next »

[simad]

I have traveled in Oman and enjoyed exploring some of the historical sites; but I wasn't impressed by any particular place. I can just say, I like the north much better because it is very clean and civilized but it is too modern and boring. Too much traffic and crazy driving. The Dhofar region in the south seems to share the same except for the dust and garbage everywhere. There is construction everywhere. One of my colleagues calls Salalah a city under construction. I have lived in Salalah for two years now, and I think it is an OK city, but not for more than couple weeks. Except for couple places, there is absolutely nothing to do . . .

[baka_janai]

Actually, I know where Oman is. 

So why'd you ask? 

And I thought the Queen of Sheba was from Ethopia.

Maybe she had a summer home in both places.

[jtsmr]

Actually, I know where Oman is. 

So why'd you ask? 

[Personal attack deleted. mod.]

[mingus]

Actually, I know where Oman is. 

So why'd you ask? 

Buggered if I know.

[simad]

Interesting! My students told me they don't trust the AUB folks in particular. They seem quite familiar with their tricks and interests. . . Are you still in Oman?

I should add that one of the very best aspects of life in Oman during the 7 years I worked there (at Sultan Qaboos University) was that the Omani government had a sort of unofficial policy AGAINST hiring other Arabs for the middle management positions -- as is the norm elsewhere in the Gulf.

It's made things SO much more pleasant.

[baka_janai]

Interesting! My students told me they don't trust the AUB folks in particular. They seem quite familiar with their tricks and interests. . . Are you still in Oman?

No, I've been gone for more than a decade but somehow Oman remains on my mind.  I was there from 1988-1995 -- back when SQU was the ONLY university in Oman.  I came back for a visit in 1997 and could see that things were changing quickly and already negative stories about the new "private" universities were popping up.

Prior to moving to Oman, I had worked in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where it was the norm to fill middle management jobs with Egyptians and Lebanese.  It seemed to me that these people frequently thought of themselves as "better and more civilized" than the Gulf Arabs.  I tended to see it the other way around.  They were just more "Europeanized" and therefore, in some sense, less authentically "Arab" in my eyes than the Saudis, Kuwaiti, and Omanis who were still proud of their desert heritage.

In Oman, at the time I was working there, the middle management (in companies) was coming from India (Goa in particular).  In fact, in many ways, Oman seemed the "least Arab" of of the Gulf countries.  In the Muscat area there were many Baluchis with their background in Baluchistan and well as a small minority of Luwatis.  Then there was a significant number of Omanis whose parents or grandparents had "emigrated" from Zanzibar during the 1960's. 

The Dhofar was always somehow a "country apart" from the North and in many ways has more in common with Southern Yemen.  When I was there, Salalah was little more than a dusty cluster of unimpressive buildings with a few hotels and clubs catering to the Expat tourists.  It was interesting to visit but I can't imagine living there for an extended period of time.  It's a bit like Sur -- but at least Sur is within driving range of the capital.

[simad]

Prior to moving to Oman, I had worked in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia where it was the norm to fill middle management jobs with Egyptians and Lebanese.  It seemed to me that these people frequently thought of themselves as "better and more civilized" than the Gulf Arabs.  I tended to see it the other way around.  They were just more "Europeanized" and therefore, in some sense, less authentically "Arab" in my eyes than the Saudis, Kuwaiti, and Omanis who were still proud of their desert heritage. [/quote]

You have quite some experience in Oman!! Unfortunately, I agree the Lebanese and Egyptians do think of Omanis lower. They yell at them, harass them, and expect them to accept it all graciously . . . Thank you for sharing:-)

[wmd08]

Just want to correct a small piece of information. The land of Queen of Sheba was neither Oman nor Ethiopia. Actually, it is Yemen in Marib City and the remnants of the throne of Queen of Sheba are still there.

[bethanyinsalalah]

I know that I am replying to an old post, but since there has been nothing said for some months on Dhofar University, and on Salalah, I thought I'd put in my two cents' worth. I have lived in Salalah for some years, and have watched the University evolve from the technical college it used to be. Of course there are bound to be problems during the first few years, especially in a region where the students who are entering university have a weak educational background and are not ready to even begin an English language foundation program. There are many faculty and staff members at DU who are determined to see this university succeed, and it will. A gorgeous new campus is under construction, a lot of problems have been ironed out, and the accreditation process is underway and doing fine.

Salalah is a small town allright, so don't come here if you crave the party scene. However, if you are pretty self sufficient and like to spend time outside on the beach or in the mountains, it's a quiet paradise. The infrastructure is improving every day. This year we'll have cinemas and bowling alleys in addition to the decent restaurants and tourist sites we are already enjoying! I wouldn't live anywhere else. And the local people are the best I have ever met.

[janej]

Dhofar University - see more than one side.

Some people always look at the negatives in life ...sure there are things that can be improved at Dhofar University. There are members of staff who are unhappy and critical and some with justification.

It is a young university which opened in 2004, so many systems still have their teething problems, but this also means that as an employee you can make a difference. It is not such a rigid and overwhelming institution that you can be lost in the halls of academia. Your ideas and input can directly influence the evolving program.

It is also an exciting time of change in this country and particularly in Dhofar Region, where English and tertiary education are gaining a greater foothold. Traditional roles are changing while rich cultural values are being retained.

The students in Oman would have to be some of the most polite and inquisitive in the Gulf region - surely an advantage to teaching.

So, although there are negative points that can be raised about the university in general, there are many things that are positive too. Why do staff stay if it is all doom and gloom?

[rachel99]

I completely disagree with what you have posted here. I have been working at Dhofar Unversity  for the last two years enjoying professional freedom, respect  a faculty deserves, and support a faculty needs. The university has teachers from different cultures and it is fun to work with people from all over the world. I think those who are not tolerant to accepting different races are showing racial ethnic and cultural discrimination and talking nonsense about hiring non-westerners while about quarter of the faculty are westerners, especially English language teachers who dominate English language teaching. I strongly encourage those who are willing to come and work here. Please don't get mislead by the posts written by people whose contract were not renewed because of their lack of professional expertise and blame some one else such as administration for their own faults. It sounds like a cheap act of revenge.  In fact, the administration is trying hard to build the careers of these Omani students who have a very different study culture. Putting up with such students and working for advancement is very challenging and it needs to be appreciated rather than criticized. Those who have doubts about Dhofar University can confidently come here and enjoy the professional work culture. I don't find anybody intruding or interfering in anybody else's work as long as there is smooth functioning. Those who left the university must have had their own reasons for leaving and are trying to defame the university which is very unethical, immoral and cheap.
 
 

[laura3176]

Thank you Rachel99 for your post. You spoke my mind. I agree with you completely. I also have been at Dhofar University for over two years now and I am very much enjoying the respect and freedom that most faculty members here in this university get. The administration including the deans has a good relationship with the faculty and there is mutual respect and cooperation among all.

It is truly unfortunate that some of these internet  sites are being used to prorogate false information that is used for cheap revenge as you said. This kind of unchecked information may cause a lot of  damage and taint the reputation of a  university that is not justified as this is the case of Dhofar University.

DU and all of the programs are licensed and accredited by the proper agencies of the Ministry of Higher Education in the Sultanate of using clear guidelines about further accreditations for higher education providers through the Omani Accreditation Council. 

I sincerely hope that prospective faculty especially from English native speaking countries will not be misguided and discouraged by such posts and will continue to apply to work at DU. They should not be influenced by these posts as it appears that they are being made by some vengeful individuals who are writing malicious articles about DU without much validation for personal reasons only know to them. This is unethical and cowardly of them.

[verny]

I may be wrong, but my intuition and the style and tone of the two previous messages (by rachel99 and laura3176) tell me that they represent  DU management in a damage control action.

Apparently, "these internet  sites are being used to propagate ... cheap" propaganda.

PS: I have never been to Dhofar or Oman and have no conflict interest in regards to the University in question - written above is just an observation from a passer-by.

[nomadescientist]

... I am very much enjoying the respect and freedom that most faculty members here in this university get...

So there are some faculty members who are not respected at your university? Interesting...

[ighay]

I have worked at DU for three years and I left because the situation there is just horrible mostly because the incompetence of the AUB administration. As someone said here, they lie, cheat, and use students against faculty all the time. Now, they are posting here articles to improve their image. I would highly recommend AGAINST this hopeless place . . . Good luck!