Job Discussion Forums

[EFLUndercover]

Does anyone know who actually has the contract for the new preparatory year program at Imaam ibn Saud University?

The advert just says KSARecruit. Perhaps they are doing direct hire?

[veiledsentiments]

KSARecruit sounds like a recruiter to me...

VS

[EFLUndercover]

VS,

I was thinking the same thing except they refer you to the Imaam Muhammad University website and not one of their own. And once there, there is no mention of the PYP.

It just seems a bit odd. Stay tuned, I guess.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Lotza PMs going off about this place. Jes' a look at the name of this place should give a hint on how the general student population would feel about "non-believers"...

NCTBA

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

Let's stay on topic and avoid degrading comments regarding any particular religion or people. This is the one and only warning that will be posted.

Members who don't get the message and continue to post objectionable information will be sanctioned.

Sanctions can include temporary or permanent bans.

[veiledsentiments]

I too have received PMs about this position.

While maintaining a respect for Islam, I would be a bit concerned about someone applying for a position at a university with a name like this, who didn't have prior experience in the Gulf, or who was not a Muslim. It may be that they only hire Muslims, but the advertisement doesn't mention it.

One can easily say or do the wrong thing - in complete innocence - when dealing with very conservative Muslims who may not be patient with the faux pas of uninformed teachers. Especially for ESL teachers, so much of how we are taught to teach may not be acceptable at an establishment like this.

The salary offer is low and the credentials required are low, but they want native speakers. Thus it is entry level. A working knowledge of Wahhabi Islam and Sharia Law would probably be advisable.

Here is one quote that I found on their website:

Imam Mohammed bin Saud University helps beef up the march of development, presenting a variety of academic programs at the level of Sharai institutes, in addition to undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Despite the fact that the university has been signaled out for its Sharia and linguistic deliverables, it has not stopped at that point. It has established new colleges and institutes such as colleges of science, computer, management, economy and medicine.

VS
(BTW EFLUndercover, it refers people to their website, but it says to send the applications to a gmail account, which could easily be the recruiter.)

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,
I have responded to a PM from an individual about accepting a position at this university.
My comments were much in line with yours.
Regards,
John

[Mia Xanthi]

[omar08]

what is the salary and benefits offer if you dont mind sharing?

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

Oh, this old thread. Talk about rising from the dead!

NCTBA

[Neil McBeath]

Never Ceased to be Amazed,

I would not be quite so fast to write off this insitution simply on the basis of its name.

Yesterday, by sheer coincidence, I rread an article in TESOL Arabia perpectives by someone who works in the College of Languages and Translation.

It was absolutely first class work. Well written, comprehensive coverage of a difficult topic, that raised important questions about how languages can be taught, are being taught, and the purpose behind teaching them. It would be a privilege to work with a colleague like that.

If the Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University can attract faculty members of that calibre, then it is likely to give a number of other institutions a run for their money.

[desert_traveller]

imam saud uni is an extremely conservative institute, if not necessarily in terms of what they teach, but definitely with regards to how they teach

i had a student friend there, they were not allowed to bring laptops to the uni with them or use the internet. students housing had no internet access and it was strictly forbidden to go online from uni premises. they all had to go out to local net cafes to go online

this is just one example, im quite aware of that, but i think it is a rather revealing one

the staff member who wrote the article may have written it as a contribution to his work there - or as a temporary escape from there, we just don't know

i did a job interview with them about 1.5 years ago and i was interviewed by two of the most arrogant, self-righteous biggest @%#^$'s i had ever met in my whole life (both holding senior positions at the uni). when i didnt call them back after the interview, they both kept pestering me with calls for weeks - sometimes at totally unreasonable times (ie out of business hours) like at midnight or friday morning

obviously it will be the particular experience of the individual that counts, but i for one would never consider working for imam saud university

[Cleopatra]

[Sheikh N Bake]

Ha ha, I second that cynicism...but then, ghost writers generally expect to get paid something worthwhile.

[usa_in_gulf]

desert_traveller wrote: