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toughcookie
Joined: 26 Nov 2006
Posts: 55
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 Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:28 am Post subject: |
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I worked at QU and other ME universities and can confirm that management at QU is demented, the whole crazy annual appraisal system being one of the examples that jump to mind. Even by GCC standards, this is a place that really pushes it.
I can only encourage you to quit as soon as it is convenient for you to do so.
TC |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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| chanchanhae wrote: |
| A place that has been run by the same man for over 20 years tells you all. Does it ring a bell? |
This can just as often be a positive sign. A constant turnover in upper management often means regularly scheduled chaos and constantly changing rules, procedures, and processes. Having been at both kinds of places, I'm one for predictability... as in 'better the devil you know.' 
A long term management is a positive if you get along with them, but not so good if you don't. Those that get 'not renewed' consider mgmt demented and those that get along consider those 'not renewed' to be the demented ones.
And so it goes... changing university jobs in the Gulf seemed to me to be just a regular shuffling of the things/people that bugged you. Two contracts tended to be my tolerance limit at any of them.  And there were always lots of teachers who had been there for 10-20 years. Never had the patience myself...
VS |
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lollaerd
Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 337
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| chanchanhae wrote: |
| A place that has been run by the same man for over 20 years tells you all. Does it ring a bell? |
This can just as often be a positive sign. A constant turnover in upper management often means regularly scheduled chaos and constantly changing rules, procedures, and processes. Having been at both kinds of places, I'm one for predictability... as in 'better the devil you know.'
A long term management is a positive if you get along with them, but not so good if you don't. Those that get 'not renewed' consider mgmt demented and those that get along consider those 'not renewed' to be the demented ones.
VS |
I agree: length of service should have nothing to do with it. It someone has served well, then that's what should count. Continuity is important, places which change staff too often and too regularly usually end up having major curriculum disasters as new people try to impose their ways on the old without knowing the context or history. The problem at QU seems to come down to one or two people at the top. The fact that so many people are disturbed by the management style suggests that maybe this person needs to learn some interpersonal skills instead of relying on the 'crime and punishment' system that was mentioned. The year the former QU teachers joined the gulag, more than 20 teachers were fired. They couldn't have all been dead wood. It looks like the old trample and bury approach that characterizes the military. Does this person have a military background? This might explain the repressive tactics that are used. |
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lollaerd
Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 337
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe Mediation Skills training might be the answer to these QU staff problems instead of these controversial FIRs. It's certainly a more enlightened way to approach 'incidents'.
Mediator skills training comes to the region
�The idea was to introduce into this part of the world a form of dispute resolution that is in advance of anything produced anywhere else in the world at the moment,� Lord Woolf told reporters before the MoU signing. Lord Woolf was the Chief of Justice for England and Wales from 2000-2005.
�Mediation is about consensual, usually non-evaluative, resolution. Because it works consensually, only mediation can bring in ... solutions and reputational answers ...�, he said.
THE PENINSULA |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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| lollaerd wrote: |
| The year the former QU teachers joined the gulag, more than 20 teachers were fired. They couldn't have all been dead wood. |
As I recall, the number was not that high for those 'fired.' I believe that it was 20 teachers that left with many choosing to leave as happens everywhere. Some of them the university wouldn't renew because of age (not a decision of departmental management and QU has been inconsistent on this issue.) Friends of mine there were only surprised about a couple of those who were 'not-renewed' and were frankly not at all sad to see the back of others of them.
This was what... 3 or 4 years ago now? And since then, yearly attrition has been pretty much normal for a place its size. One person I know has resigned this year because of finding Qatar too dreadfully dull, but has no real issues with the job or system.
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stickleback
Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 76
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| Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| toughcookie wrote: |
I worked at QU and other ME universities and can confirm that management at QU is demented, the whole crazy annual appraisal system being one of the examples that jump to mind. Even by GCC standards, this is a place that really pushes it.
I can only encourage you to quit as soon as it is convenient for you to do so.
TC |
Thanks TC. I did follow your advice and resigned a couple of years ago. My professional life is much happier. That Hh woman drove me crazy with her negativity. It is great that they finally removed her. She should never have been allowed to even stay there. |
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stickleback
Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 76
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| I am sooooo lucky I don't work at this place anymore. The few people I know who stayed there are very unhappy with the situation as they don't know if they are coming or going. I suggest going is the best thing. If they can get a job somewhere else, UAE preferably, I'd say go for it. |
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blastermill
Joined: 30 Aug 2011
Posts: 101
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| Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 2:24 pm Post subject: Managerial woes |
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A few weeks ago I attended the at the TESOL Arabia 2013 conference; QU Foundation was the most talked about job listing. A lot of grievances continue and some QU teachers were actively job hunting. most hope to move to the UAE. Despite the negative press, the QU gang did a brisk business in interviews but a few interviewees felt that the demands made on teachers are excessive to the point of being irrational. One guy said he felt like he was being interviewed for a corporate position and another said the system did not focus on teaching but administrative duties; both said no way to if they got an offer. So despite a new management team, things have not got any better and judging by the number who quit at the last minute last year and those who are going to do so this year, this is not a happy snappy workplace.
As one recently ex-QU teacher said, the new director is very similar to the previous director who ruled the roost for 6 years (even from the same part of the US I heard - what is it with these mid western types?) ; the previous guy was definitely not popular and neither is the new one. This teacher said the new head was totally unapproachable and fixated on himself. He is supposedly more competent and organized but even less reasonable than the last one who was known as Mr. Non negotiable. The new head was being called Mr. Super non negotiable at the conference. The ex and new head are very similar - both are non-communicators glued to their computers. Both have personality problems relating to people. Both use a spy system to monitor teachers, this is nothing new � teachers have been complaining about this for years. Both use a rules and regulations mentality; the set up is designed to punish and penalize teachers; neither the ex nor the new one want to deal with people�s personal issues. Neither is popular with teachers.
Already more than a dozen people have resigned and more are planning to. They are over-recruiting in this eventuality. They already hired about ten new teachers midyear and are desperate for more to justify their recruitment trips. The preference is for very inexperienced teachers |
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battleshipb_b
Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 189
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| Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2013 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Managerial woes |
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| blastermill wrote: |
. So despite a new management team, things have not got any better and judging by the number who quit at the last minute last year and those who are going to do so this year, this is not a happy snappy workplace.
As one recently ex-QU teacher said, the new director is very similar to the previous director who ruled the roost for 6 years (even from the same part of the US I heard - what is it with these mid western types?) ; the previous guy was definitely not popular and neither is the new one. This teacher said the new head was totally unapproachable and fixated on himself. He is supposedly more competent and organized but even less reasonable than the last one who was known as Mr. Non negotiable. The new head was being called Mr. Super non negotiable at the conference. The ex and new head are very similar - both are non-communicators glued to their computers. Both have personality problems relating to people. Both use a spy system to monitor teachers, this is nothing new � teachers have been complaining about this for years. Both use a rules and regulations mentality; the set up is designed to punish and penalize teachers; neither the ex nor the new one want to deal with people�s personal issues.
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Clones? Maybe. I worked with the former HoD over 22 years ago at QU before he went off the Far East and then came back (twice). He was known as DDB thanks to his habit of imbibing and and bashing doors. However, he managed to overcome his problem. The ex HodD has personality problems, it's true - mostly due to extremem shyness and fear of people besting him. He should never have been promoted and left to be a teacher. He's an OK teacher and even an OK co-ordinator but does not have the right people skills.
Having encountered the current HoD at a conference some time ago, he seems to be very similar to DDB but with a lot less charm. (Strange that they are both Irish-Americans and according to the comment above, come from the same neck of the woods. Remember the Irish Yanks are deep, secretive and subversive - watch 'Gangs of New York' and you might recongize some characteristics.)
At least the former HoD could talk to you one-to-one and had some redeeming characteristics; this new one allegedly has trouble with anything outside his security box and frame of reference. Why did he get the job? Didn't they advertise it? When the department knew they were restructuring the place, they should have advertised both internally and even externally for someone with the right qualifications and management training skills. Bumping people up because they happen to be there or happen to be cosying with the upper echelons is not good practice. People should be appointed because they are competent, not because of their contacts. This old boys network thing is crap.
This program has been floundering for past half dozen years and deserves to be run properly by people who know what they are doing and people who take some interest in and are concerned about their staff. Having made it to management positions myself, I know how important this is. No people skills = poor management skills. Poor management skills = unhappy staff. Unhappy staff = problems. And it sure seems like there are loads of problems with the new program and the new management - or at least some of them. |
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