Job Discussion Forums

WD40 · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 104

Having read a lot of the boards it seems that the bset jobs to apply for are HCT, the Petroleum Institute and ZU. I am not purely motivated by the benefits I am also attracted by the teaching and learning package and the way you are treated by management. Could those who know, tell me if the PI, HCT and ZU are the best to apply to in the UAE or have I missed one?
Thanks
WD40

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject:

I might add UAEU and University of Sharjah to that list.

WD40 · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 104

Thanks Stoth1972
Are these good in terms of management. I have read that the management at HCT and the PI are going through some turmoil but I have not read anything bad recently with University of Sharjah or UAEU.

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

Don't forget George Mason University. Their campus in RAK is still very small, and thus the size of the student enrollment, but as the largest university in Virginia, they are not playing games. EFL starting salaries are similar to HCT's; there will be increments, teaching load is 14-18 hours, and there will be on-campus villas for faculty once the new campus is built.

stoth1972 · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:55 pm Post subject:

As good as the management can be, I suppose. Wink

From friends who have worked at U of Sharjah, the conditions seems to be better, even if the salary isn't quite as a sweet as some of the other uni positions.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

WD40

Managements are a crapshoot. People come and go regularly at all levels of management and a place that was good one year can turn into a nightmare the following. Then there is the fact that the management that one person finds acceptable, other people might hate...

Over the years of reading this board, 'management problems' are as often individual personality clashes as anything else.

And then there is the problem that most education management in the ME has no training in management, and are often teachers who didn't want to teach. Pretty much you go by current news... remember the fact of personality clashes... and jump in.

You should also have the American University of Sharjah on your list...

VS

globalnomad2 · Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562

What I found objectionable at HCT was not that the section supervisors didn't have management experience but that they didn't have academic credentials--they were not true academics but more like line supervisors in a factory. We were educational contract workers, not college faculty.

WD40 · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 104

So to recap
HCT
PI
ZU
UAEU
University of Sharjah
George Mason University

These are the places to concentrate on. Reading between the lines, it seems the PI is the hardest to get into and HCT the easiest. Does anyone have any idea about accommodation and educational allowances for these institutions. Pi seems the best and yet remains difficult to enter - what about the others - does HCT or Sharjah provide reasonable housing and educational support?
Thanks again for your time

Spin duck · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Posts: 25

So, where are the best students then? (OK, what do we mean by best? Academic? Unspoilt? Motivated etc.?).

Who are going to get the 'studying' done best? Who are going to cause least aggravation?

A very big part of the equation.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

You missed AUS, which I would put at the top with PI as one of the best and one of the hardest to get into...

If you do a bit of searching, there has been discussion of the various packages... they are all quite similar... not sure about Sharjah U...

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 2:00 am Post subject:

WD40, your topic makes me think you're already in the UAE. What's the current law (and everchanging law) for changing jobs in you're a teacher?

WD40 · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 104

Stoth
I was told by my employer that if you get an NOL letter of no objection, then transfer within the UAE is possible. Have I been given correct information?

stoth1972 · Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject:

WD40, it very well may be. It's just that the law has changed often in the last few years. The letter didn't used to be required at all for teachers. Some employers don't like to give them, just out of spite. I was wondering what the current law said.

WD40 · Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 104

I was offered an interview recently for HCT. Looking at the conditions of service, the payments for health insurance seem very high. What can you get for this money - in terms of where can you go to see a doctor or take the kids on a Friday if they are sick?

stoth1972 · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:51 am Post subject:

I don't know what HCT offers in terms of health, though I used the govt hospitals here now and again, and in other instances, paid out of pocket for preventive care w/ a preferred physician. Not as expensive as it is back here, though the costs can add up. Some opt to get international insurance in their home country, which entitles them to reimbursement. Might be a safer bet.