and cheaper than UOP.

http://online.degree.net/index.php?s=87fde6f4fd7e290e2c33fe8f1590658b

citadel · Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 4:07 pm Post subject:

The Saudi Embassy will need evidence that every single course on your transcript is an 'offline' or 'online' course.

I did not have to do anything because I graduated before 1996. Anything after 1996, a verification letter is not required. ( I think)

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

i take it that you guys are from the US or graduated from US universities. I got my MA in 2002 in App. Linguistics/TESOL. I do not have a transcript for it (AFAIK UK unis do not provide transcripts... at least they didn't back then). It was a distance learning course from a well-known UK university.

In landing a position contracted to Aramco, I had absolutely no one ask about the method of study although it was obvious from my CV that I had done it while living and working in Japan.

So, I don't think the requirements for distance/face to face qualifications are the same for everyone applying.... which is about par for the course in Saudi.

I do have a DELTA though and was asked much more about that in my interview however. THat may have made the difference.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 2:55 pm Post subject:

Perhaps the only generalization that can be correctly made about the Saudi process of hiring EFL teachers is that no universal generalizations can be correct.
In the Kingdom, all the "rules" are, shall we say, flexible. There are so many variables that can affect every hiring decision (e.g. how desperate the employer is, how much wasta the employer has, how the person responsible for hiring happens to feel that day, etc.) that there have always been (and undoubtedly always will be) "exceptions."
I know that when I was there, if one person turned down a request, I wouldn't take that as final; I'd find someone else to ask. I can't recall a single instance when I was unable to find someone with authority who made it happen.

The moral: if at first you don't succeed, . . . . . Chances are good that persistence (always accompanied by politeness) will eventually pay off.

Regards,
John

currentaffairs · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828

Yes, John is correct, I think. The fact that the MA was online was not a factor because it was a postgraduate degree from a decent university, the BA was probably not done online, and Sicklyman had a well respected qualification like the DELTA. Then, you add in the fact that there was x amount of teaching experience in Japan and most likely elsewhere, and you have a strong candidate.

I have a PGCE so although my MA in not related to teaching that would still be a big plus for any employer. You have to look at the bigger picture.....

Concerning Univ of Phoenix, coming from the UK I would think that most employers/Brits would throw someone's CV in the bin if they saw that name - the reputation of this institute and others like it is very poor from our perspective. You would have to hope that there are no Brits or people who were educated in the UK involved in the hiring process!

I know that in the US these kind of institutes are more readily acceptable.