Job Discussion Forums

Iesa · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

Has anyone taught here? If so, what can you tell me about it.

Linguist · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 202

What specifically do you need to know about PSU? I know some people who work there.

Though I haven't heard much about this place on this forum, it does not mean that it's a place to go either.

Iesa · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Posts: 10

Yes, can you place me into email contact with those teachers. I would like to find out about working conditions, amiability of faculty, etc.

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

PSU is a new university in a country where higher education is in its infancy and the entire education system is under constant renovation. I know PSU faculty and found most of the ESL staff to be unhappy and underpaid. You are left to fend for yourself when it comes to supplementary materials and teaching style, then reprimanded for not doing things "correctly," which amounts to "their way." The problem is most of the coordinators are under educated and incompetent, but they are given managerial duties such as evaluating teachers. They hold a BA and CELTA at best, and don't contribute anything beneficial to the teachers - be it materials or feedback. They are less concerned with education and more concerned with power games and aggressive domination of the staff into submissive compliance of their will. The staff is kept busy with duties that coordinators should do like editing and collating exams, making copies, and other general office work associated with such an administrative job. At PSU, the MA holders are at the bottom of the scale and the under educated coordinators are at the top, only teaching a few hours a week. Promotion is based on nepotism and cronyism, rather than merit, and this has obviously created even more discontent with the 20 teaching hours a week workload and additional duties and tasks including hunting down your paper for photocopies - if the ONE copy machine for the entire women's college is free by some odd stroke of luck. It's the kind of place that makes you wonder why you thought you could deal with a 3rd world country's education system anyway. The men's section is better I have heard.

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

QS

Standard fare for Saudi, really.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Sounds like most institutions I have taught in.

Bebsi · Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Posts: 958

Linguist · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 202

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

Serious · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 5

QoS,

A couple of friends want to apply there, the women�s college, and are looking for some information. Should I warn them or give them the green light? Here are some questions that they would like answered:

How are the students? Spoiled?
What�s the salary/package like? Good tuition fees for kids?
Are the DQ flats in good condition? Telephone & Internet available?
What's the administration like?
How's the chair of dept and coordinators?
Colleagues? Helpful?

I have heard from others that they have a high turnover, with this year having almost 9 teachers leaving. Is it true? What are the reasons behind this huge migration?

Anyone else who know the place well, please comment...

Queen of Sheba · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 397

I am not sure of the exact turnover this year, but I wouldn't call that number an exaggeration, it maybe even higher than that. Here is an honest breakdown of what they may expect based on what colleagues still working there have told me.

Students are spoiled, but oftentimes pleasant people.
Salary is acceptable, tuition is offered for kids, medical is adequate.
DQ flats are decent, large.
Administration is pleasant, but standard Saudi hands off management.
Chair is distant, defensive, may need medication and therapy. Coordinators are various combinations of: self-serving, mentally ill, dishonest, underqualified, intolerant, egotistical.
Colleagues are combinations of: disappointed, pleasant, helpful, supportive, arrogant, self-serving, submissive, busy.

Seriously Serious, most people go there because they are desparate or they don't know any better. Your friends have to decide if this is the place for them or not, and it may depend on their circumstances. My observations over the years has been that the sane ones seem to leave or are awaiting the next opportunity to do so. I hope the best for your friends in any case.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

It seems to me to be absurd to ask how colleagues are if so many are leaving. Your new colleagues will be an unknown quantity which is reason enough to be wary.

Serious · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 5

Not absurd at all. Have a look at their website http://www.psu.edu.sa/pscw/eng-dept.html .
There are around 25 faculty members.

There are places where colleagues ruin your life. But it seems that at P.S.U.C.W., the Chair and Coordinators are the ones doing this nasty job.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

If 9 out of 25 are leaving you stand a great chance of not knowing what you are getting yourself into.

Colleagues ruining your life-is there anywhere where that does not happen in TEFL and in this part of creation?

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

From what I have found... a high turnover is NEVER a good sign. This is 36+%... red flag. From what I hear about this place from friends, it would probably not be anyone's first choice. On the other hand, if you are a woman who wants or needs a job teaching in Riyadh, it is probably tolerable for a contract or two if you can go with the flow.

VS