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University of Nizwa - student protests & mass dismissals
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happyroofus



Joined: 08 Oct 2010
Posts: 80
Location: Middle East
PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Isabel has it fairly bang on..

There is no reason in the world why the place cannot be salvaged, or even much improved, by the appointment of such an individual.
Alas, even that second-in-command has been saying that he's presently exploring his options. Pity.
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isabel



Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
happyroofus wrote:
Isabel has it fairly bang on..

There is no reason in the world why the place cannot be salvaged, or even much improved, by the appointment of such an individual.
Alas, even that second-in-command has been saying that he's presently exploring his options. Pity.


I would think that the right person could do at least half as much good as the wrong one has done harm. One person can really affect things.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I actually didn't know for sure whether the person referred to here was Arab or Western. Personally I have had some good Arab managers in the Gulf... and a number of abysmal Western managers. I have found management skills in general to be lacking in TEFL in the Gulf, and passport seemed to be irrelevant.

VS
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isabel



Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
veiledsentiments wrote:
I actually didn't know for sure whether the person referred to here was Arab or Western. Personally I have had some good Arab managers in the Gulf... and a number of abysmal Western managers. I have found management skills in general to be lacking in TEFL in the Gulf, and passport seemed to be irrelevant.

VS


On that I totally agree. And that is a systemic problem- it isn't easy for Arabs (and Asians I would add) to sort a westerner's hyperbole from reality, and they end up choosing self-promoting types from the west to management positions.

As for Arab managers, merit has not yet made it broadly into the criteria for promotion. So long as tribal, familial and religious criteria are used for promotion, good managers will be few on the ground. A mullah in a management position is a problem because it may be really hard to remove or reprimand him. Hence one of the problems with the language program at NIZWA.
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 2:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
With a problem involving a manager holding the local passport, the only choice is often a promotion because they can't be fired. That said... I have too often seen that same "cure" in US companies where I worked. We've all heard of the "Peter Principle" - which states that people are promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. I've also worked in US companies that would have been good examples of management positions held because of wasta and/or familial ties. Cool

The Gulf is so new to all this... education, management, international business... our expectations are likely as unrealistic as the demands of the current student protestors.

VS
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happyroofus



Joined: 08 Oct 2010
Posts: 80
Location: Middle East
PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes Isabel, you're very much correct re: the present Fumbling Director - is a mullah (of sorts). Known to be a friend of the current High Mufti himself and protected by his VC school-pal.

Right now, there are attempts by the said Dr. Fumbles to hold back on about 20+ teachers requested holiday time and to force them to take the dates they're given with most having to accept base-pay for Summer vacation (if and when they get it).

The place right now really is in an absolute mess!
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russianbear



Joined: 10 Mar 2011
Posts: 9
PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Post deleted by author

Last edited by russianbear on Fri Apr 01, 2011 4:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
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isabel



Joined: 07 Mar 2003
Posts: 510
Location: God's green earth
PostPosted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:12 am    Post subject: Re: russianbear Reply with quote
russianbear wrote:
Quote:
Yes Isabel, you're very much correct re: the present Fumbling Director - is a mullah (of sorts). Known to be a friend of the current High Mufti himself and protected by his VC school-pal.


My question is this: Why is it that everyone can make as many comments about Nizwa University and the management there on this board but when teachers try to post about ELS and their management of the Buraimi and Sharqiyah university projects the posts get deleted and locked almost immediately!


I haven't been naming names- I think that is a big no-no here on Dave's. I would hate to see the thread locked.
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