Job Discussion Forums

[fof]

I have gone back a few pages and looked at the SQU postings, but would like more info about SQU. How stress-free is it? What is on campus accommodation like (if it is available)? How far is it "out of town"? Is the workload 'reasonable' compared to HCT, QU, and others? Is teaching the mixed gendered classes more challenging than the segregated classes elsewhere (I have read one posting saying yes because they are so unused to it, and another saying no -they ignore each other, to protect family honour). What are the head-hanchos at ELC like? Thanks

[veiledsentiments]

fof

SQU is probably one of the most stress free universities in the Gulf. There are issues, of course, low pay being the biggest one - and you can always encounter personality clashes with either other teachers or management. (same as all jobs) The on-campus housing has long been filled and it is rare for anyone to get assigned to it. Their housing is now spread around the area - so it becomes luck of the draw just like the rest of the Gulf. There has been little or no complaining here about it, so I guess it is mostly acceptable. When it opened, SQU was in the back of beyond, but Muscat has grown out to meet it. There are now major supermarkets nearby. But just like the suburbs anywhere - you will want and need a car. It is about a 30-40 minute drive to the bright lights of Muscat with the hotels and major shopping. The airport is only about 10-15 minutes. (of course, all depends on traffic and time of day - just like everywhere)

The workload is a breeze compared to HCT or ZU... probably equivalent to QU. The new director is an Omani woman and she seems to be doing well. I haven't heard anything negative, but SQU has always been a place where you mostly deal with your course co-ordinator and s/he deals with upper management. For a ME job, it is very non-bureaucratic.

As to teaching the mixed classes, I taught them in Kuwait, Egypt, and Oman - with only the UAE being segregated. There are pros and cons to both. The first semester of each year, they tend to be very shy of each other if they are from smaller villages, but as the teacher, I always let them decide the parameters of their interaction. Different majors interact differently. If you have a bunch of Islamic Science majors, they will be more conservative and often do ignore each other as much as they can... while medical tract will interact quite quickly. Really... if you have taught Arabs before, it isn't a big deal at all. You just need to have a bit of understanding about where they are coming from and not try to... say... force pair/group work before they are ready. The one thing that you read on this board over and over again is that the Omani students are a pleasure to teach, and every teacher misses them when s/he leaves.

There is good reason why so many of the teachers at SQU have been there for years - some since the '80s. They tend to stay until they are - usually politely - nudged to retirement. There are quite a few who left and came back.

The only real problem with SQU is the salary. I know people who have been offered double to go to jobs in the Emirates.

VS

[fof]

Thanks a lot VS! I am having to decide between ZU (new mens campus), QU and SQU and I am at the point where I think I will just draw a name out of a hat! I just heard from a teacher at SQU who says there is one woman instructing who is 72, so I guess it would be a good place to go if I don't want to be pushed out at 60. Also stree-free is right up my alley. Salary difference between ZU (top paying) and SQU (lowest) that I have been offered is $800 US...that isn't enough in itself to make me jump at ZU and it seems to me to be less of a gap than people have been suggesting (SQU vs. other Gulf unis)...I am kind of figuring that I would need to spend more in the UAE than in Oman, but maybe I have that wrong.

[veiledsentiments]

Hi fof,

You must have a few good years of experience to get the SQU salary so close to ZU/QU. I know someone who is lowish on the experience scale and the difference is twice yours. If stress level is an important factor (and it would be for me), SQU is the lowest, QU would be next (life is more stressful - work about equal), while ZU is naturally a high pressure place - and it is a long commute.

Both SQU and QU are not that worried about age until it starts to interfere with your work. I can't say how ZU deals with this factor.

I think that for the majority of teacher expenses - since all these provide housing - they are pretty equal. Since all three currencies are based on the dollar still, they will have close to the same inflation factor.

As to lifestyle, IMHO - Oman is the most pleasant place to live. Abu Dhabi would probably come next, but it seems to be getting as frenetic as Dubai. QU... well Doha never much appealed to me... no scenery.

VS