Job Discussion Forums

newtogolf · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 49

Hi everyone,

I am new here, but have been reading your great posts for a while.
I was wondering if an applicant's religious belief in Christianity will be a potential problem for university faculty position application in UAE.

Thank you all!

Sunburnt Individual · Joined: 20 May 2008 Posts: 91

I was JUST about to ask something like this.

A friend told me a story yesterday of a person who applied to ADEC with "Muslim" as their religion on their CV and were later called to be more specific. Can anyone verify that they would or wouldn't hire someone for not being Sunni? The story doesn't make much sense to me.

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

Newtogolf.

In general they don't care about your religious affiliation. 99% of the westernes coming put christian on all of their documents. The only time religion seems to be an issue is when you are not a christian or muslim. And even then it generally is minimal.

I do know that getting your visa is MUCH easier if you put down christian as a western expat when they ask your religion as opposed to being buddhist, hindu, athiest or jewish.

The local HR person made me change all of our forms to say Christian because "it is easier."

I think the only issue would be if you were actively proselytizing in your classroom or neighborhood. Other than that, it usually seems like they don't care.

newtogolf · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 49

As an asian whose ph.d dissertation is on humanity/social science from a Christian approach as it appears on CV, will that be a problem.

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

In the UAE, the majority of Western teachers are Christian and there are churches to attend if you so desire. Just don't expect to get Christmas and Easter off unless they fall on the local weekend.

As to the asking the Muslim for more information... I recall one Egyptian teacher being mystified because he was asked to be more specific because he had only put "Sunni." They wanted to know which of the main Sunni branches. He just picked one at random because he had seriously never thought about it before. And I worked with both Shia and Druze, so there is no "must be Sunni" rule that I have seen.

And yes, they are very accepting of Christians, but even a hint of proselytizing can get you deported pretty quickly.

VS

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

newtogolf · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 49

What about teaching English?
Dissertation topic is related to Christian belief.
Asian.

Does it indicate anything unusual?

By the way, I am asking on behalf of someone else.

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

I'm not sure what kind of English teaching job would be hiring an Asian PhD who has done his/her thesis in Social Science/Religion.

Employers want to see things like CELTA and/or MAs in Applied Linguistics and the best employers require them. I don't see the biggest problem as the topic of the thesis, but the lack of credentials for English teaching.

VS

newtogolf · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 49

What about more than 10-year university teaching experience, both abroad and in USA?

adorabilly · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah

It really depends on the content area.

Most of the schools here would love phd's but you will have to have a TESL certification or english credentials.

I know of one person who has an undergraduate degree in religious studies who was flagged by the government when they applied. They got the job (but their graduate degree was in Applied linguistics and they had 5 years of ESL teaching experience).

newtogolf · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 49

Thanks, what about the pay like? Roughly how much?

I heard there's a difference of pay scale between Westerner and Asian(or people from other places) even when you have a USA Ph.D degree.

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

Teaching what for those 10 years... English Language or English Literature or what? Content courses?

I worked with many Asian English teachers, but they all had educational credentials that related to teaching English as I mentioned above.

In the Gulf, they tend to be strict about your credentials matching what you are teaching. It is not clear what field this PhD is in...

VS

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

At university level, the pay scale is based on your credentials and experience, not your passport. (this seems a more common problem in Saudi than in the UAE or Oman)

VS

newtogolf · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 49

Thanks, VS, what roughly could that be?

sundrieddate · Joined: 04 Apr 2009 Posts: 12

16 000 - 20 000 AED/Mo

Look at the benefits - but with a PhD - look at other options