Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Hello,

Interested to know if the faculty positions at Wenzhou Kean University in Wenzhou are for U.S. citizens only? I looked at some information online about the university and saw that candidates have to establish residency in New Jersey to apply for the positions, or that is what I came to understand.

Does anyone know if this policy is strictly enforced? Wenzhou Kean is a private university in Wenzhou, between Shanghai and Hong Kong, and affiliated to the mother campus in New Jersey. It is relatively new, having established the campus in China in 2011.

Thanks for any information you may have.

Ghost in China

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

I looked at the university's website. I see nothing about state residency being a requirement. It would probably help to live withing a drive of one of their campuses. Undoubtedly, it'll do the hiring stateside.

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

Shakey · Joined: 29 Aug 2014 Posts: 199

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

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

He must be referring to me. I'm famous for my flaming and hostility and general hostility toward others (in addition to my authoritarian put-downs).

Boo!

bagua8 · Joined: 22 Mar 2012 Posts: 57

I have an interview coming up for WK, so would like to know about conditions etc., and what the city is like. I'm an Australian in Australia, so clearly they aren't just recruiting Americans.

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Wenzhou Kean University is located about 1 hour or more from downtown Wenzhou city, but about 30 - 40 minutes from the Chashan area of Wenzhou, where there are many other local universities, including Wenzhou University and Wenzhou Medical University.

Salaries are high at WKU on a par with many salaries in the Middle East. They have a nice bunch of teachers there, mostly from the U.S.

As said, the location of the university is quite a bit out of town, and most teachers commute by free school bus to and from their apartments in downtown Wenzhou. Some teachers live in the university belt - Chashan area, which is quite a bit closer, and is a nice area to live with many decent restaurants, and shops.

I have a friend working at WKU and he has no complaints, so I think it is a good place to work in China.

Because the salaries are very healthy, by standards in China, I assume that performance in class would be monitored and evaluations also, and this was confirmed to me by one of the directors there. As they say - 'there is no free lunch' But if you go there and work there for a two year contract, or more, it would be possible to save quite a bit of cash.

Wenzhou is located about 3 hours by fast train to Shanghai. The pollution levels are 'moderate' in China, so outdoor activities are possible. The climate is decent but rainfall is quite high in summer, because of a micro climate system brought on by the topography in the area (hilly and mountainous).

Ghost in China

bagua8 · Joined: 22 Mar 2012 Posts: 57

Thanks for the information Ghost. Sounds like a decent gig. I've worked for one of the sino-western collaborations before, so perhaps have a pretty good idea of what the work would be like.

bagua8 · Joined: 22 Mar 2012 Posts: 57

I'm presently working at WKU. If anyone would like any information about conditions etc., PM me.

B8

teacherwhy16? · Joined: 09 Mar 2014 Posts: 16

Like B8, I currently work at WKU. Right now, I don't feel like going into a lot of things, so I'll just say I intended to move here and stay for 3-5 years (if possible, of course), but I don't like it. I will be leaving at the end of the academic year.

nimadecaomei · Joined: 22 Sep 2016 Posts: 605

I don't think anyone here has a personal stake in you staying or leaving, but it might be useful to give some reasons why.

cbert · Joined: 14 Jan 2017 Posts: 6

WKU is not technically a partnership - there is no Chinese university partner; it is a Wenzhou campus of Kean University. It is a partnership, I suppose, between the local government and Kean University in New Jersey, but it is unique in that aspect - the only foreign campus in China.

Most instructors are American (US citizens) because of this - HR is in New Jersey, and all teaching staff are employees of Kean, a US entity. US citizenship is not required to teach there, but you must be legally eligible to work in the US, so I suspect most all instructors will be US citizens.

I was looking forward to accepting a position there, but we made a family decision to go to Saipan instead, mostly for quality of life and educational access for the kids.

A former colleague now works there and likes it. I have heard some people are not satisfied with the dedication to academic standards, but aside from that issue, I've only heard good things about living and working there. The compensation is the highest I have heard of for a lecturer position in China - it was hard to leave all that on the table, but we are happy with our decision.

bagua8 · Joined: 22 Mar 2012 Posts: 57

No, you don't need to be legally entitled to work in the US to work for WKU.

cbert · Joined: 14 Jan 2017 Posts: 6

Maybe something changed or it varies by department, but at the time I interviewed, I was told legal work status in the US was a requirement. They asked about it during my interview.