Job Discussion Forums

[Arab Strap]

If anyone out there has any info on this place I'd be glad to hear it.

I'm thinking along the lines of

Management
Accommodation
Students
Fellow teachers
General atmosphere
Do they pay on time and so on

Any feedback both positive and negative will be much appreciated.

PMs welcome

AS

[ALPH]

Yes,
I was also looking for info on this college. Not a peep .. would appear they are killing off the teachers out there ..

[ALPH]

Arab Strap
looking at the contract on offer from ACK, i have my doubts about them. 25+ students in class; potential 30 hr contact teaching hours pe week ie. 6 hrs per day trying to deal with 25+ students indicates a reluctance to employ sufficient number of teachers to cope. Also it is pointed out while it is a 5 day week, teachers may be asked into the centre over weekend so projected goals etc can be met.
All smells a bit of COWBOY to me .. For all their fancy Mission statement, their Mission really appears to be to make as much money fom the contract as is humanly possible by cutting corners. Good luck ...

[Arab Strap]

Mmmm.............I was under the impression that they needed more teachers right now due to an increased student intake and some new courses they are running.

According to my colleague they seemed very amenable over the phone.............yet again that means nothing. He's the one looking for a job.

There's very little about them on this forum which would tend to suggest that there is nothing negative to report or that current staff members are not willing to either defend the place or present their gripes on this forum.

ACK teachers are you out there?

[Time4me]

I currently work for ACK, they are not killing off their teachers at all. Enrolments for this semester exceeded expectations, and yes they are looking for teachers in several areas to the best of my knowledge.

I would explore what they are offering, I have nothing negative to say, my experience so far is all quite positive. It is a fairly new college with state of the art facilities, a great bunch of teachers and an interesting future.

It is very easy for some posters on this site to get on and bag what they don't know, and it all becomes a little tiresome after a while. In my opinion, like all workplaces, ACK will suit some, perhaps not others.
ALPH, you are talking out of your arse. I have not seen any evidence of 'cutting corners' as you put it nor any of the other rubbish you are spouting. What I can tell you is that I, for one, would not want to be part of any teaching team that included someone with your attitude.

Arab Strap, if you have a genuine interest, PM me.

[ALPH]

Great to hear from the middle management itself .. yeehaw, ride 'em cowboy !!

[veiledsentiments]

Now, ALPH, we don't know if she is middle management or 'just' a mere teacher like the rest of us. What people want is information from someone who is there. It seems to me that what we have learned is that ACK has managed to get a new teacher in and not alienate her in the first month or so. So far, so good. The place doesn't have enough of a track record to tell us much more yet.

It sounds like the usual beginning of semester problems with student numbers not matching teachers hired. Time4me, it would certainly be helpful if you could tell us about teaching hours, class sizes, and the housing situation. That is what applicants want to know. Are they local hiring for the teacher shortage or should people apply now who may be interested?

VS

[SCHUBERT]

yes, is it possible to have any info on ACK ? This really isn't a forum for argument but for teachers to help each other out.

[Time4me]

ACK provides Australian AQTF qualifications via Diplomas in Business and Engineering, with perhaps others to come. They also have an English program so require ESL as well as vocational instructors. I believe they are looking for instructors in at least the management and English program at present, but am not privy to what goes on with the hiring. They recruit locally as well as from overseas. The website would show current positions and working conditions. What is says, is the way it is. They have now applied for university status, which should be known in the next few months.

Class sizes are maximum of 25, though during Ramadan, many classes have some absences. Average teaching hours is around 24 or so hours in a 40 hour week, similar to TAFE conditions in Australia. Compared to other organisations I have worked in, the working conditions are quite good, pay is on time and fair. Accommodation is provided either by living in some allocated apartments, or an allowance - you choose.

There is certainly a comaradie amongst those instructors I work with, and the general atmosphere is positive. The management I have dealt with is helpful and upfront.

Like I said in a previous post, not all workplaces suit all people, ACK suits me.

[/quote]

[veiledsentiments]

Thanks Time4me...

But it must be said that for the Gulf its teaching hours are very high for university level (15 contact hours per week are the norm - 20 is considered very high) and the class sizes are a bit large. Hopefully once they get fully staffed, they will attempt to comply with Gulf standards for university level.

Good to hear that it seems to be a pleasant work environment.

What is their leave policy like? Do they give the normal two months off in the summer plus semester break and the Eid holidays?

VS

[ALPH]

Yes, thank you TIME4me. Now that didnt hurt, did it .. without the colourful language and the put down ? We only ask to be led out of the dark.

Veiled Sentiment, i have learned form a mate working there that staff are entitled to 20 working days (1 calendar month) pa .. though I believe this doesnt include flight tickets (subject to correction of course). Staff also get Public hols (10days) in addition. You can also request to take 20 days (unpaid leave) during summer recess if OK'd by ACK brass.

The working hours do appear rather high and class sizes extra large. I have an opinion on all this .. but .. er .. am afraid to post it. Hope this was of some help .. Good Luck ..

[Time4me]

ALPH, you are corect about the leave. At the end of the contract you get the flight home, if you sign up for another year, the return flight at the end of the first year of course. Maybe next year, with the competition of more colleges like this opening up, there may be more on offer in terms of vacation time etc. I guess there are always trade offs in any position.

Meanwhile, hours and class sizes aside, it is a nice place to work.

[veiledsentiments]

I sure hope that the work remains pleasant for you and I hope you will come back and let us know if things take a turn for the worse.

But, I do have to say that this is a university that is running their system like the bottom of the barrel language schools... long hours, big classes, half of the normal leave provided in tertiary education, and only one year contracts if I understood you correctly? The norm for universities is for 2-3 year contracts with free return tickets home for summer leave in the between years.

How overwhelmingly generous they are to allow you to take the usual 2nd month of summer leave without pay...

What this means is that they will get the teachers that the universities providing the normal benefit packages and conditions won't take. It will end up being an entry level place where people will leave as soon as they can move up. sigh... as if we don't have enough of those around...

VS

[ALPH]

Me application to ACK has been turned down. Appears the above etry re not wanting to work in a company that would employ me has grown legs. Well, i'm gonna have to keep me opinions to meself henceforth. Yikes .. me and my big mouth !!

[netnat]

I also work for ACK (but not for much longer) and while they may not be killing off the teachers they are certainly churning them over. In two years they have gone through a troubling number of staff. ALPHA is pretty much on the money, I wish I had that much insight before I came.

Some people are happy here but they also admit to lowering their standards or being 'economic prisoners'. English language teachers appear the happiest - which might explain why Management and Engineering staff are pissed... the bar for English language standards is not set very high.

The biggest problems, as I see it, are they prioritise marketing over education and are not serious about English language training or standards (it�s some Aussie immigration standard). Their recruitment philosophy is mercenary � decent money but not much else. So you get a �diverse� mix of people who will leave as soon as they get a better offer. They also let those with Wasta (influence) in on a whim and do as they wish on campus - which means your life might get threatened occasionally. To be fair, that has happened but not very often � as if that makes it ok!

If you are thinking of coming make sure you get a clear job description as they don't write ambiguous contracts for nothing. And factor in some greatly exaggerated conditions from HR.

Bottom line, if you are serious about real education - don't come... but that applies to most place in the mideast where Wasta and greed reign.