The Latest News re: Working at King Saud University with Bell/Obeikan

2POSTS

14 years ago

Hello.

Does anyone out there have any information about working conditions for both men and women professors at King Saud University (on a Bell/Obeikan contract)? Have the conditions improved over the last couple of years or are they the same as before (not so great according to posts on different websites).Have many teachers tried to break their contracts or did not return the next year?

Do you know how teachers feel about living on the compound and if there are enough activities and facilities for the residents? Also, if possible, could you tell me if there is enough transportation to shopping malls?聽 Are the professors content? Do they have to stay in the country during Ramadan or can they leave? Thank you.

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ExpatHopeful Member

2POSTS

14 years ago

Hello, AlKhalaf,

Thank you very much for your comments. They were very helpful to me. Have others of you heard any teachers' comments for those who work for聽 the university and the companies? Thank you.

jaywalker Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

what is bell/obeikan contract actually? is it nt the case that university manages the employment of the professors? then how bell/obeikan coming in the scenario?

I am new in this forum, and planning to move Saudi Arabia. Thanks for your advice!

jaywalker Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

also heard that in saudi universities around 50% are female students. and my guess that male-female faculty ratio is around 9:1, correct me if i'm wrong. Then how the male professors teach these much females in King Saud or other universities? Is it same classroom but separate section or something like video conferencing?

Thanks for expert comment!

jaywalker Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

alkhalaf wrote:
believe me you will be happy because here teachers have what is so called short beakes.聽 teachers use these breaks to travel to nearby countries such as India,Sri lanka or even the gulf countries. bye

assalamu alaikum,

i heard that saudi univ. authority keeps the passport of the employees. then everytime, anybody wants to visit nearby countries, it is somewhat difficult to get the passport at time. anyway, these short breaks- how much duration of these? I know there is two month summer vacation; other than this there is no other vacation in rest of the year when professors can travel except emergency or attending some conference staff!

Please clarify me if i'm wrong.

Thanks

MFah New member

7POSTS

14 years ago

Sorry guy, but you're wrong. Both teachers hired directly and those employed via companies keep their passports. If you have an IQAMA, all you have to do is apply for an exit visa prior to your departure. If you're on a single entry business/visit visa, you would request your company to re-apply for a visa and once you get to your destination, you send your passport together with your letter of invitation to the Saudi Embassy (to get the visa stamped).

With regards to breaks....generally...you have a break every two months. The duration of these breaks vary. The summer break is two months as you stated. The Hajj break can be anything from 10-15 days. You would then have a break at the end of the first semester (which falls in Jan-Feb depending where you teach). This holiday again (depending on the institution) can be anything from 10-20 days. Semester two starts in Feb...two months later and you're on mid-semester holiday (perhaps a week).
Other holidays of note are the two Eid's. If you're lucky (like I was this week) may get a day of when it rains lol.

Hope this helps

MFah New member

7POSTS

14 years ago

jaywalker wrote:
also heard that in saudi universities around 50% are female students. and my guess that male-female faculty ratio is around 9:1, correct me if i'm wrong. Then how the male professors teach these much females in King Saud or other universities? Is it same classroom but separate section or something like video conferencing?

Thanks for expert comment!

Males and Females....seperate campuses

Princess MA Active member

97POSTS

14 years ago

Yes, king Saudi uni keeps their employees passports until such time they want to travel.
Also, the only vacation they get other than the summer holiday is hajj!!!

jaywalker Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

#10

MFah wrote:
Sorry guy, but you're wrong. Both teachers hired directly and those employed via companies keep their passports.

its bizarre that unviersity teachers are also hired by agents or companies. Anyway, cud you pls mention some of these company names for my future reference? Thanks in advance!

MFah wrote:
If you have an IQAMA, all you have to do is apply for an exit visa prior to your departure.

Even bizarre thing!!! I have to wait for approval of exit visa; so that means if I suddenly decide to take a lunch in cairo or roam around the streets of damascus or travel back to my country for any emergency, it is never possible; because the drowsy authority at least need one week time!!!! ha ha ..........

MFah wrote:
If you're on a single entry business/visit visa, you would request your company to re-apply for a visa and once you get to your destination, you send your passport together with your letter of invitation to the Saudi Embassy (to get the visa stamped].

Long term appointees or one year contract job holders usually do not take/get such visa - my guess! Please correct me if its wrong..

MFah wrote:
With regards to breaks....generally...you have a break every two months. The duration of these breaks vary. The summer break is two months as you stated. The Hajj break can be anything from 10-15 days. You would then have a break at the end of the first semester (which falls in Jan-Feb depending where you teach). This holiday again (depending on the institution) can be anything from 10-20 days. Semester two starts in Feb...two months later and you're on mid-semester holiday (perhaps a week). Other holidays of note are the two Eid's.

ok.. i was thinking whether i travel in any of these breaks to any outside country except the summer one?

MFah wrote:
If you're lucky (like I was this week) may get a day of when it rains lol.

hahaha........... nice info, i hope you will get these breaks quite often in near future

After all, best regards and thanks for your comments....

jaywalker Member

22POSTS

14 years ago

#11

MFah wrote:
jaywalker wrote:
also heard that in saudi universities around 50% are female students. and my guess that male-female faculty ratio is around 9:1, correct me if i'm wrong. Then how the male professors teach these much females in King Saud or other universities? Is it same classroom but separate section or something like video conferencing?

Thanks for expert comment!

Males and Females....seperate campuses

I have one account from an associate prof in Taibah university: he takes the female class by video conferencing. They are all female students of either chemical engineering or chemistry dept in that uni.

anyway, according to u, all saudi unis have separate male/female campuses. I particulary would be happy to know if there is a need of female engineering professors in these universities? female engineering professors are particularly necessary in their environment only if there is a large no of female engineering students. So is there really sufficient no of female engineering students also in diff universities of Saudi arabia? my guess- at least in universities of big cities there are already large no. of female engg students; is it correct?

Thanks for your comments!