Job Discussion Forums

[homeless vet]

[uaeobserver]

Teaching at HCT can be fun, as long as you stay away from the lunatics.
(more often your colleagues, not the students)

The school is open admission, and occasionally admits "wasta" students that have no business being in a classroom. otherwise.

The school markets itself as being much more than it really is.

This is NOT a western education environment. Critical, self-reflective thinking is not encouraged or tolerated. The central administration in Abu Dhabi has an entire army of spies that wander around the system, reporting back to the esteemed VC and his head-nodding minions.

Ironically, the school is the main platform for several "academic" conferences that feature Nobel laureates, VIPs, and dignitaries. There's hundreds of New York City elite who still fondly remember that cute little (world class) school in the UAE headed up by that nice little Arab man. ....
Chances are, you'll have a chance to help sustain these illusions.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[sheikh yer money-maker]

I've been given an offer from HCT. But, I keep reading negative information about it.

Is it bad as I keep on reading about, or just a lot of disgruntled employees? What would cause so much disgruntlement?

Thanks for any insights!

[helenl]

HCT is undergoing a major shift in its educational focus. It has been a goal of the current VC and his super duper directors to effect change from a vocational type college to a degree granting institution. Much to the detriment of the students and the UAE marketplace. Most HCT students will never complete an acrredited university program - they have found diploma programs difficult enough in the past.

In this shift of focus, HCT is doing away with ongoing EFL teaching support - once the students hit a certain level (whether it is IELTS or other standard) they will no longer receive EFL instruction. This is a major mistake - these students do not live in an English language environment - they need ongoing language support to even have half a chance at success.

There is a place for diploma graduates in Emirati business society - however, HCT in its shortsightedness is ignoring that market.

As for disguntled employees, arbitrary and illogical decisions, personal vendettas at some colleges, the usual spies, etc.etc. have finally hit a flashpoint with the lastest UAEU and curriculum changes. Most employees would like to help their students succeed at the level at which they are capable to entering into the workforce - but like so many institutions in the GCC - it's all show - it doesn't matter if there is any substance so long as it looks like good things are happening.

[Middle East Beast]

[veiledsentiments]

[sheikh yer money-maker]

Sorry I just find it hard to believe that a school system with that much bad press could still have people willing to work for it. I don't read ANY good. You'd think that an apologist would post if there was something good about it. I guess that's why they offered me such a good starting salary. I'm going to have to think hard about this one. Don't want to be jumping out of the pan and into the fire, you know!

[celticbutterfly]

There ARE a couple of good things about working for HCT. However, recent changes to the curriculum and budget worries mean the powers that be are trying very hard to wipe out any of those good things.
One good thing was the salary. Hell, it's tax free, and probably higher than you'd get in your home country (except the dirham has tanked at the moment because it's fixed to the $US). First signs of trouble were the axing of the 'bonus' system, and I have the feeling that the annual increments will be next. The UAE is going all-out to finance their military at the moment (big boys' toys - hell it's much more glamorous to have big fighter planes than a good education system), and the education sector is suffering badly through a lack of funds - not just HCT but everywhere.
Second thing was the relative freedom you had to teach what you wanted in your English classes. There were books, but you had room to move and use that Masters Degree to tailor your teaching to fit the students. That, sadly, has gone with the introduction of the new foundations system. A totally page-by-page, book-driven, rote learning, memorisation of discreet points teaching method that is driving teachers to distraction. The 'aim' is to push the students to a totally unobtainable (for most of them) IELTS Academic level 5.5 at the end of 2 years. Only students starting at the higher levels of this foundations course will have any hope of reaching this standard, which means the students starting at lower levels (i.e. the majority) will have a totally wasted year at college until they fail out. There are no provisions for these lower students to continue their studies, as the Diploma programs are being axed. There is also no room for creativity or the slightest diversion from the mandated teaching plan, as you would then fall behind. This is not what teachers with a Masters Degree want to be doing. Anyone with a breath could teach this course. One wonders if that is the next move - to hire lesser-trained teachers so they can pay them less.

To sum up, HCT WAS a good place to be, but it's not now unless you can secure a teaching position in the new Bachelor's courses (and your students will still not be up to any sort of high level). The rote teaching at foundations level is totally dissatisfying teaching and not for anyone who enjoys their profession (think the Korean and Japanese cram schools - it's exactly like that BUT you have to stay at college allllll day in between your classes). Budget worries mean everyone is now worried about their end-of-contract payouts and even the annual payrises. Housing prices in most of the emirates are still high, so teachers are not getting the good housing of old. Management are paranoid about their own jobs, and the screws are always tightening on the hapless staff below. It's not a good time to be working for HCT.

[BrownSauce]

What an understatement - "It's not a good time to be working for HCT."!!

It's the worst time in my long career with them, definitely, and I plus several colleagues are working on our individual 'exit strategies' at this very moment.

Anybody who's planning on boarding this sinking ship is doomed, doomed!!

[Afra]

For VS. Travelling from many parts of Sharjah to University City now takes so long, an hour is common, that lots of the teachers moved to Dubai some years ago. The "improvements" to National Paints roundabout haven't been effective and the stretch of Emirates Road from Al Rashidya right through Sharjah to Ajman is constantly gridlocked.

[veiledsentiments]

[adorabilly]

It is so bad, that if you are on emirates road going to dubai, you get backed up in bumper to bumper traffic about 10 km away from national paints, and it takes between 25 and 40 minutes to move those 10 km.

it is faster and easier to just to down to the 611 (which is about 10 to 15 km away from emirates road). Even factoring in driving down to it, and then driving back to your destination it is still MUCH faster.

[Sheikh N Bake]