Job Discussion Forums

[kuberkat]

As the end of my second contractual year looms and the net of unscrupulous recruiters in Oman's better tertiary institutions tightens, I am in a quandary.

On a small-town ministerial college salary, I am quite happy with my income, but in danger of professional, social and personal stagnation. Should I bite the bullet and hold out another year? Or should I risk taking a lower-paid job in Muscat (at a higher cost of living) in exchange for a better lifestyle?

Anybody in the same boat? Anybody done this? Anybody know of decent employers in the capital?

[veiledsentiments]

Any chance at SQU? They are certainly the best to work for. How about MCBS in al-Khuwair? Small... mostly nice students... their website doesn't work for me... don't know the current situation there. There are some other private universities - always chancy...

But, if the place you are in is... tolerable... your chances of stepping into a place that is not... is likely high.

It's a tough question Kuber...

VS

[Pikgitina]

I'm quite intrigued by Dhofar University. A previous post quite some time ago made it sound like the next hot ticket, but unfortunately I don't have my MA yet and I think that they don't compromise - which is a good thing I'm sure. I think they're recruiting at the moment. However, it's in Dhofar - not exactly sure where - but even if it's in the middle of Salalah it probably wouldn't offer you the change from a small town you're looking for, as Salalah is IMHO a small town on a large scale. Yet, I like it and would go and live there if I could work at DU. I tried getting more info on this forum once, but nothing really happened, which might mean that the people teaching there don't post here or that life there is too good to bother with this forum.

[veiledsentiments]

Not sure that Salalah would provide the change that Kuber is looking for. As you said, Dhofar is sort of just a village covering a large geographic area. Great place if you like exploring the countryside probably.

I think the lack of information here about DU is probably a combination of the small size - thus few teachers to start with - and perhaps a mix of nationalities who do not hang out on Daves. It would be nice to think that it is all because everyone is happy, but even some happy teachers come around here.

VS

[kuberkat]

Thank you for your thoughtful responses, VS and Pikgitina. My complaint is not so much about my work environment (where the main benefit is that I can more or less make anarchy work for me ), but more about my burgeoning country bumpkinhood. Socially, I love my Omani friends, but there are limits to how deeply we relate, if that makes sense. I also love my colleagues, but I am ten years younger than the second-youngest Western female on the staff- and the men I daren't talk to off-campus in this little town. (Ha! As if "stepping out" were an option at all! Our town's grandest social affair is when the college hosts an evening lecture!) I am surrounded by great people, but they are all worlds away from me in age or culture. Muscat is, I realize, not that much better, but I don't want to leave Oman yet and I need more stimulation. Any more suggestions are oh so welcome. Go on, Oprahcise me.

[boundforsaudi]

I'm at DU. Dhofar is the southmost state in Oman. Since I'm a Texan, makes me feel right at home. These folks down south here are thought of as country bumpkins by those up north. The south is also more conservative...more women in veils. Kinda like the Bible Belt.

Salalah is the only major city in Dhofar, and the second largest city in Oman. The Sultan was born here and has a palace complex and organic farms to supply the royal kitchen. When he visits here he drives himself and throws cash out the window at lucky pedestrians.

Although there are only enough college-material students for one, there are three colleges in close proximity here, all in Saada, a comparatively well-to-do suburb of Salalah. There's the College of Technology, under the Ministry of Manpower/Labor, and the College of Applied Sciences, under the Ministry of Higher Education, both offering only a few specialized majors, and Dhofar University, a newish private university affiliated with American University of Beirut for a few more years, until we get fully accredited. We are practically a full-blown university, albeit no biology department. We are still small, on a temporary campus, but we are breaking ground soon on the major construction project. The College of Technology English department is supplied with teachers by a Canadian subcontractor, the College of Applied Sciences English department is supplied by the British subcontractor CfBT, and DU hires direct. It helps to get on at DU if you are already in Salalah, or at least Oman. MA is the rule but I think that may be relaxed in emergencies. MA holders make something in the ballpark of the College of Applied Sciences or SQU, when you figure in benefits. I like being at arms length with the MOHE, but they are creeping around now with that stupid standardized foundation year idea.

The GoogleEarth coordinates for the DU Orientation Unit are 17 degrees, 3 minutes, 32.72 seconds north by 54 degrees, 9 minutes, 26.9 seconds east. Those are mostly banana trees. Salalah has cheap, furnished apartments/villas. I have a furnished one-bedroom flat for 80 rials/month and a pittance in utilities. My freezer is full of sea trout I catch in my free time. I do have to get coffee from Muscat one way or another.

Do we read Dave's? Sure, everybody does.

[veiledsentiments]

Great info... how many TEFL teachers do you have there? What's the nationality mix?

VS

[boundforsaudi]

Here ya go:

http://www.du.edu.om/Dir/Pages/opu.html

[veiledsentiments]

It looks an interesting mix. I found the acronyms extremely obscure... CAAS and CCBA... I figured out OPU since it was on the top of the page.

...and a couple of people have the title "convener" - what is that all about? I looked in the dictionary and it says someone who 'convenes' meetings. We need a person for that? Is that the latest buzzword for 'co-ordinator' or 'supervisor.' Or is it one of those old words that has been preserved in the ex-colonies?

VS

[The Aussified Canuck]

Thanks for the details on post-secondary institutions in the Salalah area, boundforsaudi.

[veiledsentiments]

Just MHO...

I wouldn't even think about considering taking a job that doesn't provide a furnished flat!! (or a flat with a significant furniture allowance of US$5-8000) I wouldn't even consider taking a job that only provided a housing allowance nowadays. Rentals in the Gulf are rising much faster than any would like. Salalah is a backwater (even if it is the second largest 'town' in the country) and shouldn't be as bad as the Emirates or Muscat, but Gulf education for someone at your husband's level provides free housing or it is likely a job that he shouldn't consider.

And 'stable' is a relative term in education these days. A good place can turn into a nightmare overnight if a good manager leaves... or vice versa...

VS

[williamh]

I do not work at DU but know several people who do and the atmosphere is poisonous. See if you can find a long post on this list which was written last Sept/ Oct about DU - it is the most accurate appraisal I have read. As VS said at the time 'sounds like most universities' which is true, but you should know what you are getting into. Also, DU no longer hires native speakers of English for their foundation program.

Rents in Salalah have gone up at least 25% (sometimes 50 or 100%) in the last year with every indication they will go higher.

[Duffy]

BFS, though you went to Kuwait or Qatar, or somewhere outside Oman, aint seen you around Salalah!

If your still here, how is the fishing?

Yes they still have the same Foundation year, but it has improved especially now that we have a lot of really good, professional English teachers here now, but boy am I busy with Foundation IT, only running 12 groups, contact hours 24!!

Duffy

[Duffy]

VS,

I have to take you to task about Salalah being a "backwater". Lots of people seem to think it is a large town somewhere near the Yemeni border. No way it is a city! Did you know that the local Rahysut Cement factory here produces in excess of 4,000 tons of cement every week? Or that the construction of the new 3 kilometre shipping berths is nearing completion, making it the largest containerport on the Arabian coast? A huge new mosque is being built here in the middle of the city. Funded by the Sultan, it will next only in size to the Sultan Qaboos mosque in Muscat and we all know how big that is!!

Oh yes, how about the currently small airport? Work is about to start work on a new one on the same site, which will be able to cater for up to 10 million passengers a year.

Also, check out this site to see what is planned. The work started six months ago.

http://www.salalahbeach.com

I apologise if this is off topic, but I intensley dislike generalisations from anyone who has never been to a place and gives a description based on other peoples views. Salalah is a vibrant town. Some expats here cannot or will not see it because they are drifting round from bar to bar or paying exhorbtant fees to join "clubs" the two 5 star hotels here because they do not to mingle with the locals or other non-native speaking expatriots.

As you can guess, I am a fan of Salalah and yes I have been around other Gulf countries. Spent time in Muscat and can give an honest opinion about the place where I live and work.

Come to Salalah - ITS GREAT!!!!


Duffy

[veiledsentiments]