Job Discussion Forums

squareandfair · Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 43

Has anybody got an information on this univerity?

Salary
Teaching Hours
Accomodation
Benefits
Holidays

Thanks in advance.

harrythehook · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 21

Where is Kish University? Someone told me it's in Iran. Are they recruiting foreigners to teach in Iran?

007 · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

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

I'm not sure why anyone would want to go to Kish to work (fine for a short holiday)... I can't imagine being stuck out there in the middle of the Gulf on a teeny tiny island. The wiki site can't even convert square kilometers to miles correctly. It says 91 sq km (35 sq miles). But whether you convert it correctly or not, is it horribly small.

I tried to google up a map of exactly where it is... had to open like 20+ sites and I couldn't find a decent one... many went to a 'document removed' page. One would almost think that all they want you to see is a street map of the island rather than where it is. Laughing

All I could find eventually is that it is offshore of NO major Iranian city.

Rather a joke that they think this place is going to be competition for Dubai. Talk about overblown tourist prose...

And the website of the university is hopeless and most pages just won't open. The pay had better be VERY high...

VS

007 · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: Kishkabibble

Dear 007,
There are NO coincidences; all is foreordained. It is KISHmet.
Regards,
John

Zajko · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

Actually wikipedia's statement that (91 square km = 35 sq miles) is almost precisely correct. 1 km = 0.6213712 miles, therefore 91 square km in square miles: 91 x 0.6213712 x 0.6213712 = 35.13 square miles.

Whether that does in fact accurately correspond to the dimensions of Kish Island, I have no idea.

Sorry, bored this evening, have little else to do. Wouldn't normally quibble about maths but it's too cold to go out here.

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

From an Iranian student studying here in the UK :

Kish does not require an entry visa (like the rest of Iran) and you can stay for 14 days. This is a big advantage for US citizens who have enormous difficulty obtaining visas to Iran. Kish is popular as it is used by those who need to leave the UAE for one day for residence permit reasons.

The Internet is not censored in Kish, so it is popular with local Iranians for weekend breaks. It has excellent scuba diving facilities and beaches, but plans to make it into an international playground seem to have collapsed, one reason being the lack of alcohol (which you can get in Dubai).

The university in Kish was opened in 1996, and last September only had about 500 students. Kish appears to be more a holiday destination than an academic career posting.

If I get any more up to date information about salaries etc I'll post it.

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

007 · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: Kish

colt · Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 86 Location: Milky Way

If you go to "google earth" there is a good map of Kish Island. While it may be small, it's just a cheap and quick flight to the UAE, for weekending entertainment. You also have access to some of the fine handicrafts that are part of the Persian culture, as well as fine Persian cuisine, one of the best and most creative in the world IMHO.

With a little gentle persistence, even Americans can get a VISA, especially if you are going to attend one of the international "fairs" that held in Tehran, Esfahan, Shiraz etc. I've attended several of the carpet exhibitions in Tehran.

If you have an Iranian friend, (they are quite friendly, and really like Americans because so many have family members living in the USA) they can sponsor you for a visa.

Alcohol is not a problem, just ask any taxi driver, and he will get you what you want.

In addition to the above, Iranian students are a pleasant change from those on the other side of the Gulf. They really want to learn, and know the meaning of "studying".

uaeobserver · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 236

I've played host for a number of individuals from there. They're adept, intelligent, agile, and fast.

I'm guessing this is actually why there is so much concern about them.

I've been to Kish a number of times. It's a lovely place. The underground city is different. The dolphin park is reasonably cheap. The bike path is great.

Politically - Americans might pause before jumping on board. Due to ongoing hostilities between the two countries, I'm guessing there's a chance you could be accused (by either America or Iran) of being a spy.

007 · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject:

johnslat · Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject: I Spy

Dear 007,
Well, I suppose your comment was made in jest (ergo the "smiley face"), but loathe as I am to generalize ( I NEVER generalize), my experience of Iran and some of the Iranian people in the late 70s makes me think that
suspicion and paranoia might be not all that uncommon.
Back in 1978, as far as I could tell, almost EVERY "foreigner" (but especially those form the USA and the UK) were suspected by many of being (at least) "in the pay of" their nation's "intelligence service."
Students on so many occasions took me aside to "warn me" that this or that colleague of mine was a "spy." And then, of course, I found out that the same thing was being said about me.
And it wasn't just the "foreigners"; I was told again and again to beware of this or that student/teacher/administrator because he/she was a member of SAVAK. Well, maybe some were, but if all were, then SAVAK must have had more "agents" than there were soldiers in the Iranian Army.
I think that in any society that's repressive, has unpopular laws and deals harshly with any opposition, paranoia (not to mention justified suspicions) will be rife.
Of course, every nation is repressive to some degree, has laws that are unpopular with some, and may deal harshly with any opposition, given threatening circumstances (and yup, that definitely includes the USA.)
But it's the degree and ubiquity of these that affect the citizens' paranoia.
Hitler's Germany, Stalin's USSR and the Shah's Iran were, I'd say, all good examples of nations in which repression, unpopular laws and a ruthless secret service all made living in these countries constantly stressful due to paranoia (and, as mentioned, justified fear - but there's the rub: in those situations the justified fear breeds, in turn, widespread paranoia.)
In today's Iran, while the conditions for justified fear are probably not as prevalent as they were under the Shah, I'd say there's a fair amount of it floating around. And, unless I'm much mistaken, I believe the present Iranian government is very unpopular with many - maybe even a majority - of the citizens there. So, my "educated guess" is that an American (or almost any "Westerner") who might visit there, would likely be thought by many to be a spy.
Regards,
John

redsoxman · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 51

I went to Kish for a weekend jag. Nice place, although very small.
As they've said, the food is great, the carpets are a bargain and the Iranians are very very friendly. I'm going back as I met a nice lady there. Who knows where it will lead? It's cheap and a short hop from the UAE.