Job Discussion Forums

janeb · Joined: 03 Feb 2007 Posts: 1

Hi All
Am not ready to apply for any position yet, but am doing the research in the hope of avoiding some of the pitfalls that I have seen discussed on this and other boards. I'll try to keep this brief and specific:
Has anyone had any personal experience at Changchun University? I'd appreciate your comments on the work; workload; working conditions; team spirit and level of support from colleagues/managers; time off either weekly or end of semester allowing for some level of personal travel; and living conditions. Having read some comments about Changchun itself I supppose I should also ask for your opinion on the city - specifically the air quality, access to english language books, access to chinese lessons and other areas you may care to make a comment on. Thanks in anticipation.
JaneB

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

This is a so typical 2nd tier Chinese University and it has a JV with a fashion school as well. The campus is cild and uninviting but does have its one new building, as evidence of progress.

The foreign guest house is old and musty.

I would work in a hole like this for the same pay in the South of China where it is warmer and the pay may even be 500 rmb higher.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

The university is located in the south end of the city. Its web site is at www.ccu.edu.cn

Changchun's air quality is, in my opinion, far better than that of Beijing's. I've been teaching there since last August and yes, the winter can be quite unbearable but the cost of living is quite low.

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

Changchun is the armpit of the North.

No Metro, no Carrefore, 2 Wal-Marts.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

changcun has it's own charm..often wished I was still there but I am warmer now..riding a bike at 40 below..has a way of dampening the spirits..
this University is not a good one for foreigner who have to relay on the Uni for shelter and paperwork...it is a good one to work for part time...and they have a lot of satellite schools and transpo to employ a good many part timers..but as one poster said the living conditions are poor..and I think the fashion school is Raffles (Nina is the VP)..but no longer a fashon school..they have gone into t he business of poorly received business degrees.
this would be one of th last schools I would consider...