Job Discussion Forums

[happyroofus]

Don't say I didn't tell you..

Over a hundred students have been protesting on the campus over the last few days and at one time had brought their demonstration out onto the Muscat-Nizwa highway, blocking Southbound traffic. What was particularly unusual was that they were not protesting aka Jasmine Revolution, they were and are protesting against the university itself. Lack of books, poor facilites, schedules clashing, TOEFL requirements, the Foundation program, etc.
Whether one agrees with the students or not is somewhat irrelevant. It's the first time it has occurred, which is itself significant; more importantly though, it under-scores a large amount of dissatisfaction that many people, native and non-native, have with the 6 year old "university".

Since the recent administrative re-shuffle over 2010 whereby a new VC was appointed along with his cohort, the fumbling Director of Foundation program, things have not only gone seriously down-hill, but have become almost impossible to work in (lack of staff, lack of books, ad-hoc exam items, a tri-level language acquisition system [!]). Along with the 20+ ESL instructors who have left over the last 14 months, there was also a mass dismissal of 11+ ESL instructors in the Foundation program just this last week. Typical of the Gulf some of you may say, and I agree (remember the ass sackings at JIC in KSA a few years back ?), but this is UoN - in the 6 years its been around there have been sackings (some being bang on by the way), but absolutely nothing near this scale. In addition, it has also created quite a bit of tension and fear for a lot of the new teachers, who, while watching this, are obvioulsy beginning to re-consider their futures there.

If you're considering on taking a position there (they're at TEOSL-Arabia this weekend); think long and hard before accepting. A lot of the new ESL'ers that have been hired of late have Arab-Muslim backgrounds and are getting higher adminsitrative positions. It could be the fumbling Director's mix of stamping his brand on the place, along with financial cut-backs; either way, why take the risk ?

There are plenty of other options out there in Oman (MoE Techs & Applied Sciences, Salalah, Sohar, etc) which is a pretty good palce to work and live (so long as you avoid driving!).

HR

[eslbear]

And at the Tourism college in Muscat, the staff and Omani teachers have demonstrated today asking for things like more money, benefits etc. Apparantly, one major question is why the expat teachers make more than Omani and why aren't there more Omanis in upper mgmt?

Aside from some obvious answers like economics, relative wages and costs between countries and experience in the field, I wonder what the bosses will have to say to respond to them?

With the huge "restructuring" of the Ministries yesterday and ongoing demands here and there, it looks like some real changes will take place - for the better? Let's hope so.....

eslbear

[Charybdis]

Word from the University of Nizwa is that those instructors who were not renewed (as well as most of those who are voluntarily leaving) were part of a clique of long-timers. Someone moved their cheese. Mixed emotions about the departure of these folks, with the "positives" mostly outweighing the "negatives," say the majority of those staying on. A couple of the non-renewals maybe don't make sense, and that's truly sad to the extent true.

UoN will need a lot of new ESL instructors going forward, that's for sure. Nizwa itself as a place to live/work isn't so bad. There are much better student populations (Asia) and much worse (other Arab countries and some unis in the US and Europe, to be fair). But there are lots worse places in the region. Check out this Board.

Totally aside from the non-renewals of instructors, the UoN student demonstrations are extremely interesting: they want the TOEFL pass score lowered to 400 or eliminated altogether (it's a faux in-house TOEFL anyway, and a requirement of Omani law that Foundation Programs have a TOEFL 500 or IELTS 5.0 pass requirement--good luck, kids), faster internet connections (true the connections are quite slow and the technology is not present at all in the classrooms, which is a pity), better class schedules (it is a heavy load for the students, but they're not exactly the most highly motivated bunch), and lack of facilities/books (very true, other than the Chancellor's offices, which are reportedly quite lovely indeed). Word on the street (Bank of Muscat, Nizwa Branch) is the private investors who've sunk some serious cash into the UoN are not happy campers because to date they haven't received any ROI...hmmmm, what's THAT all about? No jolly wali there perhaps. Sic transit gloria mundi and private universities in the Middle East.

Maybe now that there's been some long overdue housecleaning, coupled with complaining on the part of students, things will improve at the UoN. Time will tell; let's wish them all well--those leaving, those staying on, those coming in.

[urbanversion]

[veiledsentiments]

[happyroofus]

All I can say to this is that you really need to check your sources!?

Most of the people not renewed were the non-grousers (some real quiet pros in fact); and most certainly some of those who were renewed had some serious complaints against them or had previously voiced dissent.
Bottomline, there was and is, no rhyme nor reason to who was not renewed, other than it being a personal decision by the ever-fumbling Director himself.

By the way, they just lost their 3rd Foundation co-ordinator in as many months, so.. to finish what was started above:

How doth the busy bee,
Dum vivimus vivamus,
I stay my enemy!

[happyroofus]

[eha]

Most of the people not renewed were the non-grousers (some real quiet pros in fact); and most certainly some of those who were renewed had some serious complaints against them or had previously voiced dissent.
Bottomline, there was and is, no rhyme nor reason to who was not renewed, .

It was ever thus. And not only in Nizwa.

[veiledsentiments]

[dali'sfav]

Did your source ever say why these people face non-renewal? These few old-timers? No one has claimed that these teachers have done anything less than their jobs. Whether or not they complained seems besides the point because complaining about your job is common as having a job. I wonder if your source is letting her own personality get in the way of seeing who these grousers really are. Feeding you information knowing that you will blurt it out in here seems more than a little low. And worse, if feeds the fire and cuts what used to be a pleasant place to work into tinier and tinier pieces.

Please stop using a 'source' to point fingers. Unless you know the people involved consider not saying anything at all.

I'm not saying don't comment on the current situation but couldn't you do it without defaming people you don't even know? They've all had the rug pulled out from under them for no given reason but I don't see them in here trying to woo the wider community to their cause.

[urbanversion]

[happyroofus]

Cheers!

(hic!)

[veiledsentiments]

[isabel]

I still object to the notion that not being renewed is that same as being sacked. There are some at U.Nizwa who maybe deserved to get the sack a year or more ago. My understanding is the dissention has been going on for at least a couple of years. If the management had selectively "sacked" some miscreants at that time, others might have gotten the message and gotten with the program. The fear of actually dismissing a faculty member for bad behavior or poor teaching leads to a downward spiral. I think that is what is being witnessed right now.

Besides, sometimes non-renewals happen for other reasons, such as deminished enrollments, age, etc. It is unfair to those who are not renewed for reasons beyond their control to be painted with the same brush as those who were not renewed for egregious behaviour.

[veiledsentiments]