Lecturer

Introduction

Lecturers teach academic or vocational subjects to students in further education (FE) or higher education (HE). 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 they may carry out research.

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Work Activities

Lecturers teach one or more related academic or vocational subjects to students in institutions of further education (FE) or higher education (HE). Depending on which type of lecturing they undertake, the courses they teach may lead to qualifications such as National Certificates (NCs), National Qualifications (NQs), Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs), Higher National Certificates (HNCs), Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) or degrees. They may also teach on leisure courses which do not necessarily lead to formal qualifications. The students may be full-time, part-time or attending day-release or evening classes, and most are aged 16 or over.

Lecturers' duties include:
• planning and designing courses
• preparing and delivering lectures and demonstrations
• setting up and leading seminars and one-to-one tutorials
• organising fieldwork trips, where appropriate
• 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 in all aspects of their work, including when producing course materials.

They must keep up to date with all relevant academic, educational and vocational developments. This involves not only reading relevant books, journals and periodicals, but also attending training and staff development sessions.

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

All lecturers have to spend some time on administrative tasks, such as keeping records and writing reports, as well as attending relevant meetings.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a lecturer, you should have extensive knowledge of your subject and a keenness to share that knowledge with your students.

You need excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, in order to deal with students of various ages and different abilities. You must have self-confidence, and be capable of working with large numbers in a class or lecture theatre as well as with individual students on a one-to-one basis. In addition, you should be able to interest your students in your subject and motivate them.

You must be well organised and well prepared, both to be an effective teacher and to be able to balance your teaching commitments with your other duties.

You should be enthusiastic, with patience and a good sense of humour.

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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 earn in the range of £16,000 - £21,000 a year, rising to around £38,000 - £53,500 a year.

The number of people employed and hours of work vary in each sector. Full-time, part-time and temporary posts are usually available.

Hours of work and the time spent in face-to-face teaching varies, depending on whether you work in FE or HE. 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 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 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.

Entrants with experience and relevant academic or professional qualifications have an advantage.

Although teaching qualifications for further education (FE) lecturers are not nationally mandatory in Scotland, individual colleges may stipulate that new entrants undertake one or more of the available professional qualifications.

Once in post, FE lecturers may work towards an initial teaching qualification, the Professional Development Award (PDA). From this, they may move on to gaining the full TQ(FE).

Entrants to higher education (HE) lecturing may work towards a postgraduate certificate in teaching in higher education by part-time study or distance learning.

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

• 4% of lecturers are self-employed.
• 33% work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 12% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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