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The Teachers' Lounge => School Reviews and Experiences (ON-TOPIC) => Topic started by: Pashley on April 23, 2007, 04:41:18 AM

Title: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on April 23, 2007, 04:41:18 AM
I am at Yang En, a place which has had some spectacularly bad web publicity in the past. Last October or so, I said on the old saloon that it clearly wasn't as bad as that and I'd post more later.

Now it is later. The place still clearly is not all that bad. There are some problems, but also positive aspects. Some people really like it, come back for several years. Others detest the place; anyone who needs a city and nightlife will hate it for one thing.

Someone on one of the TEFL China lists asked me about it and I gave a fairly detailed reply. There are a bunch of other messages in the thread too.

Page is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/teflchinajob/messages

First message in thread:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TEFLChinaJob/message/10754
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Dennis on July 20, 2007, 05:52:43 AM
Hi, I'm at THE Yang En University in Fujian province which inspires so much awe and fear, and to be honest, I think it doesn't merit a fraction of its bad reputation.
If you've been in China for a while, you must have seen a lot of the expats that go through this country. Many of them are good, some exceptional and some exceptionally bad! What has happened in Yang En dates back several years from before I came here (1 year ago) and the problems were a mixture of the last mentioned category of expats and a chinese private university laborously trying to get off the ground without having any experience with lauways (i hope i spell this correctly). Yes, there were severe cock-ups from the university side and there was a lot of mismanagement. Also yes, there was a lot of bad will of expats expecting to have the same facilities here as they had "back home".
One complaint on a blog is typical, as it is about the lack of central heating in our residences. Before I came to China, I had already found out that below the Yangtze river there is no central heating in buildings. If you think its too cold, you buy your own little heater, but don't bitch about things that are impossible to change. The other story is about a chinese teacher being beaten by security guards. The way the story is told, we're living in a nazi camp where human rights are broken every minute. I'm saving you the details, but briefly, the chinese teacher was not beaten up as said in the ; instead, he had continuously refused to slow down on his bike going too fast through a main gate downhill into campus. One day the guards chased him when he did it again and plucked him off his bike after catching him. Yes, they were probably rough and yes he got handled roughly, but this place is still not a penitentiary because of that.
I get my pay on time every month; My contract says 12 hours of business teaching, I do 4 extra a week (the university asked my if I wanted to) and I get my overtime without bickering and I don't have to check; I live on campus in a spacious flat which you can see on my pictures (http://picasaweb.google.com/dvanuye). I added furniture etc, but the basics like air conditioning, fridge, gasburner were there; I have a electric warm water heater in the bathroom so I can take showers whenever I want although not always as long as I want; last but not least, we're well taken care of and I recommend the place to anyone who wants a (business) teaching job in China. A bonus is that the climat and the surrounding area are great, as least for someone like me who likes warm weather, hills and lots of nature.
As I implied before,if you can't get used to the chinese way of slow and tedious administration, if you expect everything to be like "back home", you are in the wrong country! China has its pros and cons, but you'll pros and cons everywhere you go.
Bad reputations are created in minutes, turning them into good reputations takes years, but I think that this place merits an effort to get some good advertising. I just signed up for another year and I'll be happy to start again in september.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: George on July 20, 2007, 09:24:56 AM
Some cuties at your birdy party! I shouldn't be saying that!!!!!! bibibibibi Your right in saying that a rep can be ruined quickly, but I stand behind all my criticisms of certain schools, and re-inforce them whenever they come up, but Yang En is not among them.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on February 21, 2010, 03:19:40 PM
They have a fresh ad up, recruiting for autumn 2010
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/china/index.cgi?read=20954

I hear from former colleagues that the place is going
downhill. The founder died a few years back; in effect
his daughter is in control and she lacks his vision.
She's in Beijing much of the time. Also, Mr Mei, the
best of the senior administrators, and the only one
with good English, has retired.

However, it might still be a good place for some.
I'd say the current advice is "approach with caution".
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on February 24, 2010, 06:29:28 PM
I don't see the fact that "Dennis" joined this forum and posted precisely ONE post- the one above- and then disappearing, as being very reassuring. He was very possibly a spin-control "plant" who only came here for that purpose.

I've heard a few good reports on this school, and lots of bad ones. "Approach with caution" is excellent advice indeed.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on February 24, 2010, 10:15:14 PM
Dennis was a friend of mine & colleague at Yang En. I recommended the Saloon to him. He was not a plant, but he may have been a bit naive; Yang En was his only experience of China.

I left in 2009. Several of the remaining teachers have told me that was a good move.

The place was never great, though perhaps fine for some people, and probably never quite as bad as the spectacular net.rant about it a few years ago painted it. It is getting worse. Not recommended.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: openup on May 23, 2010, 12:38:49 PM
Pashley, Thanks for info.  Its one that I applied at.  I will disregard it now.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on May 23, 2010, 04:45:18 PM
There are positive things about the place. Unpolluted countryside location, nice apartments, plenty of cheap food nearby, reasonable hours, a fairly tight everyone-knows-everyone teacher community. They do hire business & computing teachers, with shorter hours than English teachers, and though they will not hire a new teacher over 60, they (and their arrangements with the PSB) are fine with keeping returning teachers up to 65 or so. Some people absolutely love it; there are foreign teachers who have been there five years and are signing up again.

On the negative side, it is 40 minutes to the city and the last bus back is about 9 PM so if you stay out at all late, you are stuck with 80 rmb or so in taxi fare. Even then, the city is only Quanzhou, nice enough and very historic, but not hugely exciting. There's a direct Yang En to Xiamen bus, but it takes two hours. New fast trains connect Quanzhou to Xiamen and Fuzhou, but that does not help much when you're 40 minutes out of Quanzhou. Yang En is absolutely not a place for people who need a lively nightlife.

Also, friends there tell me admin is now screwed up; pay is sometimes late, things like broken washing machines in the apartment blocks don't get fixed, ... Nothing horrendous, but many small irritations.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: openup on May 25, 2010, 04:21:53 AM
Pashley or anyone?  Do you know anything about Quanzhou Normal University?  Is this city an ok city for foreigners with a good nightlife, restaurants, parks, and some expats to meet for friends?  How far from Xiamen and how long does it take?  Thx!
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on May 25, 2010, 06:14:35 AM
Pashley or anyone?  Do you know anything about Quanzhou Normal University?  Is this city an ok city for foreigners with a good nightlife, restaurants, parks, and some expats to meet for friends?  How far from Xiamen and how long does it take?  Thx!

Quanzhou is an old city. Marco Polo sailed home from there, rated it with Alexandria as one of two busiest ports on Earth. Plenty of neat old temples, lots of parks, a kung fu monastery, great flea market for antiques etc. See writeup on wikitravel.org

Now it is a fairly rich but rather provincial Chinese city. Lots of good Chinese food, especially if you like seafood. Not a lot of good Western food. One great cheap Thai/Vietnamese place, one good but expensive French one. A pseudo-Brazilian place with a fairly awful buffet but good brewed-on-the-premises beer at 8 rmb a pint. Quite a few coffee shops, but only a few that have both decent coffee and reasonable prices. Plenty of McD and KFC. Neighboring Jinjiang, reachable by city bus, has a Burger King.

Expat community is small but there's a fairly active expat club that arranges various get-togethers. If you take the job, PM me and I can probably dig up an address for them.

When I lived there, it was 2.5 hours by bus to Fuzhou, 1.5 to Xiamen. Now there's high speed train service, should cut those times roughly in half. Used to be 4 hours Fz-X by bus; I'm told it is about 1.5 on the new train. From Fuzhou, fast train to Shanghai is 6 hours. I've heard there'll eventually be one from X to Shenzhen, but I think that is some time off.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on June 14, 2010, 04:47:52 PM
Talking to friends at Yang En. What I'm hearing changes my advice from "not recommended" to "avoid like the plague"!
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Day Dreamer on June 14, 2010, 05:54:58 PM
I don't see the fact that "Dennis" joined this forum and posted precisely ONE post- the one above- and then disappearing, as being very reassuring. He was very possibly a spin-control "plant" who only came here for that purpose.

Hard to say that. If he registered and posted a day or two apart, well yea. Maybe this wasn't his forum of choice. We've all joined a place then a week later completely forgot about it

 
Dennis:
Date Registered:  June 10, 2007, 08:25:52 AM
Last Active:  October 11, 2008, 04:10:08 AM
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: paladingrey on December 07, 2010, 06:40:11 PM
I was at Yang-En from August 2006 - March 2007 and had to leave due to a family emergency. After 2 years in Africa with no water or power most days, China is looking pretty good.  I'm considering returning to Yang-En and I'm looking for current information about things. Anybody know what's happening now?
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on January 02, 2011, 05:48:23 PM
As I said above, talking to friends who stayed there. my current advice is "Avoid like the plague!"

Contact me if you want details.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: acesplace on February 13, 2011, 07:39:54 PM
Hey I'm supposed to be working at a daycare in Quanzhou. It's called Kindyroo. It's off Tongguan west. Heres the link to the place. This is going to be my first job in China. Can someone tell me about the area? I was hoping to work and attend a University at the same time to get another degree. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the Universities in the area?

http://www.kindyroo.com/Branch/index.asp?id=32
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: jpd01 on February 13, 2011, 08:24:52 PM
Why not do the opposite? Be a full time student and get a part time job? For study centric people working around a study program can be a bit of a pain in the arse. But finding flexible part time work to fit around your study is usually an easier fit.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on February 14, 2011, 06:39:13 PM
Hey I'm supposed to be working at a daycare in Quanzhou. ... Can someone tell me about the area?

A starting point is:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Quanzhou

Do a web search on "Quanzhou expat" to turn up a foreigners' association.

If you have more questions, start a new thread here, since this is no longer about Yang En.

Quote
I was hoping to work and attend a University at the same time to get another degree. I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the Universities in the area?

There are several. I'd say avoid Yang En, especially since it is 40 minutes or so by bus from town. There's at least an Overseas Chinese U and a "Normal University" (originally, teachers' college, but now broader) in the city. Xiamen University, under an hour away by train, has the best reputation in the province.
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Mac Attack on March 16, 2011, 12:51:32 PM
Hello,

I just received an offer from Yang-En University. Based on what I have read both good and bad, I am inclined to turn them down. I currently have a job at a public school and I am inclined to stay for another year here. I would be happy, though, to hear any current feedback about Yang-En from current and former teachers.

Thanks!
 bhbhbhbhbh
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Raoul F. Duke on April 01, 2011, 02:12:46 PM
I have nothing current to add, but would advise that this school has been rating complaints on EFL forums since long before I first came to China, and is still doing so today. My advice? Give this place a serious miss. kkkkkkkkkk
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: Pashley on April 01, 2011, 03:19:13 PM
I'm a former Yang En teacher and started this thread some years back. Read the whole thread if you want some of the history. In one post, I wrote:

Talking to friends at Yang En. What I'm hearing changes my advice from "not recommended" to "avoid like the plague"!

I am still in touch with other former Yang En teachers and occasionally hear from one who, last I heard, was still there but looking for work elsewhere. The advice above stands: "avoid like the plague"!
Title: Re: Yang En University, near Quanzhou, Fujian
Post by: yeu2011 on May 10, 2011, 12:28:08 PM
Hello, I am new to this forum and wanted to share about my own experience at Yang En. I have been teaching at YEU since September of 2004. When I arrived and for about 5 years it was the greatest place on earth for me. I lovd my classes, didn't mind being outside of Quanzhou City which is about 40 minutes away. There was a large international staff at the time I arrived. In 2005 the man whose dream it was to build the university passed away and family members took over the administration. Since that time, the university has gone from good to bad to very bad.
They no longer keep their contracts, have taken away any air or travel allowance unless you have proof of purchase of leaving the country. They have not paid their staff on time and refused to pay Overtime until the end of the term. This past year we've had Chinese teachers "protest" and "strike" refusing to teach unless there were changes. The government stepped in when they went on strike. For the past two months we have been paid our salary and overtime at the end of the month according to our contract.
Equipment in classrooms have not been repaired since 2008 and the WC has no running water in a majority of the buildings holding classrooms.
The students are just as lovely as ever and I still enjoy my classes, but I am saddened to say that this is the last year for me at this university. It's time to move on.
I would not encourage others to apply to come here unless they can overlook the things metnioned above. Even the majority of Chinese teachers will be leaving and not returning for the next term. I hope this is helpful to those looking for future employment in China or the Quanzhou area.

Update: Since posting the above I have made arrangements to leave the university and this has been a nightmare!
When trying to get my "letter of reference" (which is required by law in order to leave and find another job in the same province) I was given the run around stating they were not  allowed to sign or seal (by stamp) any documents with approval from the woman in charge. I had Chinese friends call the government in Fuzhou and were they in turn were told that this was, in fact, a legal document but that they were also aware of concerns in this university. To make a very long story short, the president who has been here for the past year suddenly disappeared and the Government sent another one to replace him just for the duration of the graduating ceremony so they'd have a signature on their Diploma when they graduated. If it were not for this "stand in" Vice President, who cares nothing for the woman in charge or shows no fear of her commanded the Foreign Affairs Office to do their job and stamp the document as required, I would not have got my Visa to stay in this country. If it were not for this man, I'd still be fighting for my stamp. All the while they kept asking me to stay! As it turns out, the stand in VP was a friend of university trying to get my new Visa.  bjbjbjbjbj As the time comes to leave here, I am only too happy to say goodbye to a place I once took so much pleasure being a part of.
Once again, I would encourage other teachers to not come here. She is running the place into the ground. It's plain and simple that she wishes to bring it to it's end. For what reason? Who knows? You do not want to be a part of it!
Students have said the University was a Level 2 in the Province, but has been put down to a Level 3 meaning that only students from Fujian province will be admitted and the story is that there are very few students applying to come here next term. Many, many Chinese teachers are also leaving and at this time there are only the remaining Filipino teachers (6 in total) and 2 foreign teachers who are staying. One from the UK and one American.