I worked and left this program not so long ago, and I must say that while the program is not perfect, it is certainly one of the best I've worked for in China. It's sad that you didn't appreciate your time in the program as I had a totally different experience. The students I had were mostly good, with the exception of course, of those who were not motivated to be in the class and were not really putting much effort into their studies. The Filipino coordinator who is managing the program is hands-down the most pleasing, professional and down-to-earth boss I've ever had. Some of the teachers I worked with differed in attitude and level of professionalism, but which organization doesn't have such variance in their teaching team? They are not perfect just like the program, but I would never label them as losers. A lot of them actually, are highly-qualified teachers who are genuinely passionate about teaching. However, I did hear about at least three teachers who were either sacked or not renewed of their contracts. One was an American who constantly deviated from the curriculum and had her students come to her private accommodation for 'extra English activities'. Then there's the Irish dude who chose not to follow the rules of the program and was allegedly sacked for subordination. The other one is a British teacher who always got herself drunk, danced almost naked in bars, and picked a fight with almost everyone in her team. I also heard that she got punched by one of her colleagues before her last semester into the program ended because of her ill behavior. Serves her right, I suppose. The Chinese staff, on the other hand. were kind of aloof, except for Mark, who is the most helpful Chinese guy I've ever known.

Overall, just like most joint programs in China, the VU program in Shenyang is far from being flawless. If anyone is considering to be part of this program, it's always best to talk to as many previous teachers that they had, or have a Chinese friend of yours (if you have any) investigate further by calling the uni or its current staff.