Job Discussion Forums

[Gordon]

I am sure this has been answered somewhere, so sorry in advance. What would be the best university to work in in Oman. From my readings here, Oman sounds like the best place to live in the Gulf for a family. SQU has propped up and I haven't seen anything else that sounds very appealing. I am not out to make a lot of money (OK, I am but I am rational), but something fairly livable.
I have 3 children, a dependent wife, a masters in applied linguistics and lots of teaching experience, especially in universities. My teaching experience in the Gulf is nil.

Thanks everyone

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Gordon,

Back to thinking of the Gulf again eh? I agree that Oman is probably the best choice for a family, though one thing to consider is the cost of school fees which likely won't cover 3 kids. Even the most generous of places in the Gulf will barely cover 2. You might want to do a search on that as it has been discussed.

To be honest, about the only place that I would recommend for you would be SQU. Lots of couples with kids... decent facilities... dependable employer. Not nirvana, but no major surprises either. People with school age kids need that kind of situation. Their housing is usually pretty good.

There are some other places that are OK for singles, but either are not near schools or don't provide school fees.

VS

[Gordon]

Thanks VS,
I don't need to worry too much about school for some time. My oldest is almost 5 and the youngest is still in the womb. I have 5 years before they are all in school.

This is still a great time to make a move elsewhere. It will be 5 years in Japan and I know it is time to move on. "Mene Mene Tekel Parsin" the writing is on the wall.

[eyda]

Methinks you're Canadian...in that case, try the College of the North Atlantic - Qatar campus.

My friends are lovin' it, and everyone with a Canadian passport is jumping off the HCT ship and heading to Doha.

A sweet, sweet deal, right now, but who knows for how long?

[Gordon]

[nomadykaty]

I heard the same thing, that roughly 18 teachers started the semester without any classes. The ones that still haven't picked up any classes are working on curriculum develoment.

Things may pick up next semester or next year (inshallah). But this sweet deal may be over for those who waited to see if the contract was real. Anyway, from what I've heard Qatar/Doha isn't that nice, any negative statements that you've heard are probably true.

Oman might be a better place for your family.

[veiledsentiments]

Some people like Qatar, but from what I know from friends there, I wouldn't like it... especially in contrast to all that Oman has to offer.

Another option could be UAEU in Al Ain. It is a nice quiet town, but close to Dubai and Oman to add a bit of variety to one's life. I think it would be a child friendly place too. And like SQU, it is more low pressure than places like HCT or ZU (which you likely could qualify for... perhaps later when you need those school fees. )

VS

[Gordon]

Thanks, I have read about UAEU. Dubai does not interest me and Al Ain sounds a bit more in line with our pace of life. After 5 years in rural Japan, anywhere will seem lively.

[Vanica]

In my case, having a child was the deal breaker for SQU -- they requested every single document, wrote me back that they were calculating the salary, I wrote back about childcare, and suddenly ... nothing. No more responses.

[Gordon]

[veiledsentiments]

I suspect that this was for a single mother - a problem that you will not encounter as a married couple with children.

VS

[Vanica]

About SQU, I had mentioned a dependent child right from the beginning, and it was very hurtful that, after sending passport, degrees, written references, photos in reply to a pretty firm offer, there was no more correspondence, not even a simple reply to many emails asking if those things were received. Maybe they had thought I was a man until they saw the passport photo, I don't know. I had sent the info by fax and by email.

[veiledsentiments]

This is unfortunately very common in the Gulf. In this culture, women on their own with children are considered not only odd, but slightly scandalous... unless you can prove your widowhood. (in a local divorce, the children would normally go with the father)

There are even problems for married women who are hired and want to bring their husbands - especially Western women married to non-Western men. In the past, these men could not even get a residence visa to stay... only come in on short term visit visas.

The Gulf does not seem to handle well applications from those outside the norms of single/childless or married with or without children.

Unfortunately, suddenly dropping one's application and not responding happens all over the Gulf - even at the places with the best reputations - all is relative. It may or may not have had anything to do with your child or your being a woman. One must just learn not to take it personally and move on.

VS

[harmonious]

Hello:

I'm currently working at SQU and am quite happy. There are of course the ups and downs, but I find that, overall it is a great place to work and I enjoy living in Oman. The people are very friendly and the students are lovely.

The childcare issue and issues related to married couples are real, however. Married couples working get only one housing allowance, which seems unfair as two singles would earn more. Also, there is only enough given to cover the tuition of one young child not counting fees. Some folks who came with many children have been struggling with education costs. There is, however, at least one single mother who has been hired, so I wonder if the single mother issue was what actually prevented Vanica from being hired. There is also a woman who was hired pregnant and there is a nice maternity package.

[Gordon]