| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
freesoul
Joined: 09 Mar 2009
Posts: 240
Location: Waiting for my next destination
|
 Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 8:53 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| I am really perplexed. Is the free frenzy media surrounding YU- Mutawa�s insistence to play a role on YU stage a couple of years ago, Muttawah segregating male and female attendees of a British university fair and now the aussie woman ordeal- good news or bad news for its future growth? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| It would be a brave soul that took a job there at the moment ! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
7atetan
Joined: 01 Jan 2010
Posts: 93
Location: Not in the Mediterranean Sea
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| scot47 wrote: |
| It would be a brave soul that took a job there at the moment ! |
Well, I worked there up until 2008 and I have to say I'm DISMAYED by what's happened to the place since. Even if 10% of the stuff written here is true, things have really gone down some major hill there in the past 18 or so months.
The "purge" has eliminated a number of people who should never have been hired, which one would think would have been a good thing. Plus, AYU opened an I.T. faculty. Then there's the partnership they've entered into with S.A.A.B.
I guess the economy and surge in competition took their toll... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'd say it was more due to the mismanagement and poor program...
VS |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cam
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 124
Location: Maine, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 6:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
Al Yamamah is not closing! I have been debating for some time about taking a position at the university and have finally decided to hop on board. I will be arriving soon and will have a few days to relax and take part in some training/orientation. I am quite excited about the chance to have complete freedom in the class to do what I please.
Anyhow, I have read all the reports on this forum about the place and I am well aware of the situation there. Of course, if the place is as horrible as people say it is then I will be able to take the job I have lined up for September. So, I quess in the end, knowing that I have another job to run to if things don't work out there makes it easier to take a chance at Al Yamamah. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I assume that the back-up job is in another country? (good plan though... and good luck)
VS |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Al-Yamamah School Closing? |
|
|
| passionateteacher wrote: |
| I wanted to ask this question on the previous thread, but again it was locked. After reading the previous posts, something occurred to me. I discussed the situation with my mother and she told me that from what I read it sounds like the school is closing. She works for the department of education. She told me that when a university president is resigns from a university that it is a good chance that the school may be closing. However it previous threads I noticed people saying that each year the salary that is advertised gets lower and lower. What is going on? Are these people being honest with the teachers that work there? What do you guys think? |
I have an MA in Higher Education Admin. and I can tell you that your mother's information is wrong, both in the USA as well as in the Gulf. Universities lose presidents and deans all the time due to retirement, resignations (forced or not), economics and all sorts of political drama (internal and external). Don't believe me? Just take a look at all the openings on such sites as NASPA or TESOL.org or Higher Ed., etc. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Cleopatra wrote: |
| Quote: |
| If one were sneaking off in dark of night without your employer knowing, you probably wouldn't want to have to ask him for an exit visa... whereas the multiple exit lets you leave without his knowing. Right? |
Not really. Every employer that I've ever had has readily granted exit visas, usually with no questions asked. So you could simply apply for a single exit-reentry, tell the HR person you're going to Bahrain for the weekend (that's if they even bother to ask, which they often don't) and head off. No need for a mutiple visa. |
This is misleading at best! Where I worked, teachers had great difficulty getting their Iqama in the first three months and exit visas were rarely granted before semesters were finished. Cleopatra has had some great LUCK! That's all I can say. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 10:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Where I worked, teachers had great difficulty getting their Iqama in the first three months and exit visas were rarely granted before semesters were finished |
If I recall correctly, some weeks ago I asked you to provide names of those employers who deny their staff exit visas. As I also recall, you have thus far not done so.
Perhaps you might do well to provide evidence that your experience (one job?) is more typical than my experience (four jobs) and that of many other long-time posters before you come onto this board advising teachers to take up residence in KSA on an illegal basis. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kalima Shahada
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Posts: 198
Location: I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Cleopatra wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Where I worked, teachers had great difficulty getting their Iqama in the first three months and exit visas were rarely granted before semesters were finished |
If I recall correctly, some weeks ago I asked you to provide names of those employers who deny their staff exit visas. As I also recall, you have thus far not done so.
Perhaps you might do well to provide evidence that your experience (one job?) is more typical than my experience (four jobs) and that of many other long-time posters before you come onto this board advising teachers to take up residence in KSA on an illegal basis. |
I'll provide the name of my ex-employer just as soon as you do the same for all four of your Saudi employers. Same goes for all the other long-time posters who accuse me of 'advising teachers to take up residence in KSA on an illegal basis.' Get REAL!  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| just as soon as you do the same for all four of your Saudi employers. |
Past employers
Manarat ar-Riyad School,
BISCOS/HADEED Project, J.I.C (European Centre)., Jubail,
Elite Training Services, Jubail,
Jubail Industrial College, Jubail,
Present employer
KFUPM, Dhahran.
We're waiting for your information. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Kalima Shahada wrote: |
| I'll provide the name of my ex-employer just as soon as you do the same for all four of your Saudi employers. Same goes for all the other long-time posters who accuse me of 'advising teachers to take up residence in KSA on an illegal basis.' Get REAL! |
Cleo may or may not want to give you the names of her employers since that could identify her to employers in a country where she still works. She has more sense than to do that. But, I know who they are... and they have all been discussed here and are the better employers in Saudi for women.
You are the one who needs to get real. If they are an "ex-employer" why should you give a flying whatever about giving their name. If it was me, I would be posting their name in ALL CAPS AND BOLDED, so everyone would know how bad they are. And I am surprised that you haven't been banned on this board for suggesting that people work illegally in any country. It is at the very least, unprofessional on your part.
VS |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Dear Kalima Shahada,
Well, I've mentioned it before, but once again: Institute of Public Administration, Jeddah branch and Riyadh headquarters. One employer for nineteen years - why mess with success?
Dear Stephen
"We're waiting for your information."
Godot will likely arrive first.
Regards,
John |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I'll provide the name of my ex-employer just as soon as you do the same for all four of your Saudi employers. |
Actually, I never asked you to provide the name of your own former employer. I simply asked you to list those employers who do not provide staff with exit visas upon request. The reason I asked you to do so is because a newcomer who read your many posts on the subject might be given the impression that it is the norm for teachers to be refused these visas and thus be effectively made prisoners in the Kingdom. My own experience, and that of many other posters here who have had multiple employers in the Kingdom, seems to contradict that. So I believe that the onus is on you to provide evidence for your case.
| Quote: |
Same goes for all the other long-time posters who accuse me of 'advising teachers to take up residence in KSA on an illegal basis.' |
So are you now suggesting you do not in fact advise teachers 'to take up residence in KSA on an illegal basis'? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
trustedteacher
Joined: 10 Dec 2009
Posts: 53
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 8:57 pm Post subject: To clear up a few things. |
|
|
I see this thread is popping again after a silent month or so. Just to add my two cents:
About the exit visas, YU has never had a problem issuing an employee an exit visa. The only time I have known for them to have a problem doing so is if an individual had an outstanding loan that they had to pay off to the university. Even in that instance, the loan had to be a large amount of money. In that case they would at least arrange with the individual to make payment arragments by the individual agreeing that they can automatically deduct a certain amount of their monthly salary. Now in cases where the person had owed them money and then already went home and never returned to YU then they would just refuse to issue the person a NOC, until the outstanding loan was payed or arragements were made. I knew a couple of people in this situation.
I can only speak for other employers from my friends who work at various schools throughout the Kingdom. Even some of the worse companies I have been told have issued exit visas, single or multiple. I have never heard of anyone having a problem with this issue. The only problem I have heard of is people not getting an NOC from their employer, but not exit visas.
As far as YU closing no that was just a rumor. The main problem with YU is the management. Fairness is not a virtue that they practice. And I have news for cam, good luck with thinking you can do whatever you want in the classroom. That is not true. If students complain about you or if the administration feels that you are not implementing the benchmarks in a correct fashion, you will be in a lot of trouble. So I want to warn you now do not think that you have complete freedom in the classroom at YU. They are making some changes to the benchmarks and they do this even in the middle of the term. They will confuse you, change your classes in the middle of the term without warning. They do not care that you have shed blood sweat and tears to get the students to the level that you wanted them. I know two or three teachers that this happened to. You will see!!!
And in defense of Kalima Shahada I am not sure if you were the one that mentioned the buisness visa issue.Not jumping all over you at all. I just wanted to make a point on that or give advice. People are going to come to Saudi and employers are going to hire according to how they want. If anyone wants ensure that their rights are protected under the labor laws(what little they are!) the best way to come is under a work visa that will permit you to apply for an iqama. The process is longer but it is worth the wait. You will see that you cannot do anything without an iqama in Saudi not even wire money via Western Union. However sadly because of the state of the global economy employers know people are desperate for jobs. So if they can wheel you in by giving as little as possible and get away with it, they will definately try!! Is up to you to make the best decision for you and your family when choosing to work abroad. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
