Job Discussion Forums

KZteacher · Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 9

There are three strands to the "what is it like" question.

1) Astana itself is probably a bit nicer than one would expect. Lots of fresh fruit, nice people, and the old, Russian town is almost buzzing (sort of).
2) The local staff are, for want of a better word, wide boys. For non-UK people, think second hand car salesmen or Turkish businessmen circa 1985. We are currently living in an unlicenced building, on the 23rd-30th floors, with power cuts and no functioning fire safety system (could you walk up 25 flights, 'cos we have to). There are no laboratories for the science subjects. Inventory lists of promised equipment, for offices and flats, have still not arrived. These include things like toner cartridges, sufficient photocopiers, books for the main library....
3) The UCL staff- there are a lot of very nice teachers here, who care about their subjects. The management, however, is horrific. This should be qualified- in terms of EAP or subject teaching, it is no worse than most presessional courses in the UK. However, we are not in the UK, and the teachers rely on the management, both in Astana and in the UK, to support them with non-curricular issues. This DOES NOT happen, and is the reason for people leaving due to "illness", people dropping out in London, the shortage of staff, particularly subject teachers, and the hiring of 3 recent Kazakh BSc graduates in Physics to cover the shortfall in Physics tutorial teaching. Beware the false promises and the line favoured by the head of the school, "We are pioneers" (read "you are pioneers, not me").

Students are questioning the wisdom of having joined the programme, when they could have studied abroad. However, they have signed a $20,000 contract with the Uni, so they cannot leave. Teachers are keeping quiet, but there are constant rumblings, and you get the feeling that something big may kick off soon. The salary's good, though.

You have been warned!

Kipling · Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:32 am Post subject: Gracias

Many Thanks

Mr K Very Happy

KZteacher · Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 9

Another teacher quit on Thursday...

lord dobbin · Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 11

Would this be because of point 2 or 3 in your previous posting?
Beyond teaching and work, how bearable are things there? How are apartments, pubs, locals and colleagues? Is there an outpost feel - I mean do you feel you are lacking things and counting days to holidays?
Thanks for any information

KZteacher · Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 9

It's probably a combination of 2 and 3. Of course, as she has already left, she can't answer for herself, so only speculation can give an answer. Apparently, her husband had been here for 6 weeks, and the office didn't bother to register him with the police, as per Kazakhstan legal requirements. This could be a) because UCL were misinformed by NU about the legislation (point 2), or b) because they themselves forgot, then didn't accept responsibility (point 3). But there may have been a completely different reason for her leaving altogether...

...in other news, one of the UCL London staff flew in on emergency cover today...

KZteacher · Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 9

I forgot to answer the second half of the post.

It is quite a nice city, although a bit boring where we live. The public transport is good, and there are plenty of things to do (including pubs), especially in the older part of town. The flats were a disaster when we moved in, but have improved somewhat. There are still question marks over whether the building actually has a habitation certificate and functioning fire safety system- it certainly didn't a short while ago, and noone here has seen it!

The locals are very friendly, although very quiet compared to other bits of the CIS. Colleagues are generally very nice, and mostly know their stuff. There is a nice age range, from 27 to around 60. The only negative is that we all live in the same block, which could prove difficult once cabin fever sets in during the cold months.

Hope that answers your questions!

lord dobbin · Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 11

thank you very much

Desert Nose · Joined: 03 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

As of close of business Jan. 6, 2011, teachers still hadn't been paid for December, 2010.
If there's a sure way to 'p_ _ _ _ off' any staff in any organization, it's to mess up with their pay, especially just after Christmas. This does make people annoyed.

slaqdog · Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 211

January 9th still not been paid for December-Welcome back to Kazakh-f*****g-stan man! Happy New Year.
The reason given was over a non payment of 57tenge in tax(about 1/2 a cent) which then meant the bank put a block on the money transfers and the person from Nazarbayev University couldn't sort it out because they are permanently out to lunch when not on holiday or preparing self congratulatory cerificate (I am not joking half the admin staff got them for their quote 'courage at work')

KZteacher · Joined: 07 Nov 2010 Posts: 9

...at least we were offered an "advance" on the salary that hadn't been paid. Nice. Although it would be paid in the UK, which doesn't really help with the shopping here (in minus 30-odd).

Makes me think it's not just NU that is "out to lunch", metaphorically speaking. It's going to be a cracking first day bitch-fest tomorrow... Very Happy

praguecity · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 9

Can someone help me with this question:

Who is the current director of the UCL prep studies in Astana at this uni? (not the London office)

Thanks

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Praguecity,

I have sent you a pm with the name.

xyiq · Joined: 15 Oct 2011 Posts: 7

Hi,

Thanks for posting your comments on how things have been going for you in Astana, you have my sympathies!

Wish I'd read your discussion a little earlier though as I have been offered a contract with the Center for Education Policy, which is a subsidiary of Nazarbayev University in Astana. It's really a TEFL post, on a new-ish teacher training programme. I've mostly worked in S.E. Asia so this would be a whole new venture for me.

Any recent thoughts on the CEP and Nazarbayev University?

Thanks in advance

almatythen · Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Posts: 14

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php?topic=80425.0

xyiq · Joined: 15 Oct 2011 Posts: 7

Thanks for that and the pm which I can't reply to as I'm a newby.

I was wondering and getting concerned as although the offer and holidays were much better than expected I need to give details of medical insurance as part of the visa application. This is offered in the contract but no-one can give me any details other than it will be organized after arrival. I'm puzzled about his as CEP must surely know who their medical insurance providers are.

Other things which are not real problems but a pain are the amount of apostilling/legalizing and form filing required.