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[sincity4582]

Hi there,

Has anyone heard about KUSTAR (Khalifa University of Sci. Tech. & Res.)? Does it have a good reputation in UAE? How about teaching load there? How about research capacity?

I was thinking about moving to UAE but many of the posts in this forum regarding the poor quality of UAE universities make me worry... I'm wondering whether KUSTAR is an exception.

Can anyone shed light on this?

Many thanks.

[alinyusa]

I have applied there about two months ago, but never heard back.

[still_searching]

KUSTAR's a bit too new to have much of a reputation yet, but there are good and bad things about it.  I suspect if you google "KUSTAR salary" or "KUSTAR working conditions" you'll find a bit of information.

Teaching load can vary -- remember, this is the sort of place where new hires sometimes have second thoughts about showing up at all or returning from their summer leave.  That means that the existing faculty will be called on to take up the slack.  Same goes for "extra" sessions that are the inevitable result of a critical mass of failing students.  If you've been reading about KUSTAR you will already know that it is in the process of building a permanent campus -- the campus in Abu Dhabi is temporary and therefore likely less well-equipped than you might be accustomed to, depending on your field.  It's really impossible to answer a question about research, however, without knowing your specialty.

In general, how "good" a university here is can also depend on your field and your expectations.  Are you a content teacher with a terminal degree?  If so, is the curriculum of the university in line with your field (KUSTAR, for instance, is an engineering school, so you might be a little out of place if you've got a Ph.D. in English with a focus on the modern American short story.)?  Do you have expectations of an eventual career in a western university?  If so, you'll need to think long and hard about the effect a stint at a start-up uni in the middle east will have on your chances.  Do you have experience teaching students from this part of the world (and I don't just mean Arabs, but LOCAL Arabs who sometimes have a bit of influence)?

The questions could go on and on and on.  I would suggest that you look up faculty members in your particular area on the university's website and initiate contact with them -- realising, of course, that they may be hesitant to offer any negative opinions.

SS