Job Discussion Forums

Jetsam · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Hello, I'm wondering about working for the Institute of Public Adminstration (just applied to a fairly recent ad) - anybody have any info about them? The more direct exp. the better, but I'll consider all hearsays. Thx.
Jetsam

jmsauer · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:25 pm Post subject:

The IPA in Riyadh has treated me well. We have nice offices and the management gives the teachers a lot of leeway. I'm in single housing within close walking distance of work which is nice. The compound seems ok, nothing spectacular. The facilities are good and they pay us our base salary on time (overtime is another matter entirely). The grounds are really beautiful. The cafeteria food is acceptable. The students are typical middle class saudi kids. The material is kind of boring, but no one tells you how have to teach, so you can make the best of it. The beaurocracy isn't any more or less inept than any other place in the kingdom. I give it a two thumbs up.

We recently lost 10 native instructors due to the silly rule implemented last year that said xpats over a certain age couldn't renew their contract. The IPA falls under the jurisdiction of the ministry of education and they weren't able to wiggle out of it. So there's plenty of room for new teachers, but they haven't been doing enough recruiting. We're working 30-35 hours a week instead of 22, but the overtime pay is rather generous and no one's complaining. They are supposedly only looking looking for people with master's degrees, but with the current lack of native teachers, the falling dollar, and the large number of new schools opening in the gulf, I bet they'd accept less.

Hope that helps,

Cheers

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

JMS... what is the cutoff age?

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

IPA has a good reputation as an employer and a civilised place to work.

John Slattery worked there for years - he used to post here a lot. As far as I know it is still ok.

They let you go at age 60 (Gregorian).

Jetsam · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

That's interesting. For some reason the email address I sent my application to wasn't working though. I got a message from Yahoo saying it (app.) could not be delivered. BTW I am 49 so if Scot47 is correct, I should still be eligible.
Nice if they could be reached however...anyone have a current, working email address for them? Rolling Eyes

ALPH · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 87

Try - :
Dr. Ghazi Al-Otaibi, Director
English Language Center, IPA
P.O. Box 205
Riyadh 11141, Saudi Arabia
Phone: 966-1-476-7305
Fax: 966-1-479-2136
e-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
website: www.ipa.edu.sa

Jetsam · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Istanbul, Turkey

That's great - thanks so much for the address! Surprised

mc_indie · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 4

jmsauer

"I'm in single housing within close walking distance of work
which is nice"

Are you saying that the single accomodations are nice?
Or is it nice that you are within close walking distance of work?

The single housing is old, in poor condition, dirty, insecure with telphones that do not work and will not be repaired so no internet unless you pay to have your own private line installed.

That's not nice at all.

(MOD edit)

Scot47 - times change.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Times may change but there is a constant flow of grumblers in Saudi - even with the reasonable employers. If you want to try a REALLY bad employer, pm me and I can give you a list !

PeterBar · Joined: 20 Jul 2006 Posts: 145 Location: La France profonde

The last time I saw jmsauer was when he returned to the staff accomodation after the last day of work last year.
He had quit work a day early but had still managed to miss his plane out of the KSA.

I found the accomodation acceptable if uninspiring, and the interior cleanliness depended on the guy who was living in the apartment.
There are also no cooking or eating utensils provided and fridges and other fittings were 'well worn'

In my time there were 4 telephone lines available and they were often monopolised by colleagues using dial up internet.
I would not be surprised if those lines were no longer functioning.

My criticism of the IPA would be the administrative set-up - pay your own Iqama medicals and all other costs that should be paid by employers.
The standard reply from the administration was "No" or "Taal Buckra"

mc_indie · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 4

Is it "nice" at the IPA when you want to take a holiday break out of the country you need to pay for your own exit re-entry visa when your employer should pay it?

And also, you have to find a colleague who will pledge 2 months of his salary as a guarantor that you will come back rather than lam out somewhere else.

Are your living and working conditions so "nice" that your employers trust you to return?

"We recently lost 10 native instructors due to the silly rule implemented last year". How many are going/have left voluntarily this year?

jmsauer · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:43 pm Post subject:

McIndie

As someone that I thought I could regard as a friend and colleague I ask that you not post personal attacks against me on this or any other forum. I was only posting my personal experience, which has been generally positive. Feel free to post opposing views, but to suggest that I have some hidden agenda is ridiculous.

As for the issues you raise...

Yes, the IPA is not in compliance with the Saudi Law requiring employers to pay the Iqama fee. So this will cost you 500 riyal per year. God only knows if this will change or not. Also, employees pay for their own exit/re-entry visas and they will not issue you a multi-exit/re-entry visa.

Yes, the IPA single housing no longer has free phone service. It was terrible even before it broke altogether and they decided not to replace it. The employee is responsible for getting his own phone service through Saudi Telecom. The IPA does still provide free dial up internet service. Although I highly recommend paying for DSL, since it is available now.

Yes, the single housing is "insecure" in the sense that it is not surrounded by blast walls, razor wire, machine gun nests, etc.. There's just one un-armed guy at the front desk watching television. But, given that 90 percent of the residents are Saudi's, I can't imagine that we'd get targetted in the first place. Personally, machine guns and razor wire would not add to my sense of well-being.

No, the single housing is not dirty nor decrepit. If yours is dirty, perhaps you should get a new houseboy.

Yes, employees who have been at the IPA less than 2 years who want to leave the country on vacation are required to get a guarantor who will gamble 2 months salary on the fact that they are going to return. Surprisingly this policy has not prevented anyone from taking their vacation abroad. However, it is a very bizarre policy and I wouldn't be surprised if it was over-turned in the next few years.

No, my positive attitude is not a result of the 25 percent pay increase, but it sure doesn't hurt. Also, if you check the date of my post, you'll see it preceeded the raise. I'm sorry if I'm happier than you. Perhaps my expectations are too low or perhaps yours are too high.

No, I'm not brown-nosing the administration. I don't know if they are going to dismiss me for missing one class. They did seem to be understanding about it. Thanks for your unwanted and publicly-aired concern though.

Jonathan