Job Discussion Forums

[nomad soul]

Given that the foundation year programs are set to meet their end in about two years, it makes sense for HCT to invest in resources elsewhere and not put money into FY teachers' bennies and salaries. It stinks, but that's typical of businesses the world over.

[veiledsentiments]

Rumors are seeping out in my emails and PMs of a bloodbath going on. It is said that about 200 teachers have been informed that their contracts will not be renewed. Some who have been there for many years are now told that their "credentials are inadequate."

This new... and utterly ridiculous... credential certification looks like a two purpose activity. It produces significant income for the government and an excuse to get rid of teachers. AND it has been used to inform people that they are not renewed, but can re-apply. This is an obvious ploy to try to keep their experienced teachers with their pay and benefits slashed.

I hope some current teachers will appear with updates.

VS

PS: Is any of this same crap going on at Zayed University or at UAEU?

[peripatetic_soul]

Hi, VS, et al.,

I've heard the same about many teachers, some of whom were hoping for renewal, but received their walking papers as of July.

This equivalency certification appears to be a stratagem of pretense. Some are sweating in their boots since the process was never clarified or any assistance offered to facilitate same. You can imagine which "bucket" is full. Best wishes for more lucrative prospects to all of those devoted, talented educators with whom we had taught. HCT will suffer a huge loss - a Humpty Dumpty. . . .

PS

[2buckets]

I feel sorry for the people who took the housing allowance and bought a flat. No more income to pay the mortgage, and if paid off, their visa status will be in jeopardy.

[mishmumkin]

In a word, grim. And no, this isn't happening in Zu or uaeu. I feel worse for those who renewed their annual housing contract (now in their name). Any bets on who's liable for the months post-contract?

[veiledsentiments]

This is just one of the reasons that I always advised people to NOT DO IT!! As someone who has made significant money on real estate over the years, buying in the UAE broke every rule of common sense for the small time investor like the average teacher in any country. If they were unaware of the risks... well...

The ones that I feel sorry for are the married with children. Most of them will probably have to return to their home countries to live in poverty unless they are ready and willing to change fields.

VS

[snorkel]

I expect there will be more leaving after this. I heard most people with families were 'completely' fired, those without were given a couple of months to do the paperwork required with no real guarantee of further employment. Total mayhem on campuses. Over 300 non-renewals and more still waiting to find out.

[Shakhbut]

[veiledsentiments]

Update in my email this morning from someone currently teaching at HCT

[2buckets]

I wonder how HESN feels about the demise of his baby.

Does he even know about it or care?

[veiledsentiments]

It's a small country, so I'm certain that he knows... and most likely cares. But, it all worked pretty well under his control, so he may feel that he can say, "see what happened when they pushed me out... down the toilet it went..."

VS

[Gulezar]

[Grendel]

After Sheikh Nayan left, various supervisors on their way out told me to expect each year to get worse. And I did, but not at this velocity. Since the price of oil has collapsed, HCT has to go with it, and this attestation process is a very handy cover for a very crude downsizing.

People not up for renewal might indeed be given a six months warning and then terminated. A fair number will just say thanks and take the gratuity rather then find themselves signing a contract not only at a lower salary, but that would entail a lower gratuity in the future.

As others have noted, lots of people are unprepared. The signs have been clear for a while, though, that everybody on HCT is on borrowed time.

The glory years of HCT are done, and likely of the Gulf as a whole. Oil isn't going to increase in price any time soon. Time to take whatever money you've made and go.

[canadianUAE]

So the bubbles finally burst at good ole' HCT..boohoo!
No surprise there! They took over where I was recently working, and we got the boot. It was said HCT was bankrupt and this move was basically to save them. Seems they need to find even more ways to cut.
As far as accreditation. I've known lots of people from HCT who've been working without Master's Degrees. So that process would push them out. It was being kept quiet and they were protected.
In any case, it's not nice for anyone to lose their jobs. It's been done to me, and not a good feeling to work with a govt' entity for over 10 years only to be shown the door. Without any fanfare I might add.

[veiledsentiments]

Government institutions do NOT go bankrupt. Considering the fact that no student ever paid tuition, it is not as if it was meant to be a profit maker. But it was a large institution that was expensive. But it is government priorities, not profit. Considering how few graduates ever hit the job market, I can see that the government had been starving them for cash the last few years... and now that the price of oil has tanked... and the government is getting into joining local wars... that means what has basically been female education will be cut.

Any chance of outside accreditation is now dead since they have basically tossed out all off the teachers who could give them any kind of educational credibility. And of course, local accreditation is pretty meaningless. It is not as though the government accreditation process wouldn't accredit a government institution.

Up until about 3-5 years ago, HCT provided hundreds of educators with a position where one was paid for doing a professional job. Yes, there was always plenty of BS... but in relative terms, one wasn't embarrassed to have it on your CV.

That is all now dead...

VS