Job Discussion Forums

creative79 · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

I have recently completed my PhD in history from the UK, and I have been offered the post of assistant professor at a private university in the KSA. However, I have another offer for a ten months fixed-term post of "teaching fellow" at one of the top 5 universities in the UK. Please advise me which one I should go for. I am really confused!

Thanks

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 2:10 am Post subject: Re: Please advise me on this

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:07 am Post subject:

IMHO, it would be rather foolish to turn down the job in the UK for a job in KSA. Even though the KSA "university" position may seem more attractive due to the potential for longer-term employment, you will find the environment very unprofessional and very disrespectful.

No matter what you are teaching, in the end it will not turn out to be university level. You will be expected to dumb-down your courses, you will have no academic freedom whatsoever, the teaching load will be higher, there will be no library resources to do any kind of research, and if all this isn't enough...you will be pressured in one way or another to give out passing grades to students who do not deserve to pass.

In addition to all that, there is no job security whatsoever. You can be fired at the drop of a hat if the students decide they do not like you or your teaching style. "Universities" is KSA are famous for random firings of perfectly qualified professors, usually because they happen to have academic standards.

If you have not been overseas before, KSA is a really bad place to start an international teaching career. I myself found it an acceptable place to live, but there is more than a 50/50 chance that you will hate it and wish you had never come.

If you want to get another job after this first position, you have to be aware that many in the academic community are aware that teaching in KSA can be (not always) a kind of academic prostitution. If you want to start out overseas, you would do much better to start in a place that has a reputation for academic honesty, such as Singapore or Hong Kong.

My strong advice would be to take the 10-month job in the UK and keep looking for something better during the next academic year. For someone in your position, KSA could be a career-killer. Consider that and the fact that many with lesser qualifications find the circumstances of lving and teaching in Saudi Arabia downright soul-destroying. You've worked to hard to take a chance of throwing it all away on a possibility in KSA.

Cleopatra · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 7:10 am Post subject:

Unless you need a lot of money quickly, go for the job in the UK. As others have said, if you change your mind or are forced to look for another job, the Saudi option will always be there, but it's not so easy to find jobs in academia in the UK.

Besides, as has been said, for a newly minted PhD, working in KSA would be close to career suicide. It might be fine to wind down at the end of your career, but would not be a good idea at the start of it. The vast majority of academic instituions in the Gulf are not taken seriously outside of the Middle East - or even inside of it in some cases.

creative79 · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

Thank you for the replies. I appreciate the concern that all of you have shown. I agree with all of you and I am feeling inclined to go for the UK job.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 2:31 pm Post subject:

Phew!!! That was close, guys! Thanks for banding together so well! Mia, you were great! And, it was all done in record time!

Now we can all stop worrying about HIM taking our cushy jobs! Laughing

...

...

NCTBA

johnslat · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 2:34 pm Post subject:

Dear NCTBA,

Yeah - like you're really worried about losing a "cushy job" in, of all places, the Kingdom of Humanity.

Regards,
John

The Lathe of Heaven · Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:09 am Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Job in UK must be the one to go for.

cheguvera · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 24

What career after 10 month's of teaching fellow post @ 30K? I dont think it will normally lead to a lectureshp. You need to have some singnifinat number of journal papers, if you want to get a lectureshp in good UK unis, which won't be possible if you are overloaded with teaching at any case. A postdoc would be ideal for a career oriented fresh PhD.

If you are not a research career oriented person with have any urgent need to make some quick money, go for the KSA options. You could atleast save the 'take home' UK teaching fellow salary.

Govt is reducing Higher Education Funds day by day and Universities are largely affected.

creative79 · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

creative79 · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 5

By the way, please let me know what you think about this offer: 202416 SAR per annum (inclusive of everything, but excluding annual round trip flight ticket and medical cover).

cheguvera · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 24

trapezius · Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2010 1:46 pm Post subject:

This is a no-brainer. (UK)

As for post-doc positions, have you looked at the US (they have a lot more money to go around than in the UK), Australia, New Zealand, Canada, etc?