Job Discussion Forums

[abufletcher]

What's the scoop on the University of Nizwa? Is this just one more "me-too" university set up to cash in?

I must admit the very idea of a university in Nizwa has me smiling both from the incongruity of the idea from my now 15 year old experience in Oman and the idea of being that close to all the interesting things in the jebel.

[veiledsentiments]

Hey Abu... did you try a search? There have been a number of discussions of the trials and tribulations of this place's first years.

Think... first year at SQU only reallly disorganized with mostly newbie teachers...

It has been quiet this year, so they must be improving.

VS

[abufletcher]

VS, thanks I just did the search and turned up the largely negative comments about ELS which, I gather, has been contracted to run the foundation program EFL classes.

I guess I'm wondering about the "other end" of the eventual university degrees. I've seen a listing in the Chronicle of Higher Education looking for Ph.D. holders in most fields. This is what caught my attention. I enjoyed my life as an EFL instructor in the Gulf (and elsewhere) -- though like VS I arrived with an MA and never had to experience the "ground floor" jobs.

But the life of a pure and simple EFL teacher is really behind me now as I've been a professor of applied linguistics and culture studies for the past 10 years. Still, if I could teach upper division courses in Nizwa I'd certainly consider the possibility.

[veiledsentiments]

That would be an interesting possibility. By now they should be having students who have made it out of the preparation classes. I wonder who is managing the upper level courses... I would hope that it is NOT ELS.

I hope someone shows up with some details...

VS

[NeilSD]

OK, my registration was approved, I can finally delurk!

As a followup to abufletcher, I've applied for a faculty position at U Nizwa in Statistics (also to Oman Medical College in Sohar). We'll see if either gets any interest.

abufletcher, would you mind expanding at little on your comment
"the very idea of a university in Nizwa has me smiling ... from the incongruity of the idea"?

Nizwa does seem to be somewhat in the hinterlands. It also looks like the natural setting is fairly spectacular (which I think the second part of your comment alluded to).

I know this is specifically an ESL/EFL site, but I've found a lot of useful and relevant information for other academic job seekers. I hope no one minds?

[veiledsentiments]

When Abufletcher and I were in Oman, Nizwa was a common weekend trip to visit the Friday animal souk. It does have a very scenic location, but I must say that as much I enjoyed visiting it, I really wouldn't want to live there. (with the choice of the two, I would take the OMC job for the capital location - JMHO... should be higher level students too...)

We're happy to share info with a fellow educator. But often if you want specific information relating to the situation within your field, we may not know all the answers.

VS

[abufletcher]

[veiledsentiments]

Sorry, I misread... when I saw OMC, I thought it was the branch in Muscat.

That said, is there a 4 lane to Nizwa yet? The road from Sohar is great to Muscat and it is also about the same distance to Dubai if you want a taste of... tasteless consumerism.

VS

[abufletcher]

[TEETOM]

ELS is not to be trusted. It has also lost the contract with the University of Nizwa for next academic year and has gone in to nasty mode.

The students are the absolute worst I have very taught--and don't expect any help\support from administration--it seems to be a cash cow.

[stoth1972]

I wish she logged on more often to post, but let me relay what I do know about the university based on my friends comments.

She's actually been with ELS at the university for the last 2 academic years. Despite ELS and their not-so-great reputation, my friend said she really didn't experience those issues. Up until just a few weeks ago, ELS had the contract with the university. Apparently, the uni has opted to part ways for the upcoming year (I think teachers there are still waiting to find out if they have summer work or not). Initially, ELS told the teachers that none of them would be allowed to leave the company for the uni, and that the uni was not allowed to recruit from the pool of ELS teachers. If the teachers were to remain with ELS, they were all to be relocated (after the school year ended) to other parts of Oman-most likely working in the academy classes. In the end, none of this came to fruition, and the university opted not to follow ELSs mandate of not recruiting. I believe Nizwa is actually continuing to hire for their foundation classes (direct hires) even now. It sounds like those soon-to-be former ELS teachers who have offers from the uni can accept without hassle. Saying that, the uni salary offers are a bit lower than they were expected to be.

The students, based on my friend's description, are generally quite nice (not academically speaking). After having taught a mixed bag of nuts in other Gulf unis, these students are, if nothing else, quite sweet.

Pros of working/living in Nizwa: Small town charm, peaceful, close enough to Muscat and Dubai (but not too close), great chance to gain uni experience in the Gulf

Cons of working/living in Nizwa: Small town gossip (I hear that a lot of the teachers are gossipy and enjoy stirring up crap...a bit on the immature side in some cases), only 1 month holiday in the summer (whatever happened to teachers' summer holidays??)

We shared a pretty crappy teaching experience in the UAE, so her assessment of Nizwa being done in comparison to that hellish 10 months.

[stoth1972]

Friends who were in Nizwa 4 years ago and my friend currently there describe 2 very different towns. The population has grown, and the number of foreigners there has increased significantly. My friend who taught there 4 years ago wore hejab and abaya just to 'fit in' while she did he teaching practice. I do believe there's one town 'watering hotel'. If you like the slow pace of life with access to the fast lane, this sounds like a good match.

[veiledsentiments]

Very strange Stoth... I have been involved in teaching in Oman since the late 80's and I have never heard of teachers being required to wear hijab. You said that it was her choice to 'fit in.' I don't believe that I would have made that move myself - even in Nizwa.

Even back in the 80's though they have always had weekend expat visitors and in the last 10 years - many tourists, so they are aware that non-Muslims do not dress the same as they do... not to mention television. But I would still recommend that women teachers dress very conservatively now, though I feel that there is no necessity for any non-Muslim to wear hijab then or now.

VS

[stoth1972]

It was with some academy that did ESL, computers, and a few other classes. She was set up with a host family during this teaching practice, and she knew no other foreigners in Nizwa. Perhaps the circle she moved in was more conservative.

[veiledsentiments]

Sounds like a rather unusual situation. Isn't this about the time that University of Nizwa started? There probably weren't many expats living there, but they were used to foreigners and our 'odd' ways.

VS