Job Discussion Forums

Gnocchiman · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 68 Location: Limbo

We received a very thoughtful email from coordinator last week stating no news is good news. I agree. In the same message we were urged to ignore exotic rumours. Now that would be no fun, would it?

Has anyone heard anything about our fate this week? Maybe those on men's campus have overheard something coming from an open window on the 4th floor (?)

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

One does wonder how they define "exotic" rumors versus Gulf garden variety rumors. Cool

VS

Iamherebecause · Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 8:21 am Post subject: Defining exotica

Merriam Webster suggests the following definitions for exotic.

1 : introduced from another country : not native to the place where found <exotic plants>
2 : archaic : foreign, alien
3 : strikingly, excitingly, or mysteriously different or unusual <exotic flavors>
4 : of or relating to striptease <exotic dancing>.

So which definition works with exotic rumours? I quite like number 4 - maybe if the rumours are stripped bare we will see an element of truth!

If a decision is reversed swiftly does that mean it was never true in the first place (and can therefore be redefined as an exotic rumour in order to save face)?

Gnocchiman · Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 68 Location: Limbo

Iamherebecause wrote:

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hopefully you have taken advantage of the belly dancing lessons that seemed to be available in the Emirates from time to time. Cool

VS

Iamherebecause · Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 11:29 am Post subject:

VS sugests belly dancing lessons - maybe the UAEU CEC (Continuing Education Centre) ought to start offering such classes. I'm sure the person who organises courses there would be just as good at designing belly dancing programmes as they are at business English.

The latest thing I heard (and up you all to decide whether it's a rumour and if it's exotic or not) is that HCT said no, it did not want to take on the UAEU foundation course. So no change for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile numbers of students for the foundation course are likely to be high next academic year - and some teachers are going to have to transfer from the ESP unit to the general English bit.

Meanwhile Faculties seem to be bearing the brunt of UAEU budget cuts with staff 'let go' in Maths, Science, Geography, Medicine.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Since HCT and UAEU are just two parts of the same Ministry... funded by the same budgetary system... etc... etc... how could they say no? Ultimately they are under the same Minister. Is he in his office now debating with himself? (yes, I will... no I won't) Laughing

Obviously each of the top men at each institution is protecting his turf.

Remember those bean counters in the basement we discussed in another thread? (someone got upset when it was mentioned that they are nearly always Indians) Anyway, many good ideas run up against the issue of... budget. It is obvious that HCT doesn't have the space or resources to absorb URGU without some forward planning. Certainly it could be done over a 5-10 year period...

VS