Job Discussion Forums

[China2]

I was wondering if anybody had any recent experience, feedback or opinions about this institution regarding - the language programmes, students, staff, conditions etc etc
.Thanks

[Shanghai Noon]

Good God! Four universities in one?!

[China2]

No, one university! It is a joint UK/Chinese partnership which is based in Suzhou.

[kungfuman]

a friend works there. he says it's ok but nothing special. located in Dushu = outside the city center, no subway, only bus. Lots of students as its a university area with a lot of schools.

[The bear]

Salary is above average but so is the workload.

You'll be looking at 15-22k after tax. 20 working hours a week. Around 7 weeks of holiday a year. Accommodation allowance just over 3,000/month.

[China2]

20 hours a week - hardly difficult! Are u referring to 20 contact hours and then a further 20 office hours? Do you know if they have yearly pay increases? Thanks

[The bear]

[CKM]

Thanks for sharing the info.

[coffeespoonman]

Depends on where you're teaching.

We have around 140 teachers working in Year 1, Year 2, Joint Delivery, Continuing Support and Short Courses. The work varies considerably depending on where you are, although the actual workload probably works out similarly.

For example, Year 1 teachers have half the marking compared to Year 2 (40ish students vs. 80ish), but approximately twice the planning (18 contact hours spread across 2 classes vs. 16 spread across 4).

To answer a couple of the older questions, there is 1 required office hour a week, and yes, there are yearly pay increases in addition to inflation adjustment. There are also opportunities for promotion to higher pay grades, which also come with higher housing and travel stipends. However, you'd have to be around for at least 2-3 years to stand a chance at a successful promotion application.

And the actual holiday is 47 paid days, though 17 of those are at required times (CNY, Christmas, etc.) The other 30 can be taken during most non-teaching times (i.e. you can take 6 weeks in summer or take a bit around Christmas and a bit in summer).

CSM

[CKM]

[coffeespoonman]

Both. There is certainly an effort to match people and their skills to the area where they would most likely thrive, but of course, the needs of the Centre often dictate to what extent that is able to happen.

[CKM]

[teacherwhy16?]

Also worth noting that students are streamed into A, B, and C. I have had friends teaching A stream banging their heads against the wall. Year one also has, I believe, more frequent feedback. It's not more work, per se, but more frequent crunch time.

Time off is also also dependent on how you are viewed by management. Some friends get more time off on the d/l. Also, a few people get paid ridiculous sums of money because they get much higher award wages, not just inflation. Module conveners do not get extra pay-it's seen as paying your dues to maybe get into management

The curriculum....well, some people like all the "freedom" while others don't. This is very dependent on the stream you are teaching.

For 2015, housing allowance for language center tutors who are on Tutor C was 3500. This is enough to almost cover the small apartment buildings (mostly owned by Parfait) around that area of the HET if you sign something like 6 months + contract. However, my friend who was staying in one of these places said the rates exceeded the allowance. Having said that, lots of people live elsewhere and pay more...it is worth it. Also, the bus into the HET isn't that bad. It gets full during peak time.

Tutor C wages go a long way in China, but the air is getting pretty bad in Suzhou.

[danshengou]

You can survive the job on the higher wages. But Suzhou is a very average place, so it will be a challenge to live there long-term imo.

[LarssonCrew]

About housing, almost all allowances in China now do not cover the rent on a decent place, or any place at all.

I've seen BJ/SZ/SH jobs offering 1500/2000 allowance. What on earth can you do with that?