Job Discussion Forums

biddles · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

What are some of the pro's and con's of working at Jubail University (Jubail), KFUPM (Dhahran) and King Abdulaziz Univeristy (Jeddah) in regards to the following areas:

1. Housing (for families), how many rooms and the like.
2. Salary
3. Work hours and workload.
4. Obtaining an exit visa to Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E. and the like.
5. Activities after work, parks, recreational facilities and the like.
6. Management
7. Paperwork for bringing family into the Kingdom and the like.

Thank you kindly for any up-to-date information.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

First of all, as far as I know, there's no "Jubail University". Do you mean "Jubail Industrial College" or "University College Jubail" or "Jubail University College"?
MOD EDIT

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

1. Housing (for families), how many rooms and the like.

Depends on the number of kids. At KAU I think they will probably give you an allowance of SR17,000 which will be insufficient. UCJ may give you an allowance of three months salary up to a maximum of SR45,000 or may provide accommodation.
At Jubail you will be in the residential area near the college; at KFUPM you will probably be on campus

2. Salary
Depends on your qualifications and experience. It will be lowest at KAU and highest at UCJ.

3. Work hours and workload.
I don't know about KAU
At KFUPM you will have 20 hours, either early shift (8-10 & 1-3) or late shift (10-12 & 3.15-5.15) You are also required to do one office hour daily and one tutorial hour weekly. There may be overtime which is voluntary and passably remunerated.
At UCJ you should have 20 hours teaching. If you do overtime it is not I think that well paid, and you will not necessarily have choice. You will be required to be on the premises for around eight hours, including a half-hour lunch break.

4. Obtaining an exit visa to Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E. and the like.
For KAU I presume you mean Egypt as you are the other end of the country. I don't know the policy.
At KFUPM you get a multi-entry visa at your own expense and you keep your passport.
At UCJ you will get a multi-entry visa at your own expense but will give it back to them to keep after the trip has finished.

. Activities after work, parks, recreational facilities and the like.
Jeddah's a big city with loads going on. A lot will depend on where you live.
Jubail is fine for parks and beaches but pretty boring apart from that.
At KFUPM there are oncampus facilities and you are near Al-Khobar, which has plenty of things happening.

6. Management
I presume you mean the Management of the English Department.
For KAU I don't know.
The head of English at UCJ has just left, and I don't know who will replace him.
I think the head of the ELC at KFUPM is competent, pleasant and unobtrusive.

7. Paperwork for bringing family into the Kingdom and the like.
Will probably be the same at all three places.

biddles · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Thanks for the clarity and promptness of your response.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

So which did you go for ?

biddles · Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 9

Haven't accepted either. Still in Qatar. More than likely, I'll give it one more year here and then head to KSA, more than likely KFUPM or King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa.

trapezius · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject:

KFUPM is arguably the most professional higher ed institution in this country.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

King Faisal University ? Have a look at their website
www.kfu.edu.sa
and draw your own conclusions.
Compare it to the KFUPM website
www.kfupm.edu.sa

Brass Monkey · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 6

From what I've heard, JIC and UCJ should be avoided at all costs.

the lone wolf · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

Madman · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 5:53 am Post subject: Jubail

Jubail has been called a slow death of the soul - the locale is grisly - awful to look at and with nasty dangerous air pollution most days. UCJ and JIC are both far too close to the refineries for comfort. Onsite accommodation at JIC seems ok, but at UCJ the offsite single male accommodation is substandard and also too close to the refineries.

The local amenities are atrocious, the locals are sometimes openly hostile, the 'university' staff (Saudis) are arrogant and hopeless.

JIC suffers also from periodic purges. UCJ has yet to suffer any.

Being here is like having to dig your own grave by hand every day only to be told it is the wrong shape and in the wrong place. It must surely have the highest rate of 'runners' than anywhere else in KSA?

And before the usual Saudi apologists rally to their ill-founded 'cause', put the brakes on your mouths and only comment if you have actually endured this armpit of depression. Jubail is to be avoided for many reasons - there may be better places in KSA but after this I don't want to bother looking.

the lone wolf · Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 2

correction. you said:

Being here is like having to dig your own grave by hand every day only to be told it is the wrong shape and in the wrong place.

But surely you must of meant to add "then being asked/told you'd have to dig it all over again tomorrow."

Madman · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:23 am Post subject: Correction accepted

Well spotted, Lone Wolf. And it would be 'told' not 'asked' - in the special warm and toasty way the locals have of putting things... Wink

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Madman, if you want to preserve what sanity is left maybe it is time for you to head back to Blighty ? KSA is not for everyone.

riptorn · Joined: 27 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Location: The Desert

Yes indeed, stay away from JIC JUC.