Job Discussion Forums

foolsgold · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 12

KSU Bell

Hi all - Yes I've read most of the posts pertaining to this school, but I'd love to be able to PM someone who is currently working there. Most of what I have read isn't that great, but I've not really read a lot of positive posts full stop.
So if there is anyone out there who can help please PM me or post here .
Thanks a lot.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

KSU Bell were the firts to introduce the innovative system of hiring people on 11-month contracts. This is a reflection of their philosophy of management and a warning sign.

By all accounts not a happy place to be, at least for the teachers.

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

Whereas Al Yamamah makes its faculty work an extra two-month term called ''the summer term'' after two full regular semesters if you want to get full yearly salary. Without doing th summer term you get paid for some 10,5 months only, if not for 1o.
No idea which is worse. When I was signing up for Yamamah I wasn't aware of the extra summer term kink and fraud.

At least Bell make it clear, though even as clear it is unprecedented and sets a dangerous trend, especially that it springs out from allegedly a reputable British enterprise. So everyone else now has a door wide-open, with fraud ushered by those who claim solid traditional airs: If the old Bell may do it, ...etc, etc.

balqis

Citizenkane · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 234 Location: Xanadu

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

It is something worse than fraud as it introduces fraud in broad daylight and - as it were - lege artis.
So you still rob a profession of what belongs to them and what they have earned by working full academic year, you still grab their earnings to your pocket, but announce it in the contract as ''a contract term''..
So let me retain my way of viewing the matter at stake.
balqis

Citizenkane · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 234 Location: Xanadu

balqis · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 373

I will exercise my freedom then.
b

Oreally · Joined: 23 Nov 2008 Posts: 39

we were told 12 months by the person over the phone and as I dont speak in legalism, did not catch the 11 written in the contract. Not the most honest move. The Contract appears to be the opening of negotiations with these guys.

7168Riyadh · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 149

Foolsgold, if you have indeed read all the threads on KSU on this forum (see �KSU revisited� and Bell/Obeikan KSU�latest crap�, for example) you should be getting the idea.

I work at KSU. Am I happy? Yes when I go into the classroom; no any other time. Did I know what I was getting into? Yes. Is working there a good deal? Not bad by the appalling standards of TEFL in general. But KSU got the whip out this year...

The terms and conditions of employment at KSU are going downhill fast. Making teachers work office hours was a major step in the wrong direction, but there are other worrying trends. KSU with Bell are corporatizing teaching. Will it work? No. Do I care? No.

Don�t accept less than R12k a month, and ask for more if you have any significant experience.

foolsgold · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 12

Thanks for the info so far - 7168 Riyadh is it ok if I pm you with some qs?

foolsgold · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 12

Anyone else currently working there?

7168Riyadh · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 149

sorry, i'm not doing PMs, but feel free to ask any questions publicly--we can all help answer and everyone gets the info...I would also like to see others at KSU posting their thoughts because I've said pretty much all I have to say for now.

perfectweapon · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:45 am Post subject:

Three months ago Bell contacted me about working at KSU, and they were very open and honest about everything. It was all laid out in the contract, and there were no hidden agendas it was all up front. It took two days to read what they had sent, but it was very clear what they were offering, and what you would get. It was great to see that they were not like the other cowboys that are operating within Saudi. I did not take the contract, but that was my decision, and if you were to take the contract then you know what to expect.

foolsgold · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 12

7168 - Can you give me info on acc in Riyadh - i've been offered 3125 per month housing allowance. What would that get me and what would the travelling time be?

7168Riyadh · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 149

The housing allowance is not generous, but adequate. If you share an unfurnished flat, you could even save out of it�I recommend doing this. Many people take a furnished room in hotel-like accommodation, which is fine but eats most of the allowance. Your budget will not get you into a compound, by the way, so expect to live in �civvie street�. Everyone drives to work, so distances are to some extent immaterial, but expect a ten to twenty-minute journey.

I agree that Bell�s recruiting process is quite transparent. In that respect, they have been quite good and have helped protect us from total arbitrariness. Nevertheless, KSU are in charge and Obeikan are your paymasters, so expect crap. You just have to be �flexible�.