Something For The Highly Educated

[mbkudu]

From the Bangkok Post classifieds today:

FULL-TIME FOREIGN EXPERT-Mahidol University

Duration:Yearly contract with extension

Core responsibilities: Phd international programmes, teaching, training workshops, course curicula management, and development.

Qualifications:Phd., Doctoral degree in industrial ecology, engineering, ect..., post graduate lecturing, interdisciplinary programmes in developing countries: Asia Pacifiic region and or Thailand,, computer programmes, software, distance learning systems, fluency in written/spoken English and knowledge of Thai an advantage.

(here's the kicker) Salrary: 37,000 Baht (including housing allowance)

[Ijustwannateach]

It's actually much higher than what typical universities pay for beginning English teachers (about 10,000B more), so it is at least to scale.

I've been criticised for saying so, but I continue to maintain that the public universities benefit primarily from a supply of retired, pensioned (but highly qualified and experienced) labour who need the visas more than they need the money.

"Steven"

[paulfr]

It's actually much higher than what typical universities pay for beginning English teachers (about 10,000B more), so it is at least to scale.

I've been criticised for saying so, but I continue to maintain that the public universities benefit primarily from a supply of retired, pensioned (but highly qualified and experienced) labour who need the visas more than they need the money.

"Steven"

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Steven

You may be somewhat right, but isn't your statement a contradiction ?

If they are retired and do not need money then they have the 800KTHB to get their 1yr extension. So they do not need to work to get the needed visas.

Maybe they want some extra cash or they are bored in total retirement.

And the Uni's know there is status and fringes to working with mature Uni students as opposed to the kids at the lower levels. So they can pay less.

[PeaceBlondie]

Nonetheless, to offer 37,000 baht per month for a Ph.D. experienced uni professor, who probably was earning $70,000 per year...that is ridiculous. Say he was/has been earning $72,000 US$ per year, that's $6,000 per month, or 240,000 baht per month. He's expected to take a cut in pay of about 85%? And does he get benefits, such as pension?

[Ladphrao]

The bottom line is, if one is interested in making good money, don’t become a teacher in Thailand, but then everyone already knows that don’t they?

I sat this ad in the paper last week as well. Interesting job, but I wouldn't want to take that much of a salary cut.

If one looks at the ration of salary to tuition paid by the students, most western Uni profs in Thailand make more than their western counterparts. Thai Universities can not charge the same tuition fees as Western Unis can and therefore can not afford to pay the same salaries.

Then again, if a Thai uni can get a prof that meets the requirements it needs, why pay more? I don't walk into a restaurant in Thailand and force someone to take more money just because the same meal would cost more in the States, why should a Thai uni pay more for the same prof just because wages are higher other places?

True, most of these positions will be filled by semi-retired teachers whose need for money is secondary. Others may take it for the international experience, and still others may be like most ESL teachers in that they are willing to give up a high salary in the west to live in LOS.

Furthermore, if one is teaching in academia, outside of ESL teaching, in Thailand, one can supplement one's income pretty easily with some 2 to 3 thousand Baht an hour part-time work.

[BigA]

Yea this job sounds interesting but its small money. It must part of some special program to have such low salary for a PhD. This job has been in the paper off and on for weeks.