Job Discussion Forums

[TEETOM]

Does anyone have any information on the new Prince Mohammad University that is supposed to be up and running for fall 2006?

Thanks,
Tom

[scot47]

www.pmu.edu.com

[scot47]

Well that was the address given in a half-page advert in the Arab News for 24th May 2006. Looks like it leads to some ad for online courses !

[kitelophone]

Hi, (this is my first post!)

I just went through the interview process with Texas International Education Consortium for a postion at PMU and was offered a two-year contract there (tho i noticed the latest ad on chronicle.com is offering 1 and 1 1/2 year contracts, hmmmm...).

I turned it down mainly because they weren't offering a multiple-entry visa. I didn't want to be stuck in a new country like the KSA for months and months without an escape valve, part of the reason for being interested was the proximity to Barhain. also, to be honest, i'm a bit worried what bushco will do in the next year in iran...

but the contract looked good, decent pay and whatnot. many variables were still up in the air since the uni is only just opening in september. i have the contract in hand and other info if you want more details...

cheers

[Linguist]

kitelophone,

Did you activate your PM?

[kitelophone]

yes, check your inbox

[scot47]

Fees are 45,000 Saudi Riyals for two semesters. I wonder how the daddy paying his son's fees will react when his beloved son gets a D or an F grade ? Let me guess. He will be on the phone protesting. The grade will be changed.

Imagine teaching in a set-up like that.

[kitelophone]

hi scot,

i can imagine it would not affect or change my teaching at all.

here in korea it's a bit similar tho i can and do fail students. but if the students push enough they can get their way. students can pass without even showing up ever simply because they landed their first post-uni job and i have to pass them. but why should i get my hair in knots over stuff i have no control over? It's their society/culture, not mine so i just let it be and concentrate on enjoying my teaching. I'm sure it would be the same at PMU (tho granted, i've never taught in the middle east).

btw, i notice you often deride BAe, i recently applied and made it past stage one, now waiting to hear more. can you tell me why it's such a bad place to work?

cheers[/i]

[thrifty]

It is such a bad place because he is jealous of the pay and benefits.

Did Scot apply there and not get employed?

Let him deny that he has ever applied to BAE.

[scot47]

BAe are anti-wrinkly. I am a wrinkly.

I am old enough to remember Airwork Services who held the contract before BAe.

I have never been attracted to working with or for the Running Dogs of US Imperialism.

[Cleopatra]

[kitelophone]

maybe you haven't been following it closely cleopatra, but nuclear bunker-busters are being bandied about as possible pre-emptive strike options! sure, the prevailing winds blow easterly (hello allies Pakistan & India! ), but isn't there a dry strong desert northerly/northeasterly wind at some point?

not to mention what might else happen when the entire GCC's local population react to it in the remote chance such a ghastly thing occurs. of course as you said this is a mere possibility, but unless the job offer is just right, i ain't bitin', i can afford to wait, but which doesn't preclude me from taking another better offer.

Also, i believe i said this was another minor factor ("bit worried") in not taking the position. it's still a factor for myself, and many others i've talked to (i.e. general security/political stability) regarding teaching in the middle east, particularly KSA.

It seems on the KSA forum there is a tendency to offhandedly dismiss potentials as too weak or naive or wimpy to handle the mid-east (oh, it must only be for the hardcore...). But I am just taking into account the larger picture, and which I believe it is only prudent to research as many aspects of the country you are planning to go and work in. I have no doubts what I am getting into, have held positions that could be considered 'hardship' posts (try teaching in Vinh, Vietnam, not far from the DMZ, still landmines left, many locals missing limbs, $50 month average income, etc.) and enjoy the challenges of living in strange and interesting places. so your comments do not dissaude me one bit, as I was expecting it from at least one poster (you guys/gals are sooooo predicatable )

but thank you for your comments, and confirmation of my thoughts about the multiple-entry, which i've learned about pretty much thru this forum!

cheers!

[Cleopatra]