Job Discussion Forums

[Alexis lathem]

Does anyone have experience with Prince of Songkla University in Pattani? I am considering taking a job there.

[kenkannif]

Might be worth asking Louis on Ajarn as he's based down there.

Alternatively http://www.tefleatch.com might (I've not checked) have info about them there.

[isanity]

Some background reading before you make a decision. You'd probably be OK, but why take the risk?

[Pauleddy]

I can't speak for Pattani, altho' I was offered a job on the Phuket PoS campus. I had to turn it down after some deliberation, as I don't like Phuket.

PoS is the "top" uni in the south, I am told, and also ranks quite highly in the overall Thai lists.

The people were nice, the place seemed well-run etc. The Phuket campus is beautiful, altho' located away from the Phuket "action", not a bad thing.

P

[wix]

I used to work at the PSU Surat Thani Campus. I didn't think much of the place. Surat Thani campus is newer. I was lead to believe that the Had Yai and Pattani campuses, which are older and more established, have higher standards and better facilities.

It is important to be aware of the ongoing violence. Pattani is one of the provinces directly affected by this violence. Try to inform yourself about it as much as possible before you accept any job there. You should be aware that bombings and shootings are a regular occurence down there. The risk to you might be small but it does exist.

[kittygal]

Hi. I just joined this forum,so you may have already made your decision about Pattani, but thought I'd throw in my two cents anyhow. I actually worked at PSU Pattani for one year (2002-2003 academic year). The teachers in the Western Languages department are for the most part very nice: friendly and helpful, with good English (many did PhDs in the US). If you are offered an apartment on campus you will be safe. There is a lot of violence in the three most southern provinces right now (Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala), but it's not at all aimed at foreigners. However, there's always the danger of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Most of the violence in Pattani is not near the university--it happens in villages that are a ways out from where the uni is located, but still in the Muang district (the main district in the province).

The students at PSU Pattani are quite motivated, although as in other places in Asia it sometimes takes a lot to get them to actually speak, depending on the class.

Things are quiet in Pattani at night--if you're looking for raging night life you must look elsewhere!

Have you considered PSU Hat Yai? That's probably a safer location, and they are usually looking for foreign teachers as well. Hat Yai has more going on than Pattani, plus there's a cinema that usually plays movies with the original English soundtrack.

Hope this helps![/b]

[Sgt Killjoy]

You need to go over to www.ajarnforum.net and send a pm on that forum to grasshopper. He used to work at PSU in Pattani. It is a decent school and you could do worse in Thailand, BUT personal safety is a huge issue in Pattani. grasshopper is just one of many teachers who had to flee Pattani for security reasons.

Life is too short and there are so many other schools to teach at in Thailand that I wouldnt even give PSU Pattani a second thought, not because of the school quality, which is ok, but rather the personal safety issues in Pattani. Remember, Pattani is in the midst of a rebellion led by Muslim extremists who have taken out their vengance by killing teachers, Buddhist monks, and burning down schools.

Would you consider teaching in Kabul? If so then Pattani is the place for you, if not, then consider teaching elsewhere.

ps, I would teach there if I was paid 60k baht per month, but I would live cloistered on campus for 5 days a week and Friday afternoon, I would take a taxi to Hat Yai where I would rent a second apartment, and not go back until Monday morning.

[wix]