I am Back

While this is not entirely true, the university hiring season has started, and the misinformation has begun.

A couple of posting on Dave's ESL Cafe Job Information Journal warrant attention:

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1067750017-29108.txt   and

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1064044036-98171.txt

as well as a response to these

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1066878574-77801.txt

These stories clash because they are probably referring to different types of positions. The 'bad jobs' are more accurately called staff positions, and the 'good jobs' are called faculty positions. Staff positions are the same as what the secretaries and lab assistants have. They are generally held by Taiwanese, and their contract is anything they can get local employees to sign. Faculty positions occupy a job that is usually defined by something approximating the Ministry of Education contract for faculty.

Generally, national and other public schools want holders of a PhD for their faculty positions. Many private schools will hire MAs for these positions. Since there is such a difference in working conditions between these 2 types of positions, faculty positions are getting harder to find. Once people get in, they don't want to leave because it's such a good deal.

My point is not to be confused by stories of terrible working conditions and poor pay at Taiwan universities. If you really want a faculty position and are willing to do what you have to do to get one, they can be a really good deal for you.

11:33:29 PM    

I am Back While this is not entirely true, the university hiring season has started, and the misinformation has begun. A couple of posting on Dave's ESL Cafe Job Information Journal warrant attention: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1067750017-29108.txt   and http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1064044036-98171.txt as well as a response to these http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1066878574-77801.txt These stories clash because they are probably referring to different types of positions. The 'bad jobs' are more accurately called staff positions, and the 'good jobs' are called faculty positions. Staff positions are the same as what the secretaries and lab assistants have. They are generally held by Taiwanese, and their contract is anything they can get local employees to sign. Faculty positions occupy a job that is usually defined by something approximating the Ministry of Education contract for faculty. Generally, national and other public schools want holders of a PhD for their faculty positions. Many private schools will hire MAs for these positions. Since there is such a difference in working conditions between these 2 types of positions, faculty positions are getting harder to find. Once people get in, they don't want to leave because it's such a good deal. My point is not to be confused by stories of terrible working conditions and poor pay at Taiwan universities. If you really want a faculty position and are willing to do what you have to do to get one, they can be a really good deal for you.   11:33:29 PM    [Macro error: Can't evaluate the expression because the name "commentLink" hasn't been defined.]