No school reviews today, although I hope to have one later this week. It’s incredibly busy now with reports at school coming up and moving and trying to rent out or sell our house here in Sumbawa. Today’s post has to do with a few general comments about this site and sites similar to this that I’ve come across on the internet.

First, I am not a recruiter. Please, please note that and do not post resumes here. I have absolutely nothing to do with employing teachers anymore, and most of my friends who are in those positions are retiring now or have already retired. This site is meant to serve as an informational site for those teachers who want to work internationally and are looking for information on international schools and international teaching.

Second, I came across a site the other day through my StumbleUpon app (I love that thing; I have come across some great sites because of it) that offers reviews of international schools written by teachers who work at, or have worked at, the school being reviewed. This is a pay site.

Now, I have nothing against pay sites, and I have nothing against writing for money. (In fact, I hope to have two eBooks out over the next four months – one on the practicalities of moving to Bali, and one on international teaching.) But, I have some reservations about charging for other people’s opinions on schools. But, besides the pay issue, I do have some real problems with anonymous reviews of schools – whether positive or negative. If they’re positive, they could be written by the administrators of the school and be somewhat skewed, and if they’re negative, they could be written by a disgruntled former teacher.

Anyone who has worked in education for a period of time knows that some teachers can be real whiners, and I’ve worked with several (and I’ve gone through a few whiney periods myself). So, is it fair to a school and the school administrator to have an anonymous negative review posted by a teacher who is unhappy because of some issue that may be purely personal and not indicative of the general school environment?

I did read through all the free reviews (the site gives you limited access before you pay and get full access), including two of one of my former schools. I happened to agree with both of them, but I can think of several teachers at the same school who might have written negative reviews because of issues that affected only them. I understand, also, that some administrators take criticisms very personally and can be vindictive. So, how does a teacher go about voicing their complaints about a school or administrator openly without fear of retribution? I know on some teacher websites criticisms are voiced clearly but with vague references to the school in question. Those in the know can figure out which school is being reviewed, but for the new teacher…?

I’d like to hear from other teachers on this issue. Please feel free to contribute and, if you really need to, you can do it anonymously.

The American Community School of Abu Dhabi

More from the Middle East this week. I’ve never had a chance to get to Abu Dhabi, but there’s just something about what I’ve heard of it that is enticing. Well, here is a school with an impressive sounding set of values and programs that is located in…Abu Dhabi.

ACS was established in 1972 and is a non-profit school accredited by the Middle States Association. There are over 800 students from 46 nationalities studying at ACS. 45% of the students are American. There are 81 teachers on the staff and two-thirds of those have a Master’s degree. The student-teacher ratio is 9:1. The Elementary School moved into a new building in 2001. Administratively, ACS has a superintendent and three principals.

The Mission

The Mission of the American Community School of Abu Dhabi is to empower and inspire each student to define and shape his or her future, pursue his or her dreams and contribute to society. This mission will be pursued in partnership with parents through an integrated, college preparatory, American curriculum.

Core Values

We Believe That:

* Diversity with respect is a strength

* All people have equal intrinsic value

* People are responsible for their choices, actions and the consequences that result

* Transforming dreams into reality requires courage, initiative, and commitment

* People flourish in loving, caring relationships

* Learning empowers

Elementary School

ACS has over 400 students from 30 countries in grades KG through 5. The school uses an American based curriculum. Students have language arts, math, science and social studies with their classroom teacher and an assistant. Specialist teachers provide instruction in art, Arabic, music, technology and PE. After school activities supplement the academic program. The Elementary School emphasizes a close relationship with parents, and they are invited to participate actively in a variety of classroom and school roles. The Viper Values (my guess is that the school mascot is the viper) are also emphasized: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Fair, and Be Honest.

The Middle School

The Middle School has over 200 students from around the world. Students take a core set of courses along with electives. The core courses are Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, PE, Technology, and Health. Electives include Technology, Drama, Art, Band, Choir, and PE. Middle School students must also take a foreign language. These include French, Spanish, Arabic as a Native Language, or Arabic as a Foreign Language. Students from Arab countries must take Arabic in one form or another. Students take a standardized test annually.

Progress reports are issued four times a year at mid-term and report cards are issued each term as well. We used the progress report format at Lahore American School, and I thought that it was an effective way to keep parents informed and to make sure that there were no surprises at report card time.

High School

The high school program is college prep. ACS Abu Dhabi is an IB World School. Students in the IB program are also required to complete the ACS graduation requirements. Additionally, ACS also offers two AP courses: Calculus and Chemistry. All students from Arabic speaking countries are required to take Arabic in years 9 through 12. Muslim students are also required to take Islamic Studies and need to take the Ministry of Education examination so that they can have the UAE equivalency for their graduation. Students need a minimum of 25 credits to graduate.

Facilities

ACS has an 8 acre campus. There are 60 classrooms that include a science lab and an infirmary. The school has a Mac lab (yes!) and students can access it before, during and after school. The computers are networked and connected to the Internet. The school is committed to using technology and has 380 computers for its 800 students which is an excellent ratio. Based on the website, technology is used by both faculty and students. The Library/Media Center is available to students during the same time periods as the computer lab. ACS has two athletic fields and a Fitness Center. The school also has a pool and has very strict guidelines about its use. There also is a Theater that is used for drama, music and student assemblies.

Activities

ACS has a wide range of activities where students travel to other schools for athletic and academic events and competitions. These include: basketball, softball, debate, fine arts, swimming, soccer, track and field and more. ACS also has the National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, and several publications that students can write for. ACS is a member of the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference. The EMAC sponsors athletic, arts and academic activities around the area. Some of the cities that ACS students recently traveled to for EMAC activities include: Cairo, Dubai, Amman, Athens, Damascus, and Kuwait City. The school pays for ¼ of the cost of the airfare for these trips.

Students at ACS also have the opportunity for field trips. Students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 take extended field trips as part of the curriculum.

The salary schedule for 2006-2007

The school website sets out the salary schedule clearly. This is always a great benefit when a teacher is looking around for interesting places to work while still keeping financial issues in mind. While at first glance the salary seems fairly low, when you take into consideration the Overseas Hire Incentive mentioned below under benefits, things look much better.

Teachers are placed on the salary schedule according to past experience (believe it or not, some schools pay all teachers the same regardless of how long they have been teaching). The maximum step that you can enter the school at is Step 7 if you have nine years or more experience as a certified teacher.

Step 0 starts at $20,239 and Step 7 for a BA starts at $31,512 and maxes at $36,114 for teachers with a MA plus 30 credits. A teacher with 2 years of experience and a BA would start at $26,426 which is fairly low, but don’t forget the OHI.

Benefits

The first two years you receive 17.5% of the base salary as an Overseas Hire Incentive. For the third and subsequent years you receive 18.13%.

· There are no taxes

· Tuition and Fee Waivers

· Staff Development according to annual budget provisions

· Paid physical exam at the start of employment

· Shipping of 500 lbs.

· Beginning and End of employment airfare.

· Medical and Dental insurance

· Can be paid in Dollars or Dirhams

· Death Benefit

· Semi-furnished housing including major appliances and bedroom furniture along with a one time furniture allowance of Dhs. 12,000 per household which is paid over a three-year period. You will need to stay three years to receive all of this.

· Paid utilities

· Car loan of up to 24,000 dirhams to be repaid over a 24 month period

· Annual leave to point of origin

· All school holidays

· Sick leave – 15 days at full pay. 30 days at half pay. Teachers receive an additional 15 working days per year in the full pay category which is added to the total number of unused days.

· Personal leave – 3 days with pay. May accumulate up to 7 days to be used for a personal business trip.

· Leave without pay – 45 days

· Maternity leave after one year.

· Paternity leave

· Compassionate leave of 10 paid working days for immediate family members with paid airfare to point of origin.

· Emergency Evacuation (non-medical) – airfare to safe haven (as designated by the school and a per diem. In case of emergency closing of the school, you may be paid up to six months of salary and all usual benefits (airfare, shipping, etc.)

· Emergency Evacuation (medical) – paid airfare to the nearest appropriate medical facility. If the Superintendent decides that the family needs to accompany the patient, airfare will be provided for them as well.

About Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates of the UAE, and it is the largest. The city Abu Dhabi is the capital. There are approximately three million people living in the UAE. There is a large expat community in Abu Dhabi, and the city is known for all of the development that has gone on there over the past two decades.

Western Academy of Bejing

This is one of the most complete school websites that I have ever reviewed. I keep asking myself what else could I want to know about this school and the city and country in which it is located? The answer? Not much, other than making sure that all the figures add up. They have some contradictory figures on the number of buildings the school has which puzzles me, but other than that, this website is incredible. The school emphasizes on its website the amount of energy that is around the school and all of the things happening there.

WAB is a non-profit English language international school. The school was founded in 1994. It is an IBO World School that educates students from Nursery to Grade 12 (ages 3-18). WAB has approximately 1,400 students from 56 countries and regions. There are approximately 100 students at each grade level. US citizens make up the largest block of the student body followed by South Koreans, Brits and Australians. There are 38 languages or dialects spoken as a first language – English is the largest, followed by Korean.

Mission and Goals

WAB’s mission: “to educate our children to reach their full potential in a warm and caring community that fosters excellence and responsibility.”

WAB subscribes to the IB program which seeks to develop students who are:

• Inquirers

• Thinkers

• Communicators

• Intellectual risk takers

• Knowledgeable

• Principled

• Caring

• Open-minded

• Well-balanced

• Reflective

These educational goals are common to all schools that use the IB program. Really, any good teacher will work to achieve these goals with their students, but with the IB people, this becomes something of a mantra. Well, more on IB in an upcoming review.

WAB is a high tech school. All students use wireless laptops as an essential tool in their daily learning. The Middle School works on a 1:1 laptop environment and most students own their own laptops; the rest borrow them from the school. High school students are required to have their own laptop.

The school is built on a park-like campus and is committed to developing its facilities, programs and reputation. WAB has six separate buildings ; Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, HUB – Sports, Arts and Technology Center, Properties Department and the High School.

WAB Curriculum

Early Childhood

The EC program is based on PYP and Reggio Emilia approach.

Elementary School

The school uses the PYP for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5. WAB supports over 10 home languages with an after school program.

Middle School

WAB uses the MYP for students in Grades 6-8. The Middle School program is centered around these areas of development: intellectual development, moral development, physical development, social development, emotional/psychological development.

High School

The school uses MYP for students from Grades 9-10 and the IBDP for students in Grades 11-12. Students may work for an IB Diploma, a WAB High School Diploma, or a combination.

Counseling

The school provides academic and emotional counseling for students including career counseling.

China Engagement

The school actively integrates the study of the host country in its program. This has an academic component as well as a community service component. All students in Grades 6-12 participate in a week-long China Studies field trip to different regions of China.

Student Programs

WAB has an extensive lineup of programs that were developed to provide a balance between educational needs and intellectual, social, moral, and aesthetic needs. These include:

• After School Activities
• Interschool Sports
• Choir, Band and Drama
• Cultural and Academic Activities
• Student Council and Student Leadership Programs
• Recreation and Adventure Programs

WAB also works on developing a strong sense of community and a positive relationship with the community through a variety of outreach programs and special activities.

Facilities

The school has some impressive facilities that include:

· 3 Gymnasiums

· 1 Swimming Pool

· 1 Adrenalin Fitness Center

· 2 Astroturf sports fields

· 1 Athletics track

· Tennis courts (5)

· Indoor and Outdoor basketball courts

· Vertex Climbing Wall

· Theaters (3)

· Libraries (3)

· Computer Labs

· Science Labs

· Music, Dance and Drama studios

· Specialist classrooms

· Dining courts and cafes

Employment at WAB

WAB is looking for teachers who are upbeat, passionate about teaching and learning, interested in living in China and learning about it, working as a team at a school that values its teachers. WAB has 174 full and part time teachers from 18 nationalities. A number of middle management positions are available at WAB and include Grade Level and Department Leaders/Coordinators among others. These positions carry an annual stipend of $500-$3200 per year.

The majority of teachers are Australian with Canadians, Brits and Americans next. 153 of their teachers are overseas hires. WAB is very specific in what they are looking for in their teachers. The list below should give the prospective teacher a very clear idea of what it takes to be a successful candidate at WAB. Do you have what it takes?

• A good match in applicant’s skills and expertise and WAB’s needs.
• A good match to WAB’s educational philosophy and pedagogy.
• A good fit with WAB’s culture.
• The right chemistry and a good transition

Here is the general profile for what WAB is looking for as listed on their website.

* Experienced and qualified teachers

* Fits WAB’s Philosophy and Values

* High level of professionalism and commitment to the school

* Child focused - warm, caring and supportive

* Team player – collaborative

* Ability to become part of a community and work with parents

* Flexible and adaptable

* Commitment to ongoing professional growth and development

* Skilled in IT

* Intercultural sensitivity

* General interest in China

* Stable in personal life

* Experience in school events and extra curricular activities programs

* Experience in coaching sporting teams and/or performing arts

* Experience in outdoor education & recreation programs

* Experience in school development

* Experience in and knowledge of inquiry based learning

* Able to balance high demands of work with personal recreational pursuits

* Preference to teachers trained in IBPYP, IBMYP and IB Diploma, First Steps programs

Pedagogical Profile

* IB – PYP, MYP or Diploma experience (or similar) - please see our IB pages for more information

* Inquiry-based and hands-on learning

* Using local context and environment to enhance learning

* Stimulating Classroom environment

Desirable Professional Experiences and Practices

* Multi-cultural approach or experiences

* Experience and/or training in working in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) environment

* Experience in meeting needs of individual students and differentiating teaching techniques

* Experience in inquiry approach to teaching and learning

* Experience in activity based and hands on learning

* High level IT skills and experience in integrating IT across the curriculum

* Experience with contemporary practices in English and Mathematics

* Experience with authentic assessment practices

Salary and Benefits

Initial Salaries run from RMB 20,709 to RMB 25,459. The maximum step on the salary schedule for new teachers is Step H for teachers with at least nine years of experience. The current maximum salary is RMB 29,938 for teachers with 11 or more years of experience. So I would be at the maximum after three years of teaching there.

Benefits include:

• Relocation airfare
• Shipping charges and insurance
• Housing – serviced apartment with basic furnishings, utilities, local phone calls, broadband. Teachers may rent on their own up to a maximum amount determined by their contract. Single teachers receive $1,000 a month.
• Settling in allowance - $200 on arrival
• R&R Travel allowance
• Travel Allowance in case of death

• Chinese Income Taxes
• Pension/Retirement Plan – the school matches your 6%
• Visa, Residence Permit and Expert Card
• Health Insurance – comprehensive with medical evac provision
• Personal Accident and Disability Insurance
• Professional Development
• School Fees – Dependent’s Tuition Support

A teacher at Step H would receive RMB 4,151 for travel allowance. This is at 7.70 per dollar.

WAB prefers candidates to send email applications. A form is online . WAB attend the recruitment fairs. Interview appointments may be pre-scheduled ahead of the fairs.

Generally it is difficult to obtain an international school position if you are a single parent, but WAB hires single parent teachers, which is a definite plus. I wish more schools did this.

Teachers at WAB generally teach 30 periods of 40 minutes each week. They have 10 non-contact periods for planning and meetings and preparation. Teachers are expected to serve on at least 2 committees per year. They are also expected to provide two after school activities per year.

So here it is: the biggest review of a school that I’ve done. This school sounds really interesting. They expect a lot from their teachers, but the support offered also sounds excellent. The pay and benefits are good, but certainly not at the top of the scale. I would guess based on my experience overseas that a teacher could save a good amount of money working here. If you want to spend some time in China, this school sounds like a definite possibility. What I find very impressive with WAB is the way that they lay everything out on their website. I like a school that let’s you know what they expect and what they will give in return. You should check out their impressive website.

Hong Kong International School

Hong Kong is one of the most fascinating cities that I have had the opportunity to visit during my years overseas. I spent a week there just before unification with the mainland, and a week was nowhere near enough time. It’s a place that I would love to visit again if the opportunity and finances allow. I’ve always imagined that working there would be quite intense. HKIS sounds like a very complex school that would offer an active teacher many opportunities for professional and personal development.

HKIS is a Christian, co-educational private day school for students from 4-years through 18 years. It provides an American-based curriculum. There are over 2600 students on two campuses with over 40 nationalities represented. HKIS was founded in 1966. It is accredited by WASC.

The school has four divisions: Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Middle School and High School.

HKIS has a teacher-student ratio of 1:11. The school has more than 260 faculty members with 230 support staff. Teachers come from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., China, New Zealand, Austria, Honk Kong, and more places. Teachers are involved in extra-curricular activities and supervise educational field trips.

The Elementary School

The Elementary School has small class sizes, an emphasis on multiculturalism, cooperative learning, and project-based learning. There is a wide range of after school activities available.

The Middle School

According to the school website, middle school students at HKIS have some of the best school facilities in Hong Kong. These include: a state-of-the-art computer and video-tech lab, a swimming pool, a gym, an excellent library and a sports field. In addition to the academics that prepare students for the rigorous high school program, there is an extensive variety of activities for Middle School students to participate in.

The High School

HKIS offers a college-prep curriculum, and 90% of its graduates go on to college in the US or Canada with the rest attending university in Asia. In addition to its academic program, the school offers a variety of clubs, athletics and other activities for high school students. The high school focuses on self-motivation, collaboration, and interactive learning.

Professional Development

PD at HKIS has two key elements: It stresses collaborative planning and development of efforts and events that are supported by the budget.

Staff development is aligned with the school’s major goals. Examples are HKIS faculty-led training, weekend workshops, visiting consultants, faculty retreats

Employment at HKIS

Teachers need to have a minimum of two years experience at least a Bachelor’s Degree, certification. Experience overseas is a plus. The school is looking for not only Christian teachers, but teachers of other faiths as well who are interested in exploring the complex questions of faith and spirituality.

HKIS wants teachers who:

• Actively support the school’s mission statement
• Model and foster dialogue and understanding about religious and spiritual identity
• Are passionate about teaching students
• Who work with parents as partners
• Are qualified and experienced educators
• Demonstrate commitment to teamwork and effective communication
• Use the best research-based teaching practices and knowledge of curriculum

Benefits include a retirement plan, medical insurance, professional development support, housing, and relocation allowance. Salary information is not available on the website.

Applications must be received online to be given full consideration. HKIS attends Northern Iowa, Search and ISS fairs. Job openings are posted on the school website as soon as they become available.

American School of Dubai

Did you ever dream of living in the Middle East? The area is populated by some of the oldest and most exciting cultures on the planet. If you have, you may want to check out the American School of Dubai. It offers a good pay scale with excellent benefits. The area is developing some of the finest international schools and has been a center of international school activity for many decades.

ASD is an independent, coeducational day school for students from Pre-K to Grade 12. It is located in a suburb of Dubai approximately 15 minutes from the business center of Dubai. ASD was established in 1975. The school is accredited by Middle States.

ASD uses a US standards - based curriculum. It is a college preparatory school. ASD has a rigorous academic program. ASD offers AP courses for high school students. World languages include French and Spanish. The school has close to 1,000 students from the US and 44 other countries. 75% of the students are from North America.

The campus is located on 8 acres of land. The school has three main buildings, two pre-K villas, a two-story library, and elementary art center, and two gyms. There are 69 classrooms. There are four science labs, four computer labs, a large library, and extensive athletic facilities.

ASD employs 100 teachers. The majority of teachers are from North America. The average length of stay is eight years which is long for an international school. Generally this indicates that the teachers enjoy working at the school, although in the case of a school in an oil country, it could also mean that they have a number of employees who have spouses working on contracts with the oil industry.

The school year is 180 days and runs from 8:00 – 3:00 for all students except Kindergarten. The average class has 18-24 students. The student/teacher ratio is 11:1.

Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. All classrooms are networked. Computer instruction is provided at all grade levels. There are over 500 computers in the school. The school uses a traditional approach to computers with the usual computer curriculum – typing, word processing, computer graphics, use of email and the internet, etc.

Mission

The American School of Dubai, an independent, not for profit organization, offers what is best about American education in order to provide an educational experience designed to promote the maximum potential of it’s students. The school will challenge and assist students to become intellectually adept, thoughtful and ethical contributors to a global society.

ASD Beliefs

· Education is a shared responsibility of the administration and faculty, students, parents, and the school community.

· A safe and secure environment that is marked by respect for the rights of others and acceptance of personal responsibility is conducive to effective learning.

· Education must encompass the development of the whole individual: academic, aesthetic, creative, social, physical, and emotional.

· Students are individuals whose learning is influenced by age, prior knowledge, background, experiences, personality and physiology.

· The learning environment and educational process should recognize and accommodate different abilities, learning styles and interests. Education is most effective when the learner is actively engaged in the learning process.

· Education should provide meaningful and relevant experiences that are valuable beyond the classroom.

· The students’ school experience should foster self-esteem and self-confidence, which are integral components of the successful learner.

· Education encourages each student to develop positive character traits and assist them in understanding themselves and how their values relate to the world in which they live. Education should foster independent thinking to encourage creativity, thoughtful decision-making, critical analysis, and an appreciation and understanding of differences in opinion.

· The school experience should promote positive interpersonal relationships where students can work cooperatively with a partner, group, or team to become caring, sharing individuals, aware of the concern of others.

· The establishment of realistic, yet challenging, expectations and the learners responsibility for their achievement promotes excellence.

· Education should encourage responsible citizenship and global awareness.

· Education should instill in students a desire for lifelong learning.

· Well-planned change and purposeful institutional and personal renewal will lead to continuous improvement and enable the educational community to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

There are extensive extra-curricular activities offered at all grade levels including athletics and the arts and sciences. Older students may participate in the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference. The EMAC includes athletics and the fine arts. Students may travel to other countries to participate in these activities.

The Elementary School

Elementary students have specialized instruction in Arabic, art, computer, music, library, and physical education. There are also special needs classes in math and reading, along with assistance for mild learning disabilities.

The Middle School

Like all high quality schools, ASD recognizes that the Middle Years are a special time in the life of a child. Recognizing that, they have tailored their program to best help students develop academically, emotionally and socially. Students begin each day with their advisor. The academic day is divided into learning blocks based on a six-day rotation. Students have core classes as well as electives. The program is academically rigorous but also recognizes the strong role of the electives such as art, music and drama in the overall development of a child into a balanced individual. The school offers extensive after school clubs and sports. The Middle School also offers Week Without Walls; this is a week-long educational travel experience. These types of programs are common in the international school world.

The High School

In addition to an excellent academic program that offers what ASD considers to be the best of American education, the high school also recognizes that education is more than just mastering the “core” courses. They have a strong athletic program and compete in the Dubai Coast Conference and the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference. ASD also has a performing arts program and a community service program for high school students.

Teaching at ASD

If you are a teaching candidate for ASD, this is what they are looking for in their teachers:

· Preferably a US or Canadian teaching certificate

· Recent teaching experience in an American or Canadian school

· Experience in the teaching position preferred

· Experience in coaching or supervision of extra-curricular activities

ASD attends Iowa, Search and ISS fairs. An interview at one of the fairs is required for employment.

Salary and Benefits

Minimum starting salary is USD$ 32,000

Maximum starting salary is USD$ 38,500

Maximum salary on scale is USD$ 47,900

One step on scale for each two years of prior experience up to initial step 5 on schedule.

The school offers a cost of living allowance adjusted yearly. This years allowance is between $8,404-$9,878 for a single teacher. This amount is paid in Dirhams.

ASD offers an impressive list of benefits. These are:

· Professional Development up to $1,200 per year.

· Dependent tuition free for up to two children

· Retirement is 18.2% of base salary if employee contributes 11.2%

· Life Insurance

· Medical Insurance -school pays 80%, employee pays 20%

· Dental – same as above

· Long term disability

· Housing allowance or housing is provided

· A settling in allowance of $8000 – 10,000 paid in Dirhams

· Transportation

· Initial airfare from home of record. At end of second year, home leave is paid.

· Shipping – initial amount of 800 pounds of air freight; final amount up to 1,200 pounds

· Immunizations, initial medical, and visa costs are paid for.

· Taxes – no local taxes

About Dubai

Dubai is one of the emirates in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is the second largest of the emirates after Abu Dhabi. The climate is generally quite hot with not much rain, although it does have a short wet season. The emirate is located in the Arabian Desert.

Although Dubai is an oil producer, its economy has been considerably diversified over the past twenty years or so. It is becoming a tourist destination and a travel hub in the Middle East. The airport is quite impressive. I once spent ten hours in transit with a group of students returning from an international mathematics competition, and we had no problems filling the time. Dubai is also becoming a hub for IT and financial services.

Because of the large expatriate population, Dubai is a multicultural city. You can hear a multitude of languages spoken in the streets, and there are many restaurants featuring food from around the world.

ASD has a very attractive website where you can find additional information. If you are interested in applying to ASD, there is an application online.