Academic Advisor and Instructor
Zayed University
Total years of experience :45 years, 4 Months
I provide 1st, 2nd and 3rd semester students with support in transitioning into university life..
• A combined faculty / advising role of delivering & assessing core, 3-credit academic development courses.
• Course content: Information literacy, research skills, leadership, career exploration, Emiratisation, self-assessment (MBTI, Interests, Values, Personality Dimensions), academic success and communication skills; designed to aid student transition, preparedness and retention; journalism and storytelling in the media.
• Prepare, manage and monitor registration requirements for 150+ students per semester
• Coordinate the Job Shadow program within the Dept. of Academic Advising and Development (DAAD). An initiative that enriches the 2nd semester, ‘Career Exploration’ course designed to prepare students to choose their major. To date, 500+ students have participated in job shadowing opportunities within private sector organizations
• Mentor, coach and counsel students to achieve their potential, academically and socially
• Instruct journalism skills in the College of Media & Communication -prepare, deliver & assess content for a 4-credit course on Storytelling in the Media.
• Liaise with faculty, students, peer-support, faculty-support and Department of Accessibility, IT and facilities to ensure individual and class student requirements are available.
• Develop and proctor standardized assessments
• Taught IELTS preparation classes to MOE Principals in Ruwais - 2008
• Taught Summer School program in Sila, Ruwais and Madinat Zayed - 2007 and 2008
• Taught 3 semesters on the foundation program
Achievements: 90+% success rate of students being accepted into the majors within 3 semesters; consistently high student evaluation scores; introduction and establishment of Injaz & Junior Achievement corporate and employment development courses to University College students.
2003 - 2006
ESL Teacher, CfBT Education Services, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
• Areas of expertise: instruction in academic writing; phonetics; pronunciation skills, IELTS preparation and conducted spelling workshops.
Achievements: Provided student workshops for language development and exam preparation; participated in extra-curricular programs - student debating & homework clubs. I contributed to the academic success of students in an over-crowded, under-resourced, water-village school.
2003 - 2005 CfBT Education Services, Brunei ESL teacher (concurrent with UBD)
• Established a student homestay business catering to long and short-term adults.
• Sourced, assessed and monitored quality homestay providers
• Marketed services internationally, predominantly to Japanese groups
• Established policies and procedures to ensure quality service, managed financials
• Provided travel, airport pickup and transit accommodation requirements for clients
• Managed inevitable conflict resolution strategies
Achievements: Maintained a high standard of client satisfaction evidenced by long-term stays, low turnover of providers and referrals which produced an extensive network which achieved industry respect. Business was sold 14 years ago and continues to be operated as a going concern by the original purchaser.
• Prepared ESL students for entry into Australian high schools and universities using highly interactive, student-centred language learning strategies. 8-month assignment.
Achievements: provided creativity and individuality to a highly standardized academic program.
• Provided highly specialized and personalized specific-needs education programs: gifted and talented, dyslexic, ADD/ADHD, literacy, ESL, English for specific purposes: Business English and exam preparation courses
• Clients included corporate and educational institutions, adults, senior and junior school children, ESL learners, teenage and adult Japanese study tour groups
• Responsible for devising programs, preparing materials, coaching and training teachers, scheduling, venues and group activities and teaching as required.
• Responsible for branding, promotion, marketing and daily operations of the company
• Locum teaching assignment for 4 months in a language college in Nara, Japan
Achievements: enabled access to employment and tertiary studies to unemployed adults; secured employability to previously illiterate long-term adult employees; enabled self-confidence and commitment from students with consistently poor academic records or no academic opportunities.
• Responsible for the establishment, expansion and daily operations of this high-quality pure juice product, and initiated the first sustainable farming practice in Sydney
• Responsible for negotiating contracts with suppliers, arranging scientific testing, marketing, and distribution logistics
• Designed and produced new packaging and labelling for the product
Achievements: Conceived and established the brand as Sydney’s first sustainable farming pure juice distribution. Sole responsibility for and control of the labelling, packaging, marketing and distribution required to meet strict quota requirements. Penetrated mainstream markets, high-end health and gourmet providores and initiated niche new markets through secondary distributors. Within 2 years the business reached maximum operation levels before requiring commercial processes and procedures which were incompatible for my young family, resulting in the sale of the business.
• Developed Sydney's first, high-quality, pure juice distribution.
• Responsible for sales, marketing, promotions, warehousing and delivery
• Negotiated supplier and customer contracts
• Responsible for accounts payable and receivables and lines of credit
• Produced creative and successful marketing and promotional campaigns
• Developed and oversaw daily procedures and operations of stock control, ordering, customer relations, quality control and distribution.
• Recruited and trained full and part-time delivery and promotional staff.
• Responsible for Sydney metropolitan area sales, orders and deliveries.
Achievement: Initiated the marketing and distribution of this start-up business which grew from weekly sales at a local market to reaching maximum daily capacity within two years. Business was sold due to an acute personal health issue but remains a market leader.
. Selected, interviewed and shortlisted candidates and prepared interview docuements for interview panel.
. Managed reception and appointments.
. Provided legal secretarial services to legal counsel as required.
Research on characteristics and environments of successful language learners.
Plan, conduct, review of assessments. Training groups. Plan and promote training programs. Plan, deliver and review a series of training sessions.
Research on the language and literacy program requirements of a low socio economic, inner-city neighbourhood.
Specialized in Language, Literacy and Numeracy of ESL and SLD learners.