Job Discussion Forums

[yellofello]

Some housing details please:

1. Where is the housing?
2. Does ZU provide villas or only apartments?
3. Do they provide cable TV?
4. Is the electricity subsidized?
5. Do the apartment buildings have security?
6. Where are the buildings? Are they near ZU campus?
7. How long is the commute?
8. Is the traffic as bad as they say?
9. Do any of the buildings have recreational facilities?
10. What is the most recent housing allowance for those who opt to rent?
11. Can people bring their own furniture?

Thank you.

[veiledsentiments]

I can answer some of these and others can pick up the slack if they are not already traveling for the summer

1. Where is the housing?

Spread all over the city...

2. Does HCY provide villas or only apartments?

Mostly flats

3. Do they provide cable TV?

No. This is only an option in compounds and the UAE doesn't really have any to speak of. Some buildings have a dish. Most people tend to get the system that provides what they want to see.

4. Is the elctricity subsidized?

There used to be an allowance, but I don't know if it still exists. My expenses for electric were not that bad considering.

5. Do the apartment buildings have security?

Not really needed. When I was there, I accidentally lived in one of the only building with an actual security guard whose desk was always covered and people had to check in. Most buildings have a harras who many or may not be around when or if you ever need him. But, not really an issue.

6. Where are the buildings? Are they near ZU campus?

Luck of the draw... usually not...

7. How long is the commute?

Completely variable by where your flat is.

8. Is the traffic as bad as they say?

For Dubai, yes... for Abu Dhabi, it is getting worse, but nowhere near as bad as Dubai.

9. Do any of the buildings have recreational facilities?

Yes... some have a pool on the roof... or racket ball courts. Again, it's the luck of the draw as to what is available when you arrive in their flat inventory. Likely most have nothing.

10. What is the most recent housing allowance for those who opt to rent?

I can't answer this one.

11. Can people bring their own furniture?

Of course you could, but it will be at your expense. And very foolish really. You get a decent housing allowance to furnish the place which should cover the necessities, but perhaps not the luxuries. Unless you have been living overseas for years and have valuable items that you eventually want to have back in your home country, I would bring in only a minimum of furnishings. Most everything you would need is readily available.

VS

[yellofello]

Thank you VS. Where do you live and work? You seem to know a lot about the Gulf.

1. Does ZU offer us a choice of accomodation or do we have to take what's available?
2. Are the apartments spacious? or poky? I don't expect the world and I know some places in the region spoil staff while other's don't. But after all, if you are happy with your home, you usually end up being a happier teacher. People who get substandard housing end up spending a lot of time griping about it and it tends to mess them up. Seen it happen to a lot of people which is why I am particular about my accomodation. If I am happy with it, then I feel better about things. My home is my sanctuary and it needs to be a place that's liveable.

Can anyone compare ZU housing with U of Q housing? Has anyone had experience of both places? Which place would you recommend?

Thanks for any info.

[Afra]

Take the advice of young george relating to ZU, he has current and inside knowledge and seems to be the only poster who has.

[veiledsentiments]

yellofello,

I am retired, but I still have lots of friend spread around the Gulf. Afra is right that YoungGeorge is our best source, and hopefully he will come back and post if I have made any glaring errors.

I'd say that it is safe to say that after reading the QU posts, that ZU is a better housing choice. I doubt that you will find anyone that has experienced both places - especially now that many of the teachers are already traveling for summer leave.

In general, flats in the Gulf are spacious and normally quite new construction. But, as I said above, it is the luck of the draw... what is available when you arrive. With most Gulf employers, if you end up in a flat that has serious problems... or they suddenly start tearing down the building next door which means a few years of construction for all hours... you can usually change flats at the end of the academic year or if they have one in their inventory open up. This is why you always treat the people in the housing department very nicely.

VS

[younggeorge]

Answers to the best of my understanding in bold. YG

1. - I deleted it, already answered
2. Does ZU provide villas or only apartments? For new teachers, only apartments unless they have large families, in which case they might be offered a villa. At the end of your first year, you have the option to move if you can find somewhere within your allowance - either apartment or villa.
3. Do they provide cable TV? No, but some buildings have it installed. Luck of the draw.
4. Is the electricity subsidized? Not by the university, but in some buildings the air-conditioning is included in the rent. Not all, though, and possibly becoming less common than it used to be.
5. Do the apartment buildings have security? As answered by VS.
6. Where are the buildings? Are they near ZU campus? In Abu Dhabi, pretty close. The new Dubai ZU campus is out of town, at Academic City, so no.
7. How long is the commute? As VS says, it depends where your apartment is. In Abu Dhabi, about 15 mins, Dubai 30-45 minutes
8. Is the traffic as bad as they say? Pretty much
9. Do any of the buildings have recreational facilities? Most do these days, at least a gym and/or a pool
10. What is the most recent housing allowance for those who opt to rent?Not sure, depends on family size and availability of premises, but you won't get that option in the first year anyway
11. Can people bring their own furniture?As VS says, you can, but it's a waste of time and money unless you've got something you're particularly attached to

Thought I saw a question about choice: you might be able to swap with another new arrival, but that's about the extent of it.

[uaeobserver]

housing prospects are better in Dubai - but the commute is absolute hell.

Abu Dhabi seems to have a huge housing shortgage at the moment.

People are moving into AD faster than the buildings are going up.

Rent allowances are woefully inadequate.

I've heard plenty of reports of rent allowances being inadequate by 30,000 - 50,000 AED per year.

You can go outside of the college and use a realtor - but you'll pay commission out of your own pocket.

[yellofello]

Are people happy at ZU? How happy? Are the management people approachable and transparent or are they into head games? Are people free to speak their mind about issues or is this seen as a bad thing? I am an unfront person, I like to speak my mind. I want to work hard and do a good job but I don't want to be in a place where I have to walk on tiptoes and watch what I say.

Some questions:

1. Is management open and transparent?
2. Are there tricky people in the management?
3. Do management support staff or play games.
4. Does management care about its teachers?
5. Is the work place a collaborative workplace.
6. What is morale like? Is it good or bad.
7. Do people get frustrated with management?
8. Is the testing system a good one? Is it well organized?
9. Do students rule the roost?
10. Are teachers treated with respect by students, management and administration?

Some answers would be helpful. I've got four good job offers and now I am worried about some of the places I've got an offer at. I really can't afford to make a major mistake about accepting a job. Too much to lose, if you get my drift.

[veiledsentiments]

Based on your list of questions repeated all over this board I would suggest that you avoid the Gulf. Your expectations will not be met and you will be back here doing rants on how it isn't transparent, management is poor, and students run the show.

That is pretty much the Gulf in a nutshell. You will find little or no transparency as the rules often come from the Ministry and even your direct supervisors can make few changes even if they want to. The students at most of the places like HCT, ZU, and AUS are great fun to teach, but you will probably not find the standards required (or not) to your liking.

I don't mean this as a criticism of you, but just pointing out that the gulf system is not to many people's liking. You have to be a patient person who is accepting of the fact that their goals are different from ours. To use the overused platitude... you have to go with the flow...

VS

[MEast]

Thank you for the questions and the answers...It's good to know what someone has to expect from the working environment in the ME..VS, do you mean by what you said that administration can be injust towards teachers? or is it only a matter of making the situation difficult or uncomfortable for them(the teachers)? in the case of a positive answer, is this common in the middle east(can you recall a case of a school/university, where administration and staff were getting along with eacher other and where justice and fair treatment were the predominant facts?).

We would appreciate that you give us some insights on this particular point, with some examples if you have any.

Thanks.

[yellofello]

A couple of questions

If teachers have management issues, is there a neutral independent body they can address them to? Basically, is there departmental support for teachers?

Does the University encourage openess and transparency?

Are there any cliques that attempt to undermine teachers and create problems for them?

[uaeobserver]

Ditto what veiledsentiments said.

ZU is one of the more "western" among the UAE institutions of higher education. Still --- remember where it's located.

Looking at your questions, you appear to expect an entirely western institution of higher education. You might be better off looking for a position in the west.

Your colleageus are your support system. In fact, ZU will give you a wonderful set of colleagues. Get a copy of their catalog (it's available online). Look at the faculty listing.

Openness and transparency are scarce commodities in the west - let alone the middle east. If this is really important for you, a western research university or flagship institution will fit you much better.

While few of my colleagues have encountered hostile cliques, most have encountered the underlying culture.

Here's an example: Just two weeks into your teaching duties in 2007, you'll encounter Ramadan. Your students will routinely stay up until 3-4 AM during that month. They will be exhausted from the ongoing festivities - and teaching tired students isn't easy (especially at the beginning of the year).

The underying culture emphasizes verbal agility, wasta (influence), and honor. If you can work within this framework - then congratulations --- enjoy your stay.

If you can't - as VS suggests - you'll be discouraged.

[yellofello]

Thanks UAEobserver & VS -you've been really helpful. Thanks for the info on colleagues. That's what I wanted to hear. Good colleagues, not back-stabbers. I can handle a lot but rotten colleagues do me in. How's the windsurfing? Are ther any public beaches or do we have to join a hotel? Looking forward to the UAE.

[veiledsentiments]

Yellofello, even the best workplace in the world will have a backstabber or two. The key is to figure out who they are and avoid them... and keep your back to the wall when they are nearby.

VS

[uaeobserver]

wind surfing is okay if you can find beaches that do not allow those abnoxious jet skis.......