Job Discussion Forums

Jacob · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 20

I worked for Buckland Education Group www.bucklandgroup.com. It is nothing but a well-disguised agent. I wouldn't recommend working for this outfit. It's run by Ou Wen, a chinese national, who doesn't really care about his teachers, his school affiliates or anyone else but himself and his commission. The Buckland "group" takes a exorbitant RMB 40,000 deposit from the school where Ou Wen places his teachers! Well above the limit imposed by the Chinese govt'.

Requirements to be a teacher, be a native English teacher. They accept college graduates and non college graduates alike and place them in whatever chinese school wants to pay the comission. There are also two contracts which create a number of problems due to language barriers. One contract is the standard Chinese teacher contract in English and the other is a contract drawn up by Buckland and the school that is in Chinese. Try to find common ground in any dispute and it's nearly impossible.

I would definately recommend China as a place to to teach, I had a wonderful experience. But I would beware of disguised agents such as The Buckland Group and work for a professional school like Wall Street or a University with better requirements. Good luck to all new teachers and enjoy China!
Jacob

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

Sigh. That guy has an accunt here. Expect him to show up. Every once in a while someone does the decent public service of Bucky Bashing (as I call it, this is the third thread I can remember in the 2 months I've been a member here) that I've come across.

Bucky, if you're listening, all these people can't be wee weed off with you for no reason at all, so spare us the defence post. Rolling Eyes

Thanks for the tip, Jacob; although I try to avoid recruiters.

Peter · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 161

The ratio of bad versus good in regards to Owen Buckland in all his variable activities has been 99 to 1 over the last 5 years.
This guy has created more aggro than most and should be the Godfather of Rip Off ESL Practices

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Sunaru,
of course, Owen is a Chinese. Hails from Hunan.

I beg to put Peter's comments in a more charitable proportion.

First thing, Owen used to be the founder and director of his own Buckland school in Yangshuo, and it was run in a decent fashion albeit as a money-making operation (nothing wrong with that, please!).
SOme three years ago, he sold it to someone who expanded it to include several branches. In addition, they began acting as a recruiter for other schools. It is this latter activity that has, rightly or otherwise, drawn fire.
There are two contracts you must sign - one with Owen's school, another with your actual employer. Buckland loans you out to a school, and they demand a deposit upfront from your employer, from which they pay your salary, with a certain balance to be their profit if all goes according to the book.
What's not so clear is how much the profit is. Owen claimed it was "maybe 5000 RMB", in which case he would be a lot more humanistic than anybody else. Some believe it is considerably more, but they can't prove their claims.

An interesting fact is that the holding of a deposit safeguards everybody's interests: You can't run away without a valid reason (and, of course, whether a 'valid' reason would be accepted is another matter); the school cannot default on salaries, and Buckland is guaranteed the resources it needs to pay your salary until you leave, and their own profit. I personally see little wrong in this, unlike many other recruiters.

What we do not know is who can hire an expat from Buckland? According to Owen, he draws a certain line, but just where that is is not clear. And, whether the schools that hire expats are allowed to sponsor you for a work visa is yet another matter of discussion and doubt.
In any case, if Buckland hires you for their own school you have very little to complain about.

Kapt. Krunch · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 163

I just finished working for Buckland. While he is a bit of a hustler(gotta love it), he does help his teachers out. In fact I have found him to be flexible. He does always think of the angles but what good businessman doesn't?. If the school doesn't pay him on time, you still get your money. They act unfairly to you, you're not happy...he solves it. You have a visa problem...no problem. He juggles chainsaws and makes it work. His biggest problem is that he tries to juggle too much.
Yes he's a scheister, yes you should be careful. ..but once you have him on your side ..many other things cease to be concerns. If he owes you something...try to collect. I find (as in most cases) it depends on who YOU are. What are YOUR commm skills like in a business situation.
I will not be working for him again but that isn't because he is a BAD recruiter. I think many people want a baby-sitter when they come here and think that he will do this...no, he is busy. If you are stuck...if you can't find a job... stranded...he will probably help you. Yes he will make more than you off of your labour...big deal..that is what "head-hunters" do.

owen buckland

owen buckland · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:32 pm Post subject:

It's so boring to read the same topic from the same person, does any one else who ever worked with Buckland like to start a thread?

owen buckland · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:33 pm Post subject:

owen buckland · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:37 pm Post subject:

owen buckland · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 5:54 pm Post subject:

smarts · Joined: 24 Feb 2003 Posts: 159 Location: beijing

Its no surpirse to hear from Owen that foreign teachers try to copy his idea....nothing wrong with that.....that's business...sour grapes when it doesnt work out as nicely as what they hoped.

from the foreign teachers in China that I know, i sure get the impression from them that they believe they have the "high moral ground" and that they are the ones to be trusted and believed and they do nothing wrong....... in fact, being a school owner or recruiter and looking after the "foreign teacher" is in many cases like looking after a spoilt little child who has an over inflated ego and a tenuous grasp on reality

by the way, if you start a thread to "bag" someone, then you are really writing tickets on yourself if you believe they cant or shouldnt come on here to defend themself.

Changjiang · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 55

Thanks Jacob for another pointless re-hashing of the blindingly obvious mixed with the completely irrelevant.

Does anyone care what limit the Chinese gov't imposes on teacher deposits? Does it matter? Does anyone believe that signing a contract in China without asking WHERE you would be teaching is a good idea? The first question I heard out of Owens mouth was "What city do you want to teach in?", which is a remarkably poor attempt at "disguising" his recruiter status.

For the record, I recently received a surprise bonus from my school of 3x my monthly salary upon completion of my (Buckland negotiated) contract. All the regular terms of my contract were fulfilled, but I don't chatter about it unless provoked.

I've worked for recruiters in Canada and found that they can be useful to get your feet wet and make contacts in an industry. Jacob, if you had a problem, I'd suggest it was personal, not systemic.

aaronschwartz · Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 145 Location: Beijing

Look at it from this perspective please??

Owen is still around while many of his detractors are long gone!

Owen is an entrepreneur. It does not matter what is his nationality or ethnic origin. He has a business mind and he must be somewhat successful or he would be out of business by now.

Owen, want an American partner with 25 years western business experience who can silence the critics once and for all?

owen buckland · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2003 12:43 am Post subject:

Thank you for your offer,aaronschwartz
You mis-understood me, I don't want to stop any one who has a complain or criticize, actually this may help me to do a better service, if no complain I will think my service is the best, you never can be the best, just try to do more and better. Tell you the truth, when I started this business, I was the same as the others, but I did get quite a lot compains about the school----not paying on time, often change schedual without notice, no roundtrip air fee.....I tried so hard to solve all these kind of problems.but it took me almost 5 years.fortunately most of the teachers recongnized my services now.

Ricepaddy · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 219

OK, I have to add my tuppence worth to this discussion.

I've been working for Buckland for the last twelve months, and I can honestly say I have no complaints. Don't get me wrong: I realise that Owen is a businessman, and is not in this trade (and it is a trade, boys and girls) for the good of his health. He wants to make a dollar: so what? What matters for me is the way I've been treated for the duration of my term with his outfit.

Overall, I've been very well treated. For the first six months I was teaching at a very good school in Guangxi, and they were always on the ball with salary, bonuses and allowances (ah hell, let's not mince words: they treated me like royalty, it was great). So I never had any real need to call in the cavalry. For the last six months I've been teaching in Owens' hometown in Hunan, which has beed a right eye-opener, and no mistake. Now, I won't lie and say that it's been bed of roses. Far from it, in fact. But the problems I've had have been resolved by an e-mail or phone call to Owen. Latest example: the school refused to pay me airfare allowance. I mailed Owen, and he lodged the outstanding into my bank account. No fuss, no mess, no problems. One can't get fairer than that.

Jacob, I can't explain your gripe with Owen. Maybe you were unlucky, maybe I was lucky, I don't know. From my experience, all I can say is I'm glad that, as a newbie in China, I threw my lot in with Buckland. It helped me to find my feet in a new country, and I'm looking forward to a long stay here.