Lecturer

Introduction

Lecturers teach academic or vocational subjects to students in further or higher education. The work involves preparing lectures and practical sessions, and holding seminars and individual tutorials. Lecturers also assess work, report on the progress of students, set and mark tests and exams, and perhaps carry out research.

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Work Activities

Lecturers teach one or more related academic or vocational subjects to students in further or higher education. Depending on which type of lecturing they undertake, the courses they teach may lead to qualifications such as National Qualifications (NQs), Scottish Vocational Qualifications SVQs, Higher National Diplomas (HND), Higher National Certificates (HNC), or degrees. The students may be full-time or part-time and most are aged 16 or over.

Duties include:
• planning and designing courses
• preparing and delivering lectures and demonstrations
• setting up and leading seminars and one-to-one tutorials
• giving additional support to students who need it
• assessing and reporting on the progress of students
• setting and marking tests, exercises, coursework or exams.

Lecturers help students to develop their analytical and study skills, and may organise work experience for them. They use audio-visual materials and computers to stimulate interest and learning, and to produce course materials. They must keep up to date with developments in their own subjects.

In addition, higher education lecturers are expected to carry out research in their own specialist field.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a lecturer, you need to be confident, able to communicate well, self-motivated and capable of motivating students. You must be organised and well prepared, to be able to balance your teaching commitments with your other duties. You need to be able to work with large numbers in a lecture theatre, as well as on a one-to-one basis with individual students.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay for lecturers varies depending whether you work in further education (FE) or higher education (HE).

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Lecturers can earn in the range of £20,000 - £38,000 a year. Senior lecturers can earn in the range of £34,000 - £45,000. Higher earners can make around £47,000 a year.

Hours of work and the time spent in face-to-face teaching varies, depending on whether you work in further education or higher education. Most lecturers spend extra time in evenings or at weekends preparing lectures and marking students' work.

Lecturers may be employed in FE or HE colleges, private sector colleges, universities, the prison service, the Armed Forces, and in industry. Part-time work may be available.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Experience of teaching or training is an advantage.

All new lecturers in further education need to have a professional teaching qualification.

Non-graduates teaching vocational subjects can take a Professional Development Award (PDA) in Further Education Teaching. Graduates can take a Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE). These qualifications may be studied full-time, or, if you are already in relevant paid or voluntary employment part time or by distance learning.

Part-time work is often available with some short-term contract and agency work.

• 2% of lecturers are self-employed.
• 36% work part-time.
• 2% have flexible hours.
• 17% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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