Job Discussion Forums

[teacher911]

KSU Preparatory Year DeanshipI know that this 'prestigious project' has been written about many times, but I don't feel that people have really done justice to the place.

What follows is a list of points and a brief explanation of each problem (not ranked in any order of importance) :

1.Amending teachers' contracts mid-contract: teachers have 2 choices; sign or go back to your own country
2.Not enough teachers in post: a problem for the last 3 years resulting in a mess of contractors who mainly use non-native speaker teachers, covered classes, lack of continuity for both students and teachers
3.Delayed payments: some payments have been delayed up to 5 months, trying to get a reimbursement is like drawing blood
4.Facilities: e-podiums forever break down (poor maintenance), shortage of basic materials such as boardmarkers, wipers, copy paper, staplers etc Obeikan own a national chain of stationary shops !! There are 2 photocopiers between 170+ teachers! They frequently break down and can be out of service for months at a time
5.An inexperienced management team: there are only a couple of exceptions but for the most part it's their first real supervisory post, this has resulted in a lack of planning and poor decision making
Lack of approachability; forget the 'top' management they are rarely available, and supervisors have neither accurate information nor decision making powers
Lack of accountability; it is a challenge to find out who is responsible for what, between the 3 partners they have made a success of making this area a minefield that is impassable
There is also a case of 'overinflated ego syndrome' they rarely admit to a mistake and behave as though they were Lee Iacocca
6.Last minute decisions: this is par for the course and can even relate to exams and exam preparation
7.Promises Promises: never materialize
8.Training: used to keep teachers on campus (instead of a break), arranged last minute and of very little value
9.Concern for teachers: teachers are voiceless, Bell look out for themselves and the same goes for Obeikan and KSU. The teachers are left to follow what they are told, they have little understanding of the laws even when they are in their favor.
Translating, dealing with authorities etc you are basically on your own
Trips, meals, activities are very rarely arranged leaving teachers to fend for themselves
10. Non Academic Administration; official paperwork takes time in this country but why this long ? Whatever the request Obeikan have their own schedule which inevitably means having to WAIT WAIT WAIT !
11. Instability; there is a very low level of morale teachers feel insecure about there positions and are not optimistic about the future of the project, especially the 3 way partnership
12. Double Standards, there are a number of 'teachers pets' among the staff, when it comes these people there is flexibilty with the rules and regs.

[spiral78]

Umm....

I work at a university in the Netherlands.






All of the above apply here, with the single exception of item #1 and somewhat item #4.


and I thought I was lucky and this was an 'advanced' country

[scot47]

See the other thread in which I asked about the success or otherwise of this tripartite programme.

Will other universities in KSA go down this path ? if it happens where I am then it will be time for me to review my retirement date.

[elephant_man]

Teacher 911,

Thank you so much for this information. You have no idea how useful it is.

Ele

[tacomaboywa]

Wow, another place to avoid.

Several points you made seem indicative to many Saudi run educational institutions and most likely companies in general.

- Lack of proper work materials
- Lack of organization & preparation
- Lack of Responsibility
- Lack of morals
- Lack of follow through on promises
- Lack of understanding
- and so on......

-------------
Avoid M-Trading!
http://www.tulbah.org/

[Kalima Shahada]

And the good new is...









they give you a legal visa, right?!

teacher911, did you stay there for three whole years?!

[Cleopatra]

[Kalima Shahada]

[Cleopatra]

[Cleopatra]

[teacher911]

I thought Bell were supposed to be a 'Trust' (non-profit organisation), maybe it's naive of me but they should be more principled. Students' learning experience, teachers' working environment, the promotion of the English language etc Aren't these the things that Bell should be concerned with? Trying to maintain the highest standards.
Bell are all about MAKING MONEY, their webiste and newsletters forever boast about EXPANSION AND NEW MARKETS. KSU was going to be their shop window, but they've blown that one now! It's an example of how not to do everything.
Ultimately, Bell fall over themselves to accomodate the university and Obeikan, to the extent that managers are regularly verbally abused and to my knowledge none of them have stood up for themselves!
Call thenselves Brits! Whatever happened to the offspring of the 'empirebuilders' ? It all comes down to MONEY, tow the line and accept whatever rubbish comes your way just so that you keep your position. Behind the Saudis' backs there's a lot of tough talk, but when it comes down to it YES SIR NO SIR ...And where does education and the development of a nation fit in to all this? I can hear it now, money down the drain!

[Cleopatra]

[johnslat]

Dear Cleopatra,

"In fairness, I don't think it's the responsibility of a foreign company to take care of the Saudi education system - particularly when the local company doesn't seem to care, or at least has different priorities to what British peopel would consider good education."

"When in Rome . . . . ."

Regards,
John

[scot47]

Our Gazan Sympathiser repeats the calumnies spread about us by the English since the 18th Century !

I am here in KSA not for the money but because of my deep respect for the "Kingdom of Humanity" !

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,

" am here in KSA not for the money but because of my deep respect for the "Kingdom of Humanity" !

It's getting pretty deep, all right, on this thread; in fact, I do believe I need to don my hip boots.

Regards,
John