Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

How important are retention and turnover in a university? If most (8 out of 12) of the foreigners leave within a seven month period of time, does this indicate a problem with the university or is it expected?

JennyJJ · Joined: 01 Mar 2003

For what it's worth:
My coworker has been here for seven years and the person I replaced was here five years. I expect to stay about five or six years. There are only two "native=speaker" instructors.
I'd say they have a serious turnover problem.

For the students, this is a real problem. How can the teachers ever really problem solve the student's needs and build a program to meet those needs? And how can there be any consistancy in how things are taught and in the transition from year to year? Even with experienced, cooperative and thoughtful faculty these things take time to develop. With such turnover, how can the program ever be effective?
Answer: It can't.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Don't know much about the uni situation, but rapid turnover and sudden unexpected changes, are, I've come to realise, very much a common fact of Korean society and workplace. Its no big deal to them.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Hey, I was wondering about that same thing today.

I notive quite a few university positions being advertised in Korea.

However, there are NO UNIVERSITY positions for Japan or Taiwan posted on the ESL International board. Question

Was wondering what the situation is like at Korean Universities - why so many postings?

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Some universities seem to be cleaning house. They are firing foreigners or simply not allowing people to return. Be careful some "highly respected" universities treat foreign professors very bad.

The foreign professor -- colleague or hired hand?

Foreign professors tend to be treated as hired hands, without academic standing, and lacking the possibility of career advancement or tenure. They must submit to yearly contracts (compensated at a rate only 60 percent of their Korean peers) while walled off from the permanent Korean faculty who benefit from travel, research funding, sabbaticals, etc. Moreover, when hundreds of Korean scholars enjoy such perks at American and other foreign universities, something is obviously amiss.

According to the Samsung Group's chairman, Lee Kun-hee, to succeed globally, Korea must forgo the thought that Korea and being Korean is superior, and foreign specialists must be treated with respect.
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200206/14/200206142349223599900090109011.html