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[ozpro]

I am considering to join the SQU faculty. The impression after a brief visit was rather positive and I travelled around the country before and loved it. Could anybody give an insider (current or former) view about the work and life at the SQU?

[undercover_dragon]

SQU is commonly rated the best University in Oman, so you'll get the best students Oman has to offer who can't go overseas.

See article today in http://muscatconfidential.blogspot.com/2010/01/true-state-of-higher-education-in-oman.html   

There are a lot of problems in the HE industry in the region, and you can't expect things to be the same as the West. It will be an adventure, fantastic place to live (in fact, the best in the Middle East) but more than a year or two will hurt an academic career, IMHO.

[sdaussie]

Hello,
I agree SQU is the best in Oman especially if you want to continue receiving research with academic teaching duties. However, I am a bit confused as to how do I apply to SQU as I am not receiving responses from the head of department. I recd an email from one in the Electrical Engg. dept. and he says that he has forwarded my resume to the HR and the HR will get back to me if there is a requirement in the dept.

Can someone kindly advise as to how does the recruitment work in SQU and Oman in general?

[der_gadfly]

My one phone interview with them was an obvious example of how their job post did not match their actual needs. I applied for a post where "...instruction is in English..." but during the interview it became clear that they wanted someone with the ability to teach in Arabic. Besides, 3;30AM local time is no time to call someone without notice.

I was unimpressed......

[doccan]

I have applied to the Faculty of Education, SQU. However, I haven't received an acknowledgement letter yet!

[sdaussie]

Hello everyone,


OZPRO: Did you reply in response to an advertisement?

I am terribly frustrated with applying to Omani Universities and so to say anywhere in ME. Firstly, you never receive an acknowledgement to your application and you never know how long should you wait.

Most of the times, my emails have bounced back which means snail mail is the best way to post your applications.

Is there anywhere out  there who works at the university and can guide us in making an application, whom should we contact etc...

[sendinab]

Hello every one,
Do you have any idea about the difference between visiting consultant and assistant professor at Sultan Qaboos university?
Thank you.

[chuck]

For future reference [anyone considering SQU] -

In my experience at SQU [3 multi-year contracts], administration was quite careless, by what might be called Western standards. So not being communicated with clearly is overall quite normal. Other post-ers have indicated that this is common in the Middle East, and my other encounters [corresponding over job offers] have overall corroborated this. I have heard of significant exceptions, and have fared somewhat better in one instance, but I would keep my expectations of professionalism rather modest in the ME.

As a place, SQU is very pleasant, placid, yet very dull, as is the country. But some of the country is quite beautiful, and people are generally very polite, and gracious. The poorer "guest workers" [Indians, et al.] are in a different position than Westerners, something at times very unpleasant to see. [But they have certainly enriched the country, and not just commercially. Indian culture - and food! - make great contributions to the life there].

SQU, again, is pleasant enough, even though departmental and college administration can be very un-professional. In general, even as a university professor, you are seen as a guest-worker, like those far "below" you - just better paid. The country has money, and you are easily replaced, and can be often made to feel like it. At times very demeaning. One colleague who left said we were treated like "slaves" [referring to university/national rules restricting your "outside" work, i.e. consulting and the like]. But for most like me, the money, benefits, and stability made up for that kind of discomfort, at least for a limited time.

And the students are overall very polite - nothing like spoiled Western kids, at least up till now. Some can be very good, the best like sponges, their exposure to the world having been so limited - especially the girls [by far the best "sponges"]. 

[kabulite]

I would have to rate Oman as one of the top places in the Gulf Region to live. Omanis have an elegant dignity about them that isn't present in many of the other GCC nations.
   I never had the opportunity to work there, however, because the contract was delayed for so long that I had interviewed for and accepted another position in the interim. My initial interview for the position at Sultan Qaboos was in London (several years ago) in early June. A few e-mails later, I made a follow-up visit to the campus (from the US) in late-August...on my own initiative...and was offered the position over the phone two weeks later. After three months of emails and trying to track down the status of the contract, I interviewed for a position in Afghanistan. They also made an offer, on the spot, and I accepted. The contract from Sultan Qaboos arrived at my address in the US by DHL the same day I arrived back there from Kabul (early December) to pack for my new position.
   I suspect that this is not the norm...no regrets on accepting the position in Afghanistan, but would liked to have had the experience in Oman.

[traveltheworld]

SQU now prefers hiring Oman nationals to work there. Better look elsewhere...