Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

What news from the leading private-sector uni in the East ?

[isabel]

Everything is just peachy, thank you for asking.

[trapezius]

brasscat, wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere are you??????????????

how is the great pmu??????? hopefully a step or ten up from UOH!!!!

[scot47]

I had heard mutterings of discontent - no Iqamas yet ! No Iqama means no bank transfers, no driving licence, no car !

[MIKEBUCHAN]

Scot -

You heard correctly about the Igamas! I have a friend that came in on the first wave of teachers to PMU and he still has no Igama. Although, he has been on one international vacation, worked with students occasionally and told me of burglaries in the compound (not his house). He seems quite happy there and invites me to join him often.

Mike

[Stephen Jones]

Apparently to save time they got lots of people over on a business visa. So the delay has been in arranging work visas. It appears they are getting those issued in Bahrain. When they have the work visa the iqama should only take a week or so, including time for the medical.

[brasscat]

Greetings!

The Iqama situation now is in the latter stages of resolving itself. The GRO (Government Relations Office) has committed to a mid-November Work Visa issuance. The hang-up was getting everyone in for their mandatory physical. This is nearly finished.

Construction at the main campus is proceeding at a high rate. The Male & Female buildings are operational.

Mid-term tests begin on 10 November. There will be some hiring for ESL teachers in the January 2008 time frame.

Fall term will not begin until 9 Oct. 2008 due to Ramadan.

Life at Oryx is now fairly quiet, now the source of the thefts and other activities has left the compound. This happened 8 days ago.

The Hajj Vacation time is still in flux. 12 & 18 Dec. are both in the mix.

The weather at Al-Khobar is very pleasantly cool now, especially in the mornings. Land breezes predominate.

brasscat

[Saudi4Ever]

Do they offer a similar package as KFUPM? Salery scale and tuition allowance? How many new teachers do they need and is there opportunity for overtime?

Not for me of course, but inquiryng minds want to know.

[brasscat]

1. Salaries are very comparable.

2. Yes, there will be some hiring in Feb. 2008. But the Fall Term hiring is much larger.

3. Housing is much better the KFUPM.

4. Good schools for the kids to go to.

brasscat

[scot47]

What do they offer as an educational allowance ? As for the housing, I have seen oine of the compounds (Oryx). Nice houses but a small and sterile compound. Nowhere to walk. No greenery ! Just the Dammam-Khobar Highway.

And those who do not have a car are condemned to spend all day in their offices ! And to get a car in KSA you need an Iqama - hard to come by from PMU !

[Stephen Jones]

There's a shopping mall right opposite the compound; Panda, Saco, restaurants, coffee shops, hairdressers, computer shops, snooker tables and so on. And if everybody is on the same compound then they could easily share a taxi at midday.

[brasscat]

Yes, there is an education allowance.

The compound has many activities on it, including a large swimming pool.

Presently I am growing a fine vegetable garden. Others are planting new things everyday.

The Mall of Dammam is also within easy walking distance of the compound.

Besides, PMU gives a 600 SAR transportation allowance every month to its faculty.

There are regular shopping buses coming into the compound.

Staying in an office?? Not I.

brasscat

[Saudi4Ever]

So if you had the opportunity to work at PMU and/or KFUPM, which would you choose and why?

KFUPM has a 25,000sr education allowance, is this so for PMU?

[scot47]

Brasscat and many of the others at PMU are bratless. Maybe they do not know about education allowances.

[brasscat]

Ever heard about asking those who are bratful? I did.
brasscat