Job Discussion Forums

quizas108 · Joined: 10 Feb 2010 Posts: 7 Location: Toronto

It's been awhile since there's been any news about CNA-Q. Contemplating a move there and I'm wondering what the work conditions are like these days.

How's the housing for singles? The commute? An average work-day? Are there fitness facilities or does everyone buy hotel memberships? Are you happy with your decision to work there? Did anyone make the move from the UAE? Can you compare your experiences?

It's so hard to imagine it all from this side of the world....any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

quizas108

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Wait until after next week, the President from Nfld is coming with contracts that are 3 months overdue and the rumor mill is grinding out a lot of dark scenarios about the future. Rollbacks in wages, closing because of the new American Community College coming in etc.

It may very well be like Mark Twain - reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated (sp?) but there's lots of cafuffle in the hen house right now according to my friend there.

quizas108 · Joined: 10 Feb 2010 Posts: 7 Location: Toronto

Really?? I've already passed two interviews... Sad

Now I'm very curious to hear from anyone who is actually working there...what's going y'all?

Thanks again helenl!

Canuck Gal · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Location: China

Dear quizas,
Congratulations on passing your two interviews. Here are some answers to your questions. Housing provided by CNAQ is adequate. There is no special housing for singles; you will likely get a two-bed/two bath flat in one of the apartment buildings leased by the college. Depending on which building you live in, the daily commute will be between 20 and 40 minutes. Early morning traffic can sometimes be a problem. Faculty are expected to be on campus for 6 working hours each day, Sunday to Thursday. There are excellent fitness facilities at the college, and some of the apartment buildings have gym equipment for everyone's use. Am I happy with my decision to work here - Yes! Good luck with the rest of the hiring process.

lollaerd · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 337

It is said that this one of the best places to work in Qatar. They only employ "Canuck" - what a weird name. I wonder where that comes from??? Well, maybe no weirder than being called a "Yank". Well, I'd rather be a Yank than a Canuck. What a term! Can anyone enlighten me as to why the Canadians called themselves Canuck??

millie18 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 185

check this link http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/04/26/qatar-cna-overpayment-426.html

Lonesome Dove · Joined: 01 Nov 2008 Posts: 24

If I were you, I'd think twice about coming. Firstly, the position seems very unstable here. Big scandal breaking just now; all over the news in Canada. The president of CNA back in Newfoundland has resigned. There may be more to the scandal than we've yet seen.

The contract with Qatar, due to be renewed last year, is not yet renewed. Folks have just stopped talking about it. This latest scandal--not the first-- is obviously not going to help. A new "American" community college has been started; looks a lot like a replacement. The college has been unable for over a year to find a new president for the Qatar campus.

While some individuals are happy here, internal polls show the morale overall is about as low as employee morale can go, especially in the EFL department. And this is not new--it has been the case for years, which suggests future improvement is unlikely.

It's not a good atmosphere.

quizas108 · Joined: 10 Feb 2010 Posts: 7 Location: Toronto

Whoa...that's *very* interesting information. Thanks millie18 and lonesome dove. I kept hearing that the money there was positively "amazing" -- almost too good to be true, perhaps! My goodness.

I think I may hold off....

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 4:17 pm Post subject: Re: CNAQ situation

johnslat · Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:05 pm Post subject:

Well, it doesn't get much more 'Mercan than Texas:

"Houston Community College will develop the first American-style community college in Qatar, officials announced here Monday at this week's meeting of the American Association of Community Colleges.

From among eight American two-year institutions vying for the opportunity, the Qatar government's Supreme Education Council selected Houston Community College to create a �custom curriculum� and found a �fully operational� community college in Doha by this fall. Houston Community College and Qatar officials refused to disclose the financial value of the five-year contract or to provide a copy of it to Inside Higher Ed; however, The Houston Chronicle reports that the contract is worth $45 million. Officials from Houston and Qatar contend that it constitutes �the largest international service partnership with an American community college to date.�

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/04/20/qatar

Regards,
John

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

I would guess that the choice of Houston was made because a couple of the men on the Qatari side attended university in Houston and/or one of their old profs was on the US team... Laughing

VS

lukey · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 68

I worked at CNAQ - left three years ago. At that time the atmosphere at the college was very bad - an employee survey revealed some shocking conditions - morale was extremely low. Many employees were being harassed. Has the situation changed? I understand that a new "program" was implemented - to try and improve conditions - how has that gone? I see that there is still no new President - the VP is acting President again and some key executives are gone?It appears nothing has changed.

MilesDavis · Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

Houston, we have a problem.

CNAQ may have as much as two more years to live, but surely no more.

Yesterday's local Doha paper featured a full-page spread on the new �Community College of Qatar.� Here's what they will offer that CNAQ does not:

1.Free tuition.

2.A college degree, instead of a diploma, after two years.

3.Articulation agreements with �all universities in the country.� CNAQ has none with anyone in Qatar, and few anywhere else.

It also looks as though it will still compete head-on with CNAQ by offering the same programs: �in primarily three areas initially � business, technology and energy.� Business is CNAQ's biggest faculty; �Technology� sounds likely to cover engineering and IT; leaving CNA a clear field only on Health Sciences.

And even if the programs are not competing directly, once there is one college offering free tuition, two-year degrees, and unlimited local articulation, and another that is not, the public outcry will surely soon require moving all programs over.

Looks like it's all been perfectly timed to walk in and take over as soon as the current contract between Qatar and Newfoundland is up, in two years' time.

As if that were not enough bad news for the folks still suffering at CNAQ, here's a recent story in the Canadian press (CBC):

http://www.cbc.ca/m/rich/canada/newfoundland/story/2010/04/30/college-president-gag-qatar-429.html

Note the last two paragraphs:

�Meanwhile, although King had said in a statement Monday that affected employees in Qatar would 'continue to receive their current salary for the remainder of their contract,' he said Thursday government has not ruled out seeking repayment from college employees who were overpaid.

He said cabinet will make that decision once an external review of the problem is finished.�

So the Newfoundland government is now looking into trying to recoup the overpayments to faculty in Qatar.

Legally, of course, they can't. These people had signed contracts. For anyone who has already left, they'd never collect. But for those who stay�I'd guess they could try deducting it from future pay, and count on at least some people not daring or being able to sue them. Possession is nine points of the law, after all.

Or perhaps even better, lower everyone's pay in new contracts below the level funded by Qatar, and pocket the difference.

Can't see how else they could do it.

millie18 · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Posts: 185

Is the free tuition for all students or only nationals?

While I know the new Houston organization has MENA experience in Egypt, I doubt if they're familiar with the "typical" GCC national student and the difference in work ethic, language skills, ability to think critically, and general "hunger" to get ahead. (yes, there are exceptions, but they generally gravitate to one of the universities, not a college).

I hope they've done some due diligence.

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

Actually Houston CC does have Gulf experience - helping a similar set-up in Saudi. So, they should have the general idea... although the teachers that they bring over may not and thus may be in for a bit of a surprise. Actually even if you have been warned, it can be a difficult transition. Cool

And Houston has always had many students from the Gulf, so hopefully a proportion of the staff will at least have experience with Arabic speakers or may even be Arab-Americans.

VS