Job Discussion Forums

danfournier · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Canada

Hi guys,

I am wondering if there is any collection somewhere that lists ranking of schools (all the way from middle-school to University level) according to **student** satisfaction/preference/liking (if this isn't a "taboo" subject in their country/culture).

I ask this because I feel it is important to get a perspective of the student population when "shopping" around for jobs in different schools. Do they like the teachers, administration, facilities, curriculum, etc.? Do they find it fun and enjoy learning? Is the school's physical environment appealing. etc.

We hear about the teachers, administrators, and recruiters opinions all the time but I feel that it is quite important and essential to get the opinions and views of those who are most dear and important to us, the Students!!

I am particularly interested in the Guangdong/Guangzhou/Shenzhen area but any input or feedback would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

Best universitties in China: Tsinghua University and Beijing University (Beida).

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

If you ask such a question you are bound to get highly misleading answers.
CHina's schools are ranked but the ranks are attributed arbitrarily (pass grades seem to matter the most).

Secondly, what students say is one thing but whether that is objective is another. Their parents push them to attend elite schools - which get their status through official ranking in an opaque evaluation exercise.

For expat kids, the criteria might be a little different as parents want to see results, not just pass grades; expats used to rank Chinese universities and colleges for their own reference. Such a list was available at www.dezshira.com (a few years ago). ANd yes, Tsinghua and Peking universities rank top!

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

Yes, Tsinghua and BeiDa are top unis in China. They would be pretty reputable schools in most countries I can think of. Unfortunately not all Chinese students enjoy the privilege of studying at such elite schools.
Agreed Stepp, answers are bound to be a bit misleading, but then I have to wonder first about the question, "How do you rank your school?" (just a tiny bit, not a lot), and then (quite a bit actually) about the possible ways that answers to the Q might be compiled and evaluated. But mostly about the fact that (it would seem, correct me if I'm wrong) no one has bothered to ask Chinese students to rank their colleges and unis before. Their professors and teachers and course content yes, but the schools themselves, AFAIK, no.
It's as if no one cares how the students feel or what they think. (permitted or not, some of them do think from time to time, and it is one of the great pleasures of my job that I'm sometimes there when they do) They are only the raw material, part of the input, a small part of a long process that eventually churns out graduates of a certain if dismal quality after 4 years time. Who asks the cow or the pig what it thinks of the abattoir? Indeed, fans of Upton Sinclair might find an uncomfortably close analogy here.
I can see a lot of problems with a lot of potential answers, but my biggest problems are with questions that don't get asked.

in_asia_bill · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 197

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

eslstudies · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 1061 Location: East of Aden

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

if i looked for a job as an esl teacher coming from outside of china, i wouldn't care much about students' feedback....i'd ask the rest of teachers having worked around Wink

peace to our OP
and
cheers and beers to all hard working FTs that are trying to make a difference with people in peoples republic Very Happy

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

According to www.ui.edu/indonesia/extra/tabelqs.pdf the best schools in China and their rank in the world are:

Jordean · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 238

For those of you teaching in universities, how obvious is it to you whether you are teaching in a first-tier institution or not? Are the students better motivated in the top-flight schools, or in the 'blue-collar' institutions? Also, if you start your 'career' in a tertiary school, are there problems moving "up" to a higher prestige school in subsequent contract cycles?
I am torn between applying to Bei Da or something of that caliber, as opposed to say Qu Fu U. (as an example), in a smaller, less-hectic city with a more laid-back life style. (One school I was looking at ranked 361st in the 2003 rankings.)
How boring are the smaller cities really? I live in a small city in Indiana, USA, and do very little after work except exercise, study Chinese, read or watch DVDs. Am I really going to find the average city in China duller than that?? Heck, if I can find a martial arts teacher I'm golden!

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

Jordean · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 238

I tried to PM you on this; hope it came through.

I work with (i.e., prosecute) criminal defendants all day long, so even the most irritating FAO will be a vast improvement.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

Oh my.... another lawyer who wants to give it up for the pleasures of teaching English in China. There were THREE of us, out of perhaps 10 FTs, at the first university I taught at.
I think it's easier prosecuting criminals than dealing with FAO's. At least you can get a judge to order a witness to answer a question!

Jordean · Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 238

I also study tae kwon do, do you think a joint lock would help with the FAOs? Laughing