Job Discussion Forums

beck's · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 426

Just about anyone who has made friends with a Chinese person can relate wild tales of courruption.

A friend of mine told me that Chinese university teachers often pay five years salary in bribes to obtain a teaching position. Other teachers get their jobs by knowing people in high positions. My friend openly admits that he got his position because he knows important people. He didn't have to pay a bribe.

His story is very interesting. He was a "minor" public official who ate in fancy restaurants three times a day, took bribes and lived the high life. Then, he went to America. This changed his life. He realized that the western system of financial accountability and transperancy in government was a superior system (I know it's not perfect, so let's not get into that red herring, but wrong doers are exposed by a free press etc).

He came back to China, gave up his position and used his powerful friends to secure a uni job with a microscopic sized work-load at lower pay. Now he teaches his students about democracy and the importance of freedom. He volunteers in poor primary schools. Many of his students call him unpatriotic. His powerful friends protect him.

His case reminds me of the French Revolution. Many of the French revolutionaries were people who had experienced the American Revolution and then returned home to France to lead the struggle for democracy there. China will change and it is people like my friend who will lead these changes.

TingBuDong · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 11:35 pm Post subject:

I understand your criticisms better now. It is interesting to get the perspective of those with Chinese wives who have more experience, as for someone like me it would be difficult to get a deep inside view of the system. I don't see too much extravagance here overall, but it is true that some leaders took a trip to Australia this year. I don't expect the Chinese teachers have it all that great though; they are not buying cars or going abroad and unlike us I believe they might be paying rent. If there is unfairness or corruption going on I still don't feel any need to be paid more, even if this were my career; rather, the money should be going towards the school and students' education. There are hardly any resources here and I must pay for my own copies, for one thing.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

Lorean · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 476 Location: Beijing

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

MGreen · Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 81

Are there any differences between a first and second tier university in terms of salary, hours, working conditions, etc?

I'm not interested in the students themselves but the package a university provides.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

As I have seen so far, the 1st tier unis actually ofer less. "we are the best, so we don't have to pay as much" Some kind of face thing. Second Tier schools, I have found, in terms of pay, pay better.

Things such as housing vary greatly depending on the college. Now, if you are living at the school's original location (In the city, convenient) you are often offered a poorer, sub-standard apartment. Or you may get a better apartment located in the "suburbs", ie., nothing out there.
Hours vary according to the school more then the tier. All the tiers are trying to persuade the laowai to accept mor and more hours, such as 16 or 20. Chinese teachers who have been teaching for a while rarely get more then 12, I have several Chinese teaching friend who are only doing 6 this semester

This is China, though. BARGAIN BARGAIN BARGAIN!