Job Discussion Forums

peripatetic_soul · Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 303

Hello again,
A colleague of mine (Romanian with U.S. passport) who possesses M.A. in Applied Linguistics and Ph.D. in English Lit & Creative Writing has an interview with British University of Dubai. She also has taught academic ESL reading and writing courses at university level in the U.S. for several years and currently is teaching English lit in KSA where she will terminate her contract in January. I've never heard of this institution, have you? I warned her, however, to never ever pay up front for visa, flight, etc. fees.

Any inside info will be appreciated.

Regards,
PS

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

The British University in Dubai opened in 2004 and is one of a whole bunch that have sprung up on the Dubai International Academic City.

It is supposedly a university for research-based postgraduate degrees in Business, Industry and Education and subjects needed in the Middle East context.

It was originally a collaboration between the UAE and UK universities of Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Reading and King's College, London but as far as I know still only accredited by the UAE.

I travelled there in July 2008 when my university signed an agreement to oversee the MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, which was going to be taught primarily at weekends to cater for working people. At that time, the fees for the MSc were a whacking AED 60,000 and fees for the EdD and PhD varied between AED 165,000 and 250,000.

My university later pulled out of this collaboration due to lack of student numbers. Why would students pay so much when for the same price they can come to the UK for the real experience.....

I have no further idea about salaries or conditions for staff, I'm afraid.

peripatetic_soul · Joined: 20 Oct 2013 Posts: 303

Hello,
I googled the website and read the vacancy for TESOL which requires "scholarly" credentials. No other info is provided on benefits, campus, etc.
I suspect a sterling candidate should hold a UK passport to be eligible. That eliminates Americans or US passport holders who are not native speakers of English--not intended as a judgmental comment but an observation. How many Ph.D. holders have published prolifically, been successful in fund raising and supervised MA or Ph.D. candidates? Highly specialized, n'est-ce pas?

Thanks again.
PS

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Dear P-Soul,

I don't think the applicant would necessarily need a UK passport. I would be extremely surprised in fact if they could find a UK passport holder, with a PhD and a wealth of publications and experience supervising MA or PhD students, who would be prepared to give up a tenured position at a UK university to head off to Dubai.

In fact this has been the problem in many UK 'satellite' campuses overseas - they just cannot get, or retain the staff for any length of time. As a result, they fly experienced staff out for 3 months stretches as ' consultants' or 'advisors' rather than permanent staff.

I think your friend would be in a very strong position as an applicant.

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

The catch is that her experience doesn't appear to be a very good fit. I suspect that she has been teaching (literature and first year writing), not doing research nor supervising MAs and/or PhDs. Add to that a US passport and not a native speaker?

If she can wait, there are positions around the Gulf for her experience.

VS