Job Discussion Forums

audi321 · Joined: 02 May 2009 Posts: 19

I will be joining uaeu as an assistant professor in august and have tried looking everywhere for answers to these questions, but with no luck. Anyone able to answer any of these will be greatly appreciated.

-whats the general salary range? I just want to know if I've been given the bottom range.
- I have 1 kid, will they provide a 2 or 3 bedroom flat?
- how is the state of the flats they provide?
- how is the job security? As in, do they generally renew conrtracts after 2 years?
- have they released the start date for the coming year? The website still has the term dates for this year only.

Thanks a lot.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

audi321: I suggest that you exercise the "Search" function on this board as their housing situation seemed disaterous at the beginning of this AY. That talk has died down now, which could mean one of three things.

1. The situation has resolved itself;

2. People have given up complaining, or;

3. "Guido" had 'em all "whacked"...

NCTBA

spicegirl · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 112

According to the 'recommended' UAEU academic calendar for 2009-2010, new Faculty and Academic Administrators are due to report on Monday, 17th August. Returning Faculty report on Monday, 24th August. Classes start on Sunday, 30th August. The website doesn't seem to have been updated yet to reflect this.

Contracts are usually for three years, so it would be strange if you were offered a 2-year contract. As far as housing is concerned, the situation is still hit and miss, with people from Dubai and Abu Dhabi taking up a lot of the available housing and pushing rents up. The standard of housing for UAEU faculty varies widely, depending on what's available when you arrive. Some of it is old, but spacious, with lots of maintenance problems. Some of it is new and pokey, also with lots of maintenance problems. I know of couples with no children in 3-bedroom flats, while others with one child are in a 2-bedroom. It depends very much on how long they've been in Al Ain - big flats used to be the norm before people from other emirates discovered what a nice place Al Ain is.

audi321 · Joined: 02 May 2009 Posts: 19

Thanks for the reply. It was really useful. I guess I'm gonna have to hope for the best. I read somewhere that the vice chancellor said things would get better when more housing become available. He said that a year ago with housing expected 5 months ago.

audi321 · Joined: 02 May 2009 Posts: 19

thanks so much spicegirl. I am planning on buying a return ticket from the uk as it works out much cheaper. If youhave any idea when the winter break is and when it ends, that would be so helpful.

Iamherebecause · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 9:14 am Post subject:

They have begun moving people out of the housing which everyone (justifiably) complained about at the beginning of this academic year. I just hope they don't use it for next year's new staff.

OP said

audi321 · Joined: 02 May 2009 Posts: 19

Thanks a lot for the reply. I am British but am already a resident in the UAE so that is why i don't think they will give me a ticket from the UK.

Thanks for the winter break dates. I guess i am just thinking too far it advance to get tickets starting from the UK. If they offer me a ticket from the UK before i start then i will take that and start getting the more expensive(although flexible) tickets starting from the UAE.

Thanks again for all the replies.

uaeobserver · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 236

UAEU's strategic plan (and their publicly printed fact book) suggest the university is reducing enrollment.

I'd guess that this would actually make it easier to ensure that staff receive quality housing.

audi321 · Joined: 02 May 2009 Posts: 19

Another question to anyone who knows the answer. How is it teaching locals? I understand it's an all English speaking University, but do they understand what it is that is being taught, or do they just come to the lecture to talk to each other and mess around? Are the female students better than the male students in term of discipline.

Iamherebecause · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Where classes have international students - especially Pakistani, Indian students who have come up "through the ranks" in an English medium curriculum, the Emiratis will generally rise with the tide. That is, more effort will be made and their overall English skills will be better.

If it's all Emirati, you will have very good and usually very poor students in terms of comprehension, ability, and motivation. Much like it would be in a lot of Western classrooms. Although poor here means those who have no English capability.

audi321 · Joined: 02 May 2009 Posts: 19

Thanks a lot for all your replies. I was reading through the forum and noticed that some time ago there were rumours of a 70% pay increase for locals and 45% for expats... Did any of this go through or was it just rumours?

bluecatbabe · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Middle East

It didn't happen for expats. UAEU got a 20% rise which brought them roughly into line with HCT, though UAEU's housing allowance is still lower. Some locals in some lines of work got stonking rises.

uaeobserver · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 236

According to UAE's newspapers, UAEU is undergoing an intensive re-model.

They're starting up doctoral programs ----- and rumor has it (emphasis on rumor) reducing their emphasis on foundation education.

Not sure if I'd rather be an ESL professor (historically, good job security - but maybe not with change in emphasis) ---- or a member of the faculties (a "real" academic --- but a part of a bold experiment - which may or may not work).

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