Job Discussion Forums

[Spionen]

I'm curious about future opportunities to work at a university in central Asia. I just signed a two-year contract with a university elsewhere, so I'm not asking about current job postings, just wondering if anyone has any insight into the scene there in general.

I have a BA in an unrelated field, a Pass A on the CELTA, three-ish years of experience in language schools in various countries so far, and will by then have an additional two years at the university level. I may also pursue an MA in TESOL or the DELTA.

I'm interested in any of the -stans.

Thanks in advance!

[Dedicated]

Central Asia is a vast area including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and even possibly several former Soviet states on the periphery, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia.....

I think you would be more likely to get useful information if you homed in on a more specific area where somebody might have been/worked.

[Sashadroogie]

Moldova? Asian? Of any description?

[Dedicated]

I did specifically say 'on the periphery' as similar to other ' -stans', Moldova was able to achieve independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

[Sashadroogie]

Central Asia is a vast area icluding XYZ, and even possibly former Soviet states such as Moldova. I dunno. Sounds like Moldova is in Asia...

[Spionen]

[kona]

This is a bit old, but since I've been looking for jobs in the same place, I'd thought I'd share what I've found. As far as I can tell, the only upper-tier university jobs I know about are:

Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan.

American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. (I'm guessing this would be tough to get into, but you never know).

I remember seeing an ad for a Korean university in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and I think I saw that on dave's Korean job board.

I wouldn't be surprised if these positions require an MA TESOL + experience (especially AUCA), but apply anyways, who knows, you might be able to get in. I've heard Kazakhstan has made the visa process even more of a pain, and it's not exactly in a desirable location weather-wise either, so they might be more inclined to compromise on certain qualifications.

If your goal is to learn some Russian, I've heard Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (especially Bishkek) are both good places; however, you might be stepping on some nationalists toes if you don't make an effort to learn one of the respective local, turkic languages.

If you're planning on teaching long term, it definitely pays to up your qualifications.

[nomad soul]