Job Discussion Forums

[Bentham]

I have been offered a position at a university in China, however the contractual relationship is confusing and putting me off.

The position is offered through an Australian school, the International Institute of Business and Technology (IIBT). As far as I can gather, I am hired by IIBT as a contractor to assist students in China prepare for university study in Australia. The contract is with IIBT, not the Chinese university; I am paid by IIBT, not the Chinese university.

This would be my first job in China, so I am hesitant to accept something that I do not fully understand.


If anyone has had any experience working with this institution, or with another institution under a similar arrangement, then please inform as to how this exactly works. I have asked the Australian school more questions to clarify the arrangement fully, however I thought I would try here to see if anyone has had any previous experience of this.


Thanks.

[lf_aristotle69]

It sounds fine to me. But, I would guess that although you get your program and direction from the Australian Institution, that IIBT has a Chinese educational consultancy partner that would technically be your employer.

I could be wrong and your are truly being directly employed by IIBT from Australia though.

But, lots of foreign institutions have partnership bridging programs and diploma/degree programs in China these days.

I guess your salary would make most of us very jealous. Care to divulge it? 5-8000rmb/month? 8-12000, 12-15000, 15-20000, 20000+?

Which city are you going to work in? Depending on your location even a higher salary might not go very far if you want to have a really good time in your spare time.

Good luck,

LFA

[SnoopBot]

yes, you need to post your salary and hours for us to give you a good opinion.

Usually, being paid by the Western Institution means a full-expat package. This is usually very good!

Being paid by the Chinese side usually means lower local level salary.

However, recently some places have used excuses that you are to be paid by some other institution. Some of the names sound western but are actually recruiters.

The Chinese school pays the recruiters, the recruiter takes their cut and pays you. (If you get paid on time or at all)

These recruiters are getting more trickier by using professional sounding names with offices in western cities doing the recruiting. Most are operated by Chinese and have no real connection with any legit western agencies.

Be sure to check that aspect out first.

To get a better idea post a salary range and required hours and we can determine if the deal is fair and square. Also mention if you get housing or must find yourself.

[flutterbayou]

The offer extended you is good and this school is well-known.

It is a joint venture and a chinesee partner will sponsor your papers.

... and ignore the pirates who want your job's vital statistics.

You do want this job for YOU, don't you?

[lf_aristotle69]

Haha. You do have a very active imagination there, don't you Flutts?

Yes, I've already gone to the IIBT's website and found their recruiting information. But, I'm not looking for anything new until January next year.

As an Aussie myself I'll certainly be getting in touch with them before then though. It appears they have (or will have) a few programs around China.

I think there're enough jobs to go around. Especially for the upcoming semester where I think Olympics rules will keep a few of our less qualified brothers and sisters out of China indefinitely...

My, and I guess Snoopbot's, interest is merely to give this fresh meat... ahh, I mean, new FT, some more precise advice. It will be his/her first time teaching ESL in China afterall...

LFA

[SnoopBot]

[flutterbayou]

I was just playin' with you guys ... but it would not be the first time a job got hijacked.

Have a good vacation/

[Bentham]

I've read that you have to be wary in China, but I didn't realise that it would be my fellow FTs that I would have to be wary of!

I was just trying to get some advice from some of the more 'well-seasoned' FTs so that I could avoid some of the potential pitfalls that await the 'fresh meat' in China.


Thanks for sorting them out flutterbayou

[lf_aristotle69]

Awww, you guys. Quit teasin'...

Looking at the general lack of activity on the DAVES China boards here recently I'd say most people who teach ESL in China are either sunning themselves on a beach in Phuket, or are back home fighting to get their next Z visa...

Also, with just 1 month to go before the next semester commences (for school/uni jobs) most of the well qualified, and hence probably organised types, would have had their next job lined up 1-3 months ago (if they're changing positions)... I'm guessing that IIBT A) requires/prefers good qualifications and B) requires/prefers Aussies (or perhaps NZers), so, that would preclude 99% of the ESL crowd in China from applying successfully in any case.

Bentham, what is your background and experience?

I ask not just in relation to finding out more about you, and hence giving me and Snoopbot, and our helpful ilk, more to go on in giving you advice on how you will fare in China, nor just to verify my assertions above, but also to find out how legit/valued this program is and how seriously the education of the students is taken by both the Aussie and Chinese sides.

Of course, if you just finished high school and did a weekend TEFL course and you still got the job it might just mean that there were no other applicants and they had to take what they could get, not that they were trying to go for the cheapest option. No disrespect to you in that case, BTW, you sound motivated and concerned about your work and hence also about the students.

Cheers,

LFA

[Bentham]

I have a BA(Hons) and MA in Philosophy from university in New Zealand. I tutored for about a year at university here as well(in philosohy).

I completed CELTA in June and have been teaching at a language school in NZ since. (Only about four weeks)

I have also volunteered as an ESOl Home Tutor for refugees and migrants in New Zealand for about six months.

So, not so much teaching experience but lots of bits of paper.

[North China Laowei]

To the OP,

Please PM me. I will discuss with you with much insight but only in a PM for many reasons, some of which precede.

NCL

[SnoopBot]

[Leon Purvis]

OP,

You might want to do a search in Buxiban.

[davejw6]

Hi,
I was wondering how your year went with IIBT.....if you took the position, as I am also considering a similar position.
Cheers.

[Mister Al]

snoop wrote