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[creative79]

I have accepted a job offer from a Saudi university for the post of assistant professor. They have also sent me a contract, which I am supposed to use for the visa etc. The salary offered to me isn't really great, but I accepted the offer because I had no other job.

Anyway, the issue I want to discuss at the moment is that the contract indicates me as a "lecturer" and also spells my name with the title "Mr". When I asked the reason, they explained that it was for the embassy and that I would sign another contract after my arrival in KSA which would indicate me as assistant professor. I would like to know if this is common practice or there is something definitely wrong here.

Thanks

[mingus]

You really have to ask?  Why can't they give you that other contract right now? If you are the world's biggest sucker, then sign.

[totoro]

In the British/Australian system lecturer = assistant professor. But don't know why they are swapping the titles in your case.

[embitteredhistorian]

This could have major implications for when/if you return to America. I would insist on the assistant professor title, especially if it was originally offered. However, lecturer is the UK equivalent of asst. professor, so they probably use both titles interchangeably. If they do, then they should have no trouble changing it to the U.S. term.

Plus, I'm sad to hear that the salary is not that great--Saudi Arabia universities are supposed to pay very well (also, I think there's no income tax for foreigners there).

[creative79]

This could have major implications for when/if you return to America. I would insist on the assistant professor title, especially if it was originally offered. However, lecturer is the UK equivalent of asst. professor, so they probably use both titles interchangeably. If they do, then they should have no trouble changing it to the U.S. term.

Plus, I'm sad to hear that the salary is not that great--Saudi Arabia universities are supposed to pay very well (also, I think there's no income tax for foreigners there).

Thanks for the replies. I agree that the title assistant professor is equivalent to lecturer in the UK. However, I think that in the Gulf they follow the American system. They are assuring me that they will appoint me as an assistant professor, but the issue is that why they can't say that in the contract.

As for the salary, it is not bad compared to what I was getting in the UK. In fact, the total package (including all the allowances) is exactly what I would get in the UK, plus I won't be paying any taxes. But it isn't great compared to what most of the academics get in KSA.   

[dellaroux]

There are other threads on this area, both those started by putative members of their own programs to stir up interest, it would seem, and others' notes on their experiences; I refer you to the modern tortures of the search engine (try the one under the top left black menu bar, it has more choices by which to structure your pain).

Also, check to be sure that, while they may not tax you, you will not owe taxes at home somehow. That can catch people unawares at times (a friend went over there, had a very difficult experience, left and discovered that he was still expected to pay taxes on the part of his salary that he had been paid for his (aborted--they had agreed that he would not be taking on military students, and the electrical engineering classes he was assigned were filled with soldiers, among other things) work there.

[nordicexpat]

Are there any native speakers in the department you could e-mail and ask if it means anything?  It's really hard to tell: there's a lot of variation in the world in how titles are used, and even in terms of what a contract means. (At my uni, I never even signed a contract, and the salary wasn't even determined until after I got here). It could be that your uni is creating a new post of assistant professor, but the term isn't established outside of that institution, so they are relying primarily upon the distinction between professor and lecturer (here a professor is more like chaired professor in the US, so you can't get promoted to full professor: you need to for a position to open and then apply for it). Or it could be that you will be the victim of a bait-and-switch. It all comes down to how much you trust the people there.  

If the contract you sign specifies salary, work conditions (i.e, hours of teaching, etc.), and tenure requirements, I wouldn't get caught up in semantic distinctions of job titles. I doubt it would have any implication for returning to back to your country of origin: you will have a more difficult time getting people willing to fly you in for interviews than you will have people wondering whether you really "are" an assistant professor even though your official title says "lecturer." And, to be honest, it may not even really be a "contract" in the US sense of the term, which is why you are probably better just emailing someone who knows why you asking the questions you are.

Again, everyone's experience is different, but I've taught at several institutions abroad and it was always expected that native speakers would ask other native speakers these kind of questions (and there are certainly different customs about anticipating what someone wants to know: in some cultures, it's presumptious, so they won't volunteer information or advice if you don't ask). It might be diplomatic for you to ask the chair if they could put you in contact with a compatriot because you wanted to get some advice.

Good luck

By the by, I remember someone posting a link somewhere in this section talking about different hiring practices in universities around the world. Might be useful to check out.
  
  

[tiwa1]

In Saudi Arabia, the post of a lecturer is different from that of an Assistant Professor. I suppose that your contract should clarify this. There is no ambiguity in the terms. Many lecturers either do not have a phd yet (either pending or not in view at all) and some few others do have. But the description of their duty is mainly to teach. In fact many PhD students (TAs) are designated as Lecturer I or II (...can't remember which one). The term "Lecturer" is used differently from Assistant Prof. and both should not be confused.

Insist on having your contract designate you as an Assistant Prof. before you go if your qualifications meet the requirements. The embassy will be more willing to issue a visa to someone coming as an Assistant Prof. so having the term on your contract should not be a barrier.

Someone raised the issue of taxation. It is true that many countries have different taxation system concerning offshore earnings. You need to find out from your treasure department before you assume you will not be paying any tax. In the US, the first $87,000 (or eighty something thousand, ...can't remember the precise amount) of any money you earn overseas is taxable. Any amount above that is nontaxable.

There is no tenure for foreign professors in Saudi.

[totoro]

Someone raised the issue of taxation. It is true that many countries have different taxation system concerning offshore earnings. You need to find out from your treasure department before you assume you will not be paying any tax. In the US, the first $87,000 (or eighty something thousand, ...can't remember the precise amount) of any money you earn overseas is taxable. Any amount above that is nontaxable.

It's actually the reverse of this in the US, but seems that the OP is British. For an Australian no tax would be due in Australia if you were there at least a year and no longer resident in Australia.

Seems they are then offering what would be an associate lecturer position here in Australia, hence he low pay.

[what_to_do_now]

I would suggest insisting on an Assistant Professor mentioned in the contract. There are several distinct advantages of having a 'Professor' as your job category.

1. It is 'illegal' in Saudi Arabia to work on a different job category other than the one that is mentioned on the visa. So most probably you would get a Lecturer designation once you join. Converting to an Assistant Professor designation would not be very easy (although probably not impossible) as it would involve the Ministry of Higher Education.

2. The ability to bring your dependents depends BOTH on your salary and designation.

3. You get preferences in Housing etc if your designation is an Assistant Professor.

You can talk to the Dean or Chairman of your hiring department and discuss this as well.

[lethalfang]

I agree with most of the replies above: in contract negotiations, verbal promises are worth exactly the paper they're printed on.
Get it in writing.