Job Discussion Forums

Anytime now · Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 59

Does anyone working for PMU have any information on housing (address), compound (pool, store, fitness center, etc.), distance from housing to PMU, how you are situated in the Dhahran/Khobar/Damman area? Near stores, malls?

Have you started classes yet? Do you pay for your own visas, transportation to and from work, etc.? Any info will do for now.

I am thinking of applying there for fall 2007.

Thanks,
Anytime Now

redgoo · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 11

As one of the new teachers who arrived here before most to start a brand new school year at a brand new university, I can help you with these questions. However, keep in mind that things are in a constant state of change and what I tell you now may be very different from when you apply in 2007.

The compounds that teachers reside are the Al-Bilad compounds. There are two depending on whether you have children or not. I am a single male so I can tell you only about that particular compound. It has a nice and very large pool, a small convenience store with very basic items but they do dry-cleaning, and a nice little Lebanese restaurant. The gym is lacking in all respects and was a disappointment to all those who are in to that scene - myself included. However, upon a little exploration we found a full size, everything included- cardio machines, resistance training, aerobics classes style gym 15 minutes down the street for 1000 SR/year.

There are many malls within 10 minutes from the compound and it cost on average 20 SR to get to basically anywhere in Khobar. The other two cities, depending on where you are going, are the same rate.

Having said all this let me point out that the Al-Bilad compound is only temporary housing until the faculty housing can be built at the PMU campus which is estimated to be completed in another year so you may or may not ever see this compound if hired. Also, a car, in my opinion, is absolutely mandatory to get. The taxis add up after a while and the compound is not anywhere near anything that you can walk to. You wouldn't want to walk in this heat anyway.

The PMU campus is located in a very remote part of Khobar and is about 40 minutes from the compound. A bus will pick teachers up in the morning to shuttle them to the campus from the Al-Bilad compound and back again in the afternoon.

Single entry visas are paid for by the university but multiple entry visas are not. They have said that they will help us arrange all that once we are issued our iqamas.

We haven't started classes yet as they will begin the 16th of September. Faculty are still arriving so we are in the midst of orientation, setting up house, etc.

Hope this helps
Cheers

Anytime now · Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 59

Thanks for all the good information. I wish you well as you begin at PMU.

Anytime Now

Buur · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 26

Redgoo,

what is new with PMU? are still they hiring new EFL and Math teachers?

Who is Mr. Evans? is he the director of foundation program?

thanks

Buur

trapezius · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:22 am Post subject:

I have applied to PMU for Fall 2007 as well.

Thanks to redgoo for the info, but could someone now update as to the working conditions and students there? Was 2006 the first year of operation?

And how is the faculty housing coming along? On time for Fall 2007?

What are the salaries like for prep year faculty? Are you initially hired by a contracting company on a visitor visa? Are salaries much higher on a visitor visa as opposed to on an iqama, as at some other universities in SA?

Thanks.