Job Discussion Forums

[optimistic]

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[helenl]

I believe there are several people who post here who have MAs from those other universities of which you speak. I think VSs is from the American University of Cairo for example.

However, some universities are looked upon more favorably than others (AUC and AUB I think being two of those) simply because there are few, if any, fraudulent practices (i.e. diploma selling) occuring there, they are accredited by bodies that aren't being paid to accredit their programs etc.

Don't know about Tunisian unis.

[optimistic]

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[helenl]

While it may not be true, perception may play a more important role than fact unfortunately. Hopefully someone will be able to speak to the perceived value of Tunisian MAs in UAE.

[nomad soul]

Optimistic, one way to find out is to go through the Web sites of Emirati universities and do a search within each site for "English faculty." If you're lucky, you'll get a list of the most recent teachers along with their academic credentials. It's tedious work but may give you the answer you're looking for. By the way, I met a couple of Tunisian EFL teachers at the TESOL Arabia conference this past March who were teaching at UAE universities. However, I'm not sure where they attained their degrees.

[optimistic]

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[helenl]

Might want to proof read your last post Optimistic

[optimistic]

dear helenl,
are you offended. i meant that any form of communication requires a speaker and a hearer. even when you speak to yourself, you`re at the same time a speaker and a hearer. hope this will help.

[veiledsentiments]

I doubt that she was offended... I expect that she was merely confused, as was I. And I am even more confused by your explanation. But... doesn't really matter.

Yes, my MA was from AUC whose degrees are US accredited. Nomad Soul had a good idea to look through the faculty lists of UAE universities to see if you can find degrees from your university. I have worked with a number of Tunisians, but mostly in Oman rather than the UAE.

VS

[Gulezar]

Apparently, some schools are not only shy about the diplomas, but also about the passport. Please continue to be optimistic, but the "Arab Spring" has cut down the list of acceptable passports with certain HR departments. Believe it or not, this even includes those who hold two passports. I would not say that this would be all schools, but there are a few out there with this unstated policy.

[optimistic]

Just wanted to post a quick and heartfelt "thank you" to all who post and share their stories on forums such as these. Going through such a frustrating job hunt experience that can be so out of one's hands, it's a comfort to hear your stories and comments.

[Maria Redwine]

Degrees such as BA, MA and Doctor no longer have any value in Gulf States of the Middle East where everything is for sale. ----Including education titles.

Even the Higher colleges now keeps calling itself a university although it will struggle for ever for accreditation of its questionable courses and educational practices and its fourth-rate managers who have contributed very little to research and development in education. It has NO big names! Yet it keeps boasting of its own excellence as if one day somebody might believe the expensive propganda.

UAE has more than 70 universities, nearly 60 in Dubai. This is really a joke. There are no standards. Any old building or two rooms can become a university overnight. Pay the fee to the trade zone.How many universities has London? New York? Boston? Sydney? The UAE numbers of universities make education as meaningful as dress shops.

If your degree is from any other country EXCEPT the UAE, it should have value. It will have earned respect. Over time.Gulf education is in its infancy. Education in Africa, Iraq, Iran, Turkey etc is thousands of years old.

The problem is that many ignorant people in the gulf will not respect what you earned by your intelligence and hard work.

My happiest years were spent working with great enlightened students in Tunis and Algiers. Graduates from there deserve much more than the Gulf can offer.

[Middle East Beast]

[secretsquirrel]

How completely true. In all the years that I worked at HCT's CERT (Centre for Excellence in Research and Training) I never once found out anything of interest regarding research into teaching.

In fact, I don't think there was anybody doing such research; it was all just a name with absolutely no substance behind it - none at all!!

[Badar Bin Bada Boom]