Job Discussion Forums

[mightyQ]

Hey, I was hoping that someone could give me some information about the working conditions and pay at IAT. Any opinions or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

[Zoot]

You've got to be kidding! I thought only middle-easterners considered working for that place these days. Do a search on the site, man! You'll find more information than you thought existed and none of it positive or flattering.

[meteacher]

Zoot is right! Stay away! I used to work there so PM me if you want more information. I've said all I have to say on this place in the past.

[mightyQ]

Thanks for the info! on booth IAT and using the search option! i'm new to this forum. Thinking about making a move to the UAE next year and checking out all possible options.

[Incedere]

Zoot...Metecher

Are you yahoos at it again?

Why are you always passing off ignorance as advice?

[Iamherebecause]

I know a couple of people at IAT Al Ain who say they are happy... but I don't really know what their aspirations and qualifications are are. The female students seem nice enough, a mix of Emiratis and Arabs from elsewhere.

But when I met the previous director of IAT Al Ain in the pub one evening just before he left (about 18 months ago?) he was fairly scathing about the whole set-up.

[Incedere]

I can understand the point of view of the fellow you chatted with because IAT originally was an offshoot of HCT. IAT teachers had their visas through HCT, and all the upper management and HR staff were from HCT as well. Over the past five years that has shifted, not due to any nefarious plot, but because IAT is actually a cornerstone in the implementation of Abu Dhabi's Emiritization policy. While the teachers are predominantly expat, the MD, directors, and HR staff have all been replaced by Emiratis, and I am sure that one day, not in the near future, but eventually, the teachers and other staff will all be Emirati as well, which is healthy for the long term future of the country. But still, it would cause sore feelings for those who were in on the ground floor, and have been asked to step aside from the very thing they helped dream about, organize, and build.

Overall, the goal is to immerse students in a different educational model than currently exists at most government schools (uniforms, strict rules with equally strict punishments, longer school hours, mandatory military training) in order to acclimatize them to international business practices, and stream them into fields where the Emirates currently depends on expat labour. Through the cluster model developed in the US, students are placed into career track clusters such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), IT, Mechatronics, Logistics, etc., and alongside core subjects like English and Math, they study hydraulics, pneumatics, control systems, micro controllers, AutoCAD, electronics, engineering mathematics, ICT, etc.

While some students end up at HCT, or study abroad, IAT has also set up tertiary institutes including a logistics academy, aviation academy, are currently establishing a new university, and have a well developed advanced vocational institute for the technically proficient, but less academically oriented. Eventually students would progress through the high school system, into the technical tertiary system, and into the workforce.

To that end, in cooperation with a whole host of Emirati companies (Dubal, Nakheel, Emaar, etc) all grade 11 students have to spend a summer in a mandatory coop placement, with the option of renewing the internship the following year. A number of these companies are also offering financial support for successful candidates who wish to become employees, throughout their post secondary education. The students get on the job training while they study, and gain experience that really gives them an advantage in terms of choosing their career path and post-secondary studies.

Sorry to get all policy-wonkish, but there is a lot of misinformation on this board. Nothing is ever entirely positive or negative, and as HCT alum know, every large institution has storming and norming periods while it grows and establishes internal structures. Since I first joined IAT, I have seen a number of initiatives, changes in policy and direction, and confusion about mission and purpose. But I have also seen things settle, steadier rhythms fall into place, set standards implemented, and progressive initiatives begun. One example is, in cooperation with the British Council, a number of IAT English teachers have become certified IELTS examiners, and IAT Dubai has been established as an IELTS testing centre. At the moment, HCT is in talks with IAT to put in place US AP style programs allowing for advanced credit and entry track placement for students going to HCT. There are also a number of private tertiary institutes interested in cooperative initiatives due to the infrastructure and technology currently in place on the campuses.

Again, sorry to go on at length, and I am sure that some vindictive spirit will, at some point, erase this post, but there is no point in not trying.

On a final note, Iamherebecause, I don't mean to be rude, but I noticed you said "female" students. I believe they might be from a different school, because IAT only has male students, and deals exclusively with Emiratis.

[olivertwisted]

[Iamherebecause]

[meteacher]

Incedere - you are absolutely right. There is a great deal of misinformation on this board. I hope all posters wanting informaiton about IAT read back through all the posts on this board about IAT and decide for themselves.

[Zoot]

Well, unless they've recently been removed, I'm sure ALL the female students at IAT will be most offended to know they don't exist. Misinformation on this board about IAT - ooh, yes. Anything positive written about the place by incedare should be checked against what this same person wrote about the Madares Al Ghad program, which of course is now in its death throes. Come the end of the current academic year, there'll be no such project!

[Iamherebecause]

I just checked the IAT web-site: http://www.iat.ac.ae/

IAT is offering a great opportunity for a career in Health Sciences to UAE National girls & boys and also Non-UAE National girls. The program is an internationally recognized Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and Allied Health. IAT has established a PreCORE program which is an English-focused foundation year.
So: they do take female students, and they do take non-UAE nationals.

[meteacher]

You are absolutely right Iamherebecause! The PreCore nursing course takes girls it. It is one of the special projects run by IAT. I'm surprised Incedere did not know about this...

[Shish kebab]

Hello there,

Since u are discussing IAT policies and regulations. I�ve heard the IAT is conducting IELTS to its non-native English speakers (eastern teachers). The pass mark is 6. If anyone gets below this mark, he/she will be terminated at the end of this year. Is that correct ?????

[Incedere]

At the tertiary level, Iamherebecause, I am sure there are programs being established for girls. Indeed, I believe the Fatima College started recently, in 2008, and offers programs for women. At the secondary level, however, I have never come across a female IAT student, though I stand ready to be corrected at any time. It is a large organization and it is growing quickly. When I wondered about your encountering female IAT students in Al Ain, I had assumed you were speaking about secondary students. Since IAT Al Ain only has male students, I wanted to raise the question. My apologies for the lack of clarity.

Congratulations Meteacher, you managed to write a post about IAT that wasn't entirely filled with spite towards the institute. Towards myself, not so much, but I'll take my victories where I can get 'em.

As for your question Shish kebab, as far as has been stated, there is no pass or fail in terms of staff taking IELTS. It's more a case of the institute taking an inventory of English proficiency. It's quite normal for companies where English is a second language for most staff, but is the primary language of the organization.

Zoot, I'd love to respond to your comment, but I haven't the foggiest idea about what you were getting at. For the sake of context, I'll quote you directly:

..anything positive written about the place by incedare should be checked against what this same person wrote about the Madares Al Ghad program...

Perhaps you were not referring to me, seeing as how you spelled my name wrong, but if you were, were you saying that I wrote something about the Madares Al Ghad program? Or were you saying that someone else wrote about said program? Those pronouns! They're such tricky little devils.

In any event, if you were referring to me, I hope you will be so kind as to forward a link. Seeing as I have no recollection of ever writing about this program, I am keenly interested in seeing what my thoughts were.