Job Discussion Forums

[busengteacher]

Beware of Prince Muhammed Bin Fahd university in Al-Khobar in Saudi Arabia



So I have finally left this place after a dreadful experience. For anyone receiving an offer from these crooks I would think long and hard before accepting anything.

1. They promise you quality compound accommodation but in fact it is a very old compound with very few facilities. On many occasions there was no water and or even electricity especially in the hot summer months for days sometimes.

2. If you like to be told how to teach and fiddling with grades then this is right up your street. The university is full of rich kids with connections so everyone passes even if they can't speak a word of English and Arabic.

3. The deans of departments have secured positions through connections for example you have deans of departments who actually have no experience of that particular subject. Which has created a separation between management and control. It seems as if they have no idea what they're doing.

4. Overall everyone is treated like dirt. However, I must stress from personal experience and accounts of others that there's a misconception in KSA with regards to skin colour, many of the teachers might agree with me when I say that white teachers get a better treatment (to a certain extent), and non whites are perceived as the lower class and get second class treatment.

These are just a few of the things to look out for but the list goes on. Many people flee after their first semester and the rate of staff turnover is skyrocketing through the roof.

[pixiepower]

Hi,

I would be interested and grateful to hear more about this issue. Would you be able to elaborate please? Perhaps you could PM me? (not sure if we are required to send a number of posts before we can use that function though, i am new to all this).

Thanks

[veiledsentiments]

You need 5 posts in order to do PMs. (keeps the spammers from getting to our inboxes)

It would be better if you asked specific questions. The poster has certainly covered the general negatives (which are mostly quite common)

I expect that you are mainly interested in the differing treatment by skin color, and that is a sadly common situation. I think Nomad Soul gave you the answer on the other thread. It helps if you are a native speaker and have a US or UK passport. I taught with a number of African Americans around the Gulf over the years.

VS

[pixiepower]

I was just hoping that the person who originally posted (or anyone who has experienced or witnessed discrimination of this kind) could elaborate by giving some examples of 'better treatment' for white teachers. Is the discrimination so blatant and obvious? Thanks

[spiral78]

Your purpose in asking isn't really clear (at least not to me). If you're trying to gauge the risk that you may be discriminated against (or to what extent you should expect such treatment) you might be better served by inquiring into what types of employers engage less in such behavior.


Still, in the end, no-one can really help you make accurate predictions for your specific case - it may/may not happen and may/may not be minor or totally awful.

[nomad soul]

[greatminds]

I have many friends who work at PMU. Yes, the power went out on the compound, but that can happen anywhere, including in USA. I have not been to the compound and it is probably old but, on the other hand, everyone is together which is a special situation in Saudi.

All places are going to have issues so you cannot expect perfection. They have excellent people working there and many native speakers. Many unis in Saudi have very few native speakers, but PMU is not one of them. You may find the grading on the lenient side....I cannot verify this...but it has happened in the past...Now the Saudi unis are raising their standards with accreditation.

[LeoHaul]

Pixie, NomadSoul seems to offer, pretty sound, logical and unemotional advice. However, GreatMinds.....if you have not been there your information is second-hand (as you admit). Yes, power can go out in the US. But, when it happens, it does not take weeks to be restored. Thank God, I left the wretched place, but I do have friends there. Apparently, July salaries have not been paid, in direct violation to a 'royal decree.' Further, the turnover at the place seems to have even increased since I left and it sounds like conditions, quality of education, etc has gotten worse........(I admit, that is hearsay on my part, but from some very good friends who are still there).

[havinganicetime]

I am not at PMU now but I worked there a long time. It's true that the main compound's infrastructure is poor and some of the apartments are in a bad shape but they have been making improvements and eventually everyone will move to a new compound near the university, unfortunately far from the center of Khobar and shopping.

As for working conditions, I'd say that the environment is better than at most Saudi universities. No matter where you work there is going to be internal politics, bureaucracy and sometimes pettiness. Saudi Arabia tends to attract a disproportionate number of dissatisfied people who allow their personal unhappiness to affect their attitude toward work, students and general environment.

If you are going to work in Saudi Arabia you have to accept the country as it is, grin and bear certain inconveniences while appreciating the positive side of the experience. PMU students are generally very friendly. The faculty is international. The job is not demanding. The university always pays, even if a bit delayed on occasion.

Having said the above, I am aware that some people have more problems at PMU than others. Some people reach their emotional / psychological limit and have to leave. Saudi Arabia is not for everyone.

From my personal perspective, PMU was overall a very good employer.

[scot47]

I saw PMU from the viewpoint of the outsider. I visited a few times and I spoke at conferences and teachers' meetings. It seemed okay. Do not expect it be like MIT.

SAALT was run by people teaching there. They seemed quite keen and competent I cannot remember names (and would not publish them here in any case.)

[LeoHaul]

It appears there are no new posts regarding PMU. I am curious if things are as dreadful as what friends have reported. I can only assume that one of two situations exists.

One, because there are no new posts, circumstances have gotten so much better that no one wants to post any news. Or, the situation is so horrible that people have just given up. I assume the latter...... since that is why I left.

[beijingbilly]

Would be nice to hear from those working there.

[scot47]

Certainly a lot better than EDEX et al !

[rosalind]

Ask me again at the end of term.

Or ask me now, if you're interested in hearing, but understanding that it hasn't been long enough to develop a comprehensive understanding of the environment.

[dominogeronimo]

Hi, Rosalind,

Is it the end of the term for you? How has it been? Please let us know. Some of us are considering PMU, so any feedback is useful. Cheers.