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travelbug66
Joined: 27 May 2015
Posts: 26
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 Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 4:49 pm Post subject: Sur College of Applied Sciences |
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Hello all, I have been offered a couple of posts in Oman, one in Ibra and one in Sur at the College of Applied Sciences.
Can anyone give me any information on Sur/College of Applied Sciences ?
Is it a decent place to live and work in ?
What's the College like ?
Is there much to do in Sur and surrounding area ?
Any info is appreciated.
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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Did you try the search? I used "Sur College" - search all terms - and a couple pages of links. Most are old but likely still have useful information.
Be sure to use the search near the log in.
VS |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:53 am Post subject: |
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| It's a quiet place. Low level students and big classes. |
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stanggg
Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 37
Location: Buraimi Oman
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| Sur is very beautiful. You can see turtles, great beaches, and the infamous Wadi Shab. Apart from nature, there is not much to see or do. |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:07 am Post subject: |
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| Also it is only 150 kms to Muscat so if you want to go there for weekends you can be there in about 2 hours. |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| 1st Sgt Welsh wrote: |
| Also it is only 150 kms to Muscat so if you want to go there for weekends you can be there in about 2 hours. |
One hour if an Omani is driving! |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:21 am Post subject: |
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| MuscatGary wrote: |
| 1st Sgt Welsh wrote: |
| Also it is only 150 kms to Muscat so if you want to go there for weekends you can be there in about 2 hours. |
One hour if an Omani is driving! |
True  . |
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madrileno
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Posts: 270
Location: Salalah, Oman
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:11 am Post subject: |
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| MuscatGary wrote: |
| It's a quiet place. Low level students and big classes. |
Indeed. Probably the lowest in the Sultanate. |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 10:29 am Post subject: |
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| madrileno wrote: |
| MuscatGary wrote: |
| It's a quiet place. Low level students and big classes. |
Indeed. Probably the lowest in the Sultanate. |
In the CAS system, Sur is second from the bottom. Salalah has consistently had the weakest test scores  . |
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travelbug66
Joined: 27 May 2015
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2015 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Any information on the colleges of Applied Sciences in general would be helpful !
If anyone who works in them has anything to share, it would be appreciated. |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 1:25 am Post subject: |
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| travelbug66 wrote: |
Any information on the colleges of Applied Sciences in general would be helpful !
If anyone who works in them has anything to share, it would be appreciated. |
Large class sizes - I experienced a class of 38 one semester.
Low level students mixed with the odd reasonable student.
Poorly motivated students, not interested in learning but still want the grade at the end of the semester. If you fail them the grade will be altered.
Mixed classes in theory but in realty the girls and boys sit entirely seperately and do not interact.
Desk warming when you're not teaching is required.
If you're working direct hire for the Ministry expect to wait up to 5 months for your first salary payment. If for Hawthorn the money comes on time but is a lot less.
Anyhting else you want to know? |
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travelbug66
Joined: 27 May 2015
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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It sounds like, you didn't enjoy your experience working in the CAS system MuscatGary.
I have a good friend who has been with them for 10 years and doesn't have a single negative thing to say. In fact, he has been very happy in Oman.
I tried to focus on money only, and went back to Saudi Arabia, and found I hated it more and more.
CAS/Hawthorne are paying £22,000 a year which is roughly £1000 a month less than your average Saudi contract - but I am sure I will enjoy Oman a lot more. Nicer people/students, cinemas, bars, beaches close by (in Sur), a more relaxed, tolerant culture.
And more importantly for me, I will not spend month upon month in a strictly male environment without seeing or talking to another female.
And even better, next year Sur will be getting it's own shopping mall with hypermarket, food and retail outlets, bowling, etc.
What you say about the students is true everywhere in the Gulf.
Anyway, it seems there is a lack of posters from CAS to comment, which I will take as a good sign, as the majority of them are happy and busy enough with their lives. |
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balqis
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 373
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, but then why do you ask, if you know all much better beforehand, and have a happy friend who knows much better in general and much better than everyone else, then if so, why do you ask?
And if someone presents his point of view based on the first hand insight and presence in Oman, you make an effort to counter all his caution?
balqis
Last edited by balqis on Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:22 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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1st Sgt Welsh
Joined: 13 Dec 2010
Posts: 946
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm a teacher in the CAS system and the things that MuscatGary wrote about are true. The only thing that I personally haven't come across yet is the large class sizes (18 students in a class is currently my record). Having said that, I quite enjoy living in Oman and, whilst there are negatives (like everywhere else), I think the positives more than make up for it. If you are asking for advice, then I'd recommend that you give Sur a go . |
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madrileno
Joined: 19 Aug 2010
Posts: 270
Location: Salalah, Oman
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2015 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| travelbug66 wrote: |
It sounds like, you didn't enjoy your experience working in the CAS system MuscatGary.
I have a good friend who has been with them for 10 years and doesn't have a single negative thing to say. In fact, he has been very happy in Oman.
I tried to focus on money only, and went back to Saudi Arabia, and found I hated it more and more.
CAS/Hawthorne are paying £22,000 a year which is roughly £1000 a month less than your average Saudi contract - but I am sure I will enjoy Oman a lot more. Nicer people/students, cinemas, bars, beaches close by (in Sur), a more relaxed, tolerant culture.
And more importantly for me, I will not spend month upon month in a strictly male environment without seeing or talking to another female.
And even better, next year Sur will be getting it's own shopping mall with hypermarket, food and retail outlets, bowling, etc.
What you say about the students is true everywhere in the Gulf.
Anyway, it seems there is a lack of posters from CAS to comment, which I will take as a good sign, as the majority of them are happy and busy enough with their lives. |
Oh, you'll love Sur! Do come back and post in the future and let us know how wonderful it is! |
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