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Azuro
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: London
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 Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:38 pm Post subject: Uni. of Nizwa again |
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Hello, I am new to the forum and I was wondering if you could help. The university of Nizwa is offering a position in a field other ESL but I just can�t find any information on the web�that was until I found these threads. Still ok to ask?
I�ve tried to contact them but my emails remain unanswered. So, if someone could address my questions I�d appreciate it.
Their ad mentions 900-1100 OMR + roundtrip airfare but nothing about tax, housing or health insurance. Does this sound feasible assuming that they wouldn�t provide housing. I�ll be travelling alone so would I be able to survive with this amount? How much can expect to save up if anything?
What�s the atmosphere like at work? Are students ok to work with? I have a prior teaching experience in Egypt and I must say that it wasn�t always easy and it took some severe adjustment on my part.
Cheers.
A
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:25 am Post subject: Re: Uni. of Nizwa again |
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| Azuro wrote: |
| I�ve tried to contact them but my emails remain unanswered. So, if someone could address my questions I�d appreciate it. |
This time of the year tends to be the twilight zone with many people on summer leave. Have you been offered a job or are you trying to get a response to your application? If you have applied quite long ago and have heard nothing, it may mean that they are not interested or the position has been filled. These employers never let you know if they are "not' interested... unfortunately. UoN is known to have a rather inefficient HR dept. So, you never know... you could hear tomorrow... or next month... or never.
| Azuro wrote: |
| Their ad mentions 900-1100 OMR + roundtrip airfare but nothing about tax, housing or health insurance. Does this sound feasible assuming that they wouldn�t provide housing. I�ll be travelling alone so would I be able to survive with this amount? How much can expect to save up if anything? |
There are no taxes in Oman, so you need only worry about taxation as relates to your home country. There should be some kind of health coverage as I believe that it is required under the labor law. The usual standard for education related contracts is that they supply a furnished flat. If you have an MA or PhD + 5 or more years of related experience, you should be getting the 1100 plus a free furnished flat.
Whether the pay is high enough would depend on your educational credentials and experience. How much you save... or not... would depend on your lifestyle... just like everywhere.  The biggest expenditure for most people is a car... most start out leasing.
| Azuro wrote: |
| What�s the atmosphere like at work? Are students ok to work with? I have a prior teaching experience in Egypt and I must say that it wasn�t always easy and it took some severe adjustment on my part. |
I have taught both Egyptians and Omanis. What you will find is quite a different personality type. Personally I enjoyed both nationalities as students. As far as the atmosphere, the TEFL dept does have its ups and downs. It was rather a rough year, but I hear that they have a new manager and new people coming in, so things could improve. But, hard to say how it is in whatever dept it is that you are going into...
VS |
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Azuro
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 10:19 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for your input VS.
In fact, the ad just came out a few days ago so I was /am trying to get some insights about the offer before applying. I guess I�ll go ahead and wait.
As for your questions, I do have an MA (and another one in an unrelated field), and +13 or relevant years of experience. I am just coming back from a short break from teaching but still 900-1100 seems on the low end to me? I am being unrealistic? I�m more of an outdoor type of guy and don�t fancy driving unless it�s really necessary. Would I feel too isolated in Nirwa? Not exactly Cairo I suppose.
Well, let�s just see if I hear from them first.
Cheers.
A
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Azuro wrote: |
In fact, the ad just came out a few days ago so I was /am trying to get some insights about the offer before applying. I guess I�ll go ahead and wait.
As for your questions, I do have an MA (and another one in an unrelated field), and +13 or relevant years of experience. I am just coming back from a short break from teaching but still 900-1100 seems on the low end to me? I am being unrealistic? I�m more of an outdoor type of guy and don�t fancy driving unless it�s really necessary. Would I feel too isolated in Nirwa? Not exactly Cairo I suppose.
Well, let�s just see if I hear from them first. |
OK... if you hear from them, I'd try for the top of that scale plus housing. Oman's pay isn't stellar by any means, but for someone who enjoys the outdoors and an interesting culture in transition, it is a pleasant place to spend a few years. It certainly won't have the excitement of living in Cairo. There are two university level institutions in Nizwa so there are a few expats around, and Muscat isn't far away.
Especially if you enjoy the outdoors, a car is crucial... a 4WD... and the ability to hit the mountain hikes... or the beaches near Muscat. You WILL be very restricted without wheels. Living in Oman is rather like American suburbia... even Muscat requires a car. It is not a place like Cairo where you step onto your street to find a black and white just waiting to take you somewhere for a pittance.
VS |
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Duffy
Joined: 29 Oct 2005
Posts: 449
Location: Oman
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:07 am Post subject: |
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Well I for one am looking forward to my move to Nizwa next month. Got the Work Visa and I am back teaching again.
Looking forward to finding new and interesting places to see and things to do. Muscat and the big food stores so close!! 
Also of course, perhaps meeting people I know and as the Irish say "Strangers who are friends you have yet to meet".
However, I will miss Salalah very much. 
Duffy  |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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Mabruk Duffy!! Nizwa will be a change for you. But, great that you can get back in the classroom.
VS |
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Azuro
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: London
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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Mabrouk!
Here, I finally received an email from them informing me that they were still waiting for my letters of recommendation�which had been sent but bounced on several occasions. They now have the entire application pack so I�m crossing fingers. However, I didn�t manage to get more details from them so I still don�t know if the salary is inclusive of health insurance and/or housing or not. Probably too early to ask...
To thegoodprofessor: sorry I can�t reply to your pm yet as I have to have posted at least 5 messages to be able to do so�but thank you for offering your advice. I will do so with more details as soon as I have reached the 5 posts.
A |
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balqis
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 373
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| Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 9:12 pm Post subject: |
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I know, and from what I know, the housing allowance is separate money, and on top of the salary offered by the uni, at least for the ESL faculty.
It can be taken as an allowance or the housing offered by the uni may be taken instead, the choice being entirely up to you.
balqis
Last edited by balqis on Sun Aug 22, 2010 8:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| Azuro wrote: |
| Here, I finally received an email from them informing me that they were still waiting for my letters of recommendation�which had been sent but bounced on several occasions. They now have the entire application pack so I�m crossing fingers. |
Their HR department is notoriously inefficient. After Egypt, you know what I mean... learn to say "ma'alish" quietly to yourself...
VS |
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Duffy
Joined: 29 Oct 2005
Posts: 449
Location: Oman
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 6:55 am Post subject: |
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VS I have to disagree with your thoughts on the HR department in the Uni.
The guy heading up that office kept in constant touch with us throughout the whole process (and it was very long!) On one partticular day we mailed each other seven times within an hour sorting out dates etc.
I am wondering just who the others are dealing with there??
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balqis
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 373
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 8:25 am Post subject: |
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My dealings with the HR guy have been exemplary too.
blqs |
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Azuro
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: London
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 8:31 am Post subject: |
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Hi VS and Duffy,
Indeed it is a sweet reminder of Egypt�where btw I learned another � very appropriate - expression �In Shallah� to cover a whole range of situations. I can�t tell yet if the HR department is inefficient or simply works slowly but what I do know is that they don�t always respond to emails (nothing unusual so far considering the number of applicants). Though, they acknowledged my application after a while in a very cordial way.
In fact, I haven�t been dealing with the HR department but with the �Head of External Relations� of the department I�m applying to. Could it be that my questions will be addressed at another level by the HR department once the first or second batch of applicants will have been filtered�
I guess I�ll know more once the deadline (mid-September) is passed.
Thanks for your input about housing.
A |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Duffy wrote: |
| VS I have to disagree with your thoughts on the HR department in the Uni. |
Mabruk!! in the last three years, you are the first person to make such a claim. I have been through dozens of emails holding the hands of people who were having nightmare problems with them. Not nastiness, but inefficiency and repeated loss of paperwork and not answering questions completely. Hopefully this is a sign of some new efficient employees!!
| Azuro wrote: |
| Indeed it is a sweet reminder of Egypt�where btw I learned another � very appropriate - expression �In Shallah� to cover a whole range of situations. |
Yes, insha'Allah is another useful phrase. You will find that some of the basic Arabic greetings are different in the Gulf to Egypt, but the students will happily give you some quick lessons.
I would assume that the slowness is a combo of the new hire paperwork and Ramadhan. Fortunately, there is plenty of time as I hear that classes are not supposed to start until about October 1.
VS |
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isabel
Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Duffy wrote: |
VS I have to disagree with your thoughts on the HR department in the Uni.
The guy heading up that office kept in constant touch with us throughout the whole process (and it was very long!) On one partticular day we mailed each other seven times within an hour sorting out dates etc.
I am wondering just who the others are dealing with there??
Duffy :lol: :lol: |
HR is a mixed bag. The head of HR is a terrific woman who really knows how to take care of business. There are a few real duds there, though, and as the head of HR was out on leave last year, it was really horrible at times. I think the head of HR keeps the guys in line and working. There is good reason they are promoting the advancement of women in Oman!
As for housing, I suggest to anyone going there to hold out for the allowance and find your own place. Three months in the Safari Hotel will make you crazy fast. |
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Azuro
Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Location: London
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I guess I will never find out it they offer housing�I learned today that I only made it to the waiting list. For one thing though, the HR works fast! They started interviewing candidates the day after they posted the ad on the web.
Thanks for all of you for posting infos about the uni of Nizwa.
A |
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