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[ronson]

If you're considering going here, I would be very careful, and don't plan on longevity.  If you're inexperienced, don't go.  If you're experienced, stay out of Tuzla and you may stand a chance.  This is not really a university, far from it, and the type of teaching is very high-school.  Don't take anything you read on their website too seriously.  The pay is low, and the teaching load is quite heavy.  Travel between campuses takes hours and is on dangerous roads, particularly in winter.  You will have discipline problems, particularly if you are not willing to pass everyone.  I think I've said enough, but there is a lot more to tell. 

[normative_]

Edit: The answer below was if if you were actually asking a question, which you're not. Nevertheless, the advice still stands:


Bosnia is on the verge of financial and political collapse. Don't go unless you are comfortable with the risk of not being paid or ending up in a war zone.

[deepbluec]

I felt I had to respond to this post.  I am a new professor at the American University in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  I've been here since September, and have extensive experience teaching at the University level in both the United States and in Asia.  I'm not sure what your experience was like, or if you actually taught at this university, but my experience so far has been quite different.  I don't know how you are aware of what any classes other than your own might have been like, but the teaching level is certainly not 'high school' in my classes - at least not compared to those I taught in the United States.  Over the past decade I have taught students of all different ability levels, both undergrads and graduate students, and of course there is variation from class to class and institution to institution, to some degree.  The students at AUBiH aren't very different from most American students I've taught over the years, although they have the added challenge of not being native speakers.  Still, I am impressed with many of them, and don't see any large differences between my classroom here and most of my classroom experiences in the USA.  As for Tuzla, I am very pleased with the city - it is charming, and provides everything I might need. The staff at the University are wonderful, my colleagues are professional and pleasant, and I enjoy the cafe culture and European feel of the city.  I came here to experience another culture, so I don't miss Starbuck's, Walmart, or McDonalds as some might.  Furthermore, I can drive to other interesting cities, or fly to Western Europe within less than an hour (from Sarajevo).  If I was teaching at a small midwestern univerity, I wouldn't have such a varied and interesting social life, I daresay (no disparagement  of the midwest intended - I was born there).  The pay is also in line with small American private univeristies, and the tax benefits make it more attractive. The teaching load is also perfectly normal for anyone graduating in the past decade or so - my current load is four courses and two preps.  I can't comment on the winter roads, but I find the drive to Banja Luka which I make weekly similar to my drives down Pacific Coast Highway 1 in California.  Twisty, yes, but I don't have to do the driving in Bosnia - another benefit that I wouldn't have if teaching in the states. No university ever provided a car and driver to get me from one campus to another when I worked in America.  I haven't been here for the winter yet, so can't comment on that - .  As for financial collapse - isn't that a problem worlwide right now?  And this is not a place that feels on the verge of political collapse either - not in daily life.  People are out in the streets, frequenting cafes, dressed to the nines, going normally about their business.  I really can't imagine that the government's current problems would be permitted to devolve into political collapse by the EU or the USA.  Life and work aren't perfect anywhere, but I am quite happy here, and the Bosnian people I've met are wonderful. 

[normative_]

As for financial collapse - isn't that a problem worlwide right now?  And this is not a place that feels on the verge of political collapse either - not in daily life.  People are out in the streets, frequenting cafes, dressed to the nines, going normally about their business.  I really can't imagine that the government's current problems would be permitted to devolve into political collapse by the EU or the USA. 

BiH's financial and political problems are intertwined. It's more reliant on outside assistance to keep its public finances running, and political problems as well as clientelism (read corruption) have led to an impasse on replenishing the flows of capital assistance.

As in many cases, there is only so much the outside world can do to prevent this from going the wrong way, and it's a bold assumption that the West will bail the country out without conditions. It's up to those running the country.

 

[alleyoxenfree]

This thread already exists, so you might want to do a search and read the additional responses there before you decide to go.

[ronson]

All opinions are welcome, but I would prefer that someone who has been at an institution for a month, and is already an apologist, consider that over time opinions may change.