| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
|
 Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 9:28 am Post subject: Re: TTC |
 |
|
| desertfox wrote: |
Balzac - It seems to be the case that with the departure of Giz, the proposed "Germanic" change of name was effectively still born. Moreover, the college's website still bears the name TTC.
As far as the former middle management and HOD's are concerned, one can only imagine what they are now doing. Probably wandering the earth like lost souls. |
desertfox,
I recently heard through email that the TTC GM and HoD of IT Services both got fixed up with new gigs in Turkey so they both got to walk away with a nice job and the opportunity of a fresh start. Funny that how the Masters of Chaos are always taken care of but the grunts, the foot soldiers, the boots on the ground have to scrabble around looking for casual, low paid work.
I wonder what the new outfit will do with the name of the place? Will they follow the Teutonic lead and try to sell the place on nationalistic grounds? German University College might be changed to British University College? Or maybe more adventurous? Oxford University College? London University College? Buckingham University College? He he!
B |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
desertfox
Joined: 14 Jun 2015
Posts: 120
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 11:51 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well done to Balzac for finding such interesting research.
Looking at the articles makes sad reading. It seems to be the case that the contracts themselves are too restrictive, as Balzac said.
It seems to have got to the point now where the Western Colleges are subsidizing the Saudi technical and vocational education system. The imbalance is striking. Either the contracts need to be re-negotiated, or the providers should restrain their own greed.
Given Lincoln College's record of failure thus far in Saudi, it is surprising, to say the least, that they tendered for the TTC contract. They must know they are going into another unfavorable situation. I note from one of the articles that the management of Lincoln blamed the lack of "due diligence" as the reason for the previous failures. One hopes that they have done a better job of it this time around.
The articles also show how precarious CoE colleges are for the teachers that are employed to work in them. They can be messed about, even abandoned by providers who may well be seeking a quick, fat profit within the first few years, rather than being more interested in the long haul.
The situation at TTC is worth watching closely because it is a microcosm of what is happening nationwide. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lord T
Joined: 07 Jul 2015
Posts: 285
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 3:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| desertfox wrote: |
The articles also show how precarious CoE colleges are for the teachers that are employed to work in them. They can be messed about, even abandoned by providers who may well be seeking a quick, fat profit within the first few years, rather than being more interested in the long haul.
The situation at TTC is worth watching closely because it is a microcosm of what is happening nationwide. |
'Precarious' is the word, and the events at TTC have always been worth watching for anyone who studies how middle-aged men react to pressure. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 4:25 am Post subject: Re: TTC |
|
|
| desertfox wrote: |
| Well done to Balzac for finding such interesting research. |
Aw shucks! Thanks!
| desertfox wrote: |
| Given Lincoln College's record of failure thus far in Saudi, it is surprising, to say the least, that they tendered for the TTC contract. They must know they are going into another unfavorable situation. I note from one of the articles that the management of Lincoln blamed the lack of "due diligence" as the reason for the previous failures. One hopes that they have done a better job of it this time around. |
Yes this is quite revealing. With such a poor track record of providing quality education in the Kingdom, you have to ask that very pertinent question as to why they have jumped on the bandwagon to do it all over again? Or were they like lenders of last resort e.g. EGA/Interlink had second thoughts and pulled out and Lincoln College, as a bidder, was the last man standing? I know where my money would be put in this scenario.
| desertfox wrote: |
| The situation at TTC is worth watching closely because it is a microcosm of what is happening nationwide. |
Yes indeed. At one point there were 37 Colleges of Excellence but I think that number has whittled down quite considerably through various factors already mentioned.
You have to feel for the boots on the ground - those genuine hardworking EFL chalkies who turn up whatever the situation and get stuck in. They are always the ones to get the brown liquid poured on them when things go awry. I hope this time the get a better shake and a fairer roll of the dice.
B |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
desertfox
Joined: 14 Jun 2015
Posts: 120
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 8:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
Balzac - The minutia of the contracts between the CoE and the provider(s) would be interesting and useful to see.
The other aspect is the informal one - where activity occurs out of public view or accountability.
These two variables should shed light as to why Lincoln stepped in where others feared to tread. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:08 am Post subject: Re: TTC |
|
|
| desertfox wrote: |
Balzac - The minutia of the contracts between the CoE and the provider(s) would be interesting and useful to see.
The other aspect is the informal one - where activity occurs out of public view or accountability.
These two variables should shed light as to why Lincoln stepped in where others feared to tread. |
Yeah it's certainly curious to wonder why they did step in when they've had their toes scalded in the Saudi water already. My guess is EGA/Interlink had their generous offer rescinded by TVTC or CoE and pulled out over the summer leaving no takers given such restrictive contracts.
Desperate to get a new provider, TVTC or CoE may have offered it to Lincoln at the 11th hour on slightly better terms and, given Lincoln may want to recover some lost revenue over this tax year, they may have accepted. If so, expect the college to be run like a Cash Cow from now until their 1-year contract expires next year as they squeeze every last drop from the finances available.
Such scenarios never work out for those on the lowest rung of the ladder though: the students, the teachers, the college support staff etc., and that's the worst part of such an arrangement.
B |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Lincoln College ? I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would have made of KSA ! Come on, Honest Abe, send us a sign from the Lincoln Monument in DC ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lord T
Joined: 07 Jul 2015
Posts: 285
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 1:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| scot47 wrote: |
| Lincoln College ? I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would have made of KSA ! Come on, Honest Abe, send us a sign from the Lincoln Monument in DC ! |
Unfortunately it's the original Lincoln in the east of England, which may mean that the British taxpayer will be footing the bill for the madness that is about to unfold. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 2:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Good grief ! Should I inform Her Majesty ? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lord T
Joined: 07 Jul 2015
Posts: 285
|
| Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 7:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| scot47 wrote: |
| Good grief ! Should I inform Her Majesty ? |
Yes, scot47, you could raise the matter politely, the next time you're invited round for tea and cucumber sandwiches.
Tell Her that dreadful chap Lord T says the only way Lincoln College International will make a profit at TTC is by employing King Midas as General Manager. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: TTC |
|
|
| Lord T wrote: |
| scot47 wrote: |
| Good grief ! Should I inform Her Majesty ? |
Yes, scot47, you could raise the matter politely, the next time you're invited round for tea and cucumber sandwiches.
Tell Her that dreadful chap Lord T says the only way Lincoln College International will make a profit at TTC is by employing King Midas as General Manager. |
One wonders after reading below whether Lincoln College is actually up to the job at all. This is a comment from another thread on Daves, "Lincoln College in Al Qatif" http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=111489
| EnglishLanguageOne wrote: |
| "Apparently I understand that the management [of Lincoln College in Qatif] lack two things, one knowledge of Saudi Arabia and two knowledge of EFL teaching. Generally speaking the British management are dispised [sic] by the largely British staff. The package offered is good, but not a great atmosphere to work in. Lincoln have lost a lot of money due to very poor management in their Saudi C of E colleges." |
Ouch! And yet they have thrown their hat into the ring again, this time in Riyadh? Must be either gluttons for punishment or out to milk their last foray into the world of Saudi education. I know which one I'd go for.
B |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
desertfox
Joined: 14 Jun 2015
Posts: 120
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
EnglishLanguageOne wrote "the package offered (by Lincoln) is good."
I wonder what this "good package" consists of? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
EnglishLanguageOne
Joined: 02 Feb 2016
Posts: 28
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 11:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Lord T wrote: |
Thanks for the links to the articles Balzac, the most recent of which is dated August 10th.
It's clear that there are problems that both the British providers and the Saudis would rather not talk about.
New teachers should take note and resist the temptation to take out loans on the strength of their anticipated earnings. |
Having worked for Lincoln I can tell you that they had a dreadful management structure. All the management had zero efl experience and zero Saudi experience.
If they think green management will work in Saudi they are wrong. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Balzac
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Posts: 266
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: TTC |
|
|
| desertfox wrote: |
EnglishLanguageOne wrote "the package offered (by Lincoln) is good."
I wonder what this "good package" consists of? |
I made inquiries and this is straight from the horse's mouth:
"The salary and benefits are good 16,667 sar plus 4500 sar bonus for moving plus 4,500 in flights per year. 30 days holiday. I understand the management at this female college is still very poor."
B |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
desertfox
Joined: 14 Jun 2015
Posts: 120
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 11:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
Balzac - Yes, not bad, not bad at all.
I wonder if the teflers at TTC will get similar offers...
I guess we will find out shortly enough. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
