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Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a lecturer. Feel free to use our lecturer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a lecturer.

 

Who is a Lecturer? 

How did an accountant become an accountant? Did a medical doctor become one out of the blue? One way or the other, we have crossed paths with lecturers to become the professionals or specialists we are today. If you passed through the walls of a classroom, you must have encountered a lecturer in one form or another. Unless your career didn’t involve formal education, you must have undergone different kinds of tutelage anchored by highly trained experts and professionals commonly referred to as lecturers. Since education helps instill discipline and knowledge in an individual, it is fair to say that lecturers have huge roles to play in the lives of students. Before we delve into who a lecturer is, let’s briefly shed light on what a lecture entails.

A lecture can be defined as an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a participating subject matter. Lectures are used to disseminate and convey critical information, background, history, equations, and theories. Though lectures have been criticized as a teaching method, universities and other higher institutions have not yet found practical alternative teaching methods for the large majority of their courses. Also, scientific and academic awards routinely include a lecture as part of the honor. Therefore, a lecture is an important aspect of the learning process

The term “lecturer” is an academic rank in most universities and colleges; it denotes an expert or individual who is hired to teach and impart knowledge on a full or part-time basis. Lecturers are also able to conduct research individually or collectively as a group. Depending on the country or academic setting, lecturers have different ranks ranging from graduate assistants to professors. Lecturers are also renowned for performing administrative duties as well. Based on the terms of the contract, a lecturer may be required to carry out the responsibilities of a moral instructor or student counselor. Promotion and advancement are based on the lecturer’s research, years of experience on the job, and additional or higher educational certifications. For example, a graduate assistant lecturer can be promoted to an assistant lecturer after some years provided they possess and submit a master’s degree certificate in the field or related fields. It is important to note that the ranking of lecturers varies depending on the type of higher institution. Ranking in universities is different from ranking in Polytechnics or colleges for instance. However, the duties, tasks, and responsibilities of lecturers are generally the same across all forms of institutions.

Generally, most lecturers stand in front of the classroom to deliver organized talks designed to teach and inculcate knowledge in students or individuals. Similarly, technological breakthroughs have made lecturing remotely possible; these days, lecturers can successfully teach and disseminate information online provided the right technology and platform is in place. Unlike in ancient times, individuals can now enroll for distance learning and receive lectures succinctly from wherever they are without necessarily sitting in a classroom. Also, lecturers organize and prepare seminars and presentations to enable students to develop skills crucial for personal and professional growth. Though lecturers might work alongside other staff members, they must have the expertise to lecture, create activities, improve teaching methods, assess work, and prepare and grade exams and written or oral presentations. Importantly, a lecturer must be an expert in his/her field to succeed; round pegs in square holes aren’t needed in the lecturing profession. The lecturer uses a range of methods and techniques to create the course material, curricula, and lesson plans, engage with students, conduct research and fieldwork, attend meetings and conferences, and assist with processing applications. In relation, competition for senior roles and positions is inherent among lecturers; hence, the need for research and excellent teaching.

Depending on the subject area, a lecturer may work in lecture theatres, studios, classrooms, laboratories, hospital wards, or outdoors (if your activities include fieldwork). The amount of time devoted to teaching, administrative tasks, and personal research vary between institutions and specialties. Lecturers are required to just teach in some institutions, while others are expected to combine teaching and varying amounts of research. Relatively, lecturers in art and design are often allowed to combine their professional practice in addition to lecturing in some schools. Subject to the institution, some lecturers get the chance to work in areas like the media, consultancy, public speaking, and publishing. Furthermore, lecturers increase their career prospects by presenting research and papers at conferences, undertaking work exchanges, and attending and participating in workshops and seminars. Career prospects can also be boosted by active and constant contribution to the research profile of your department by getting your research published in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals. The lecturer can oversee the progress or not of their students and offer tutorials and coaching if needed. Successful lecturers can explain, conceptualize complex information, critique, and provide clarifications when answering questions. Enumerated below are the various types of lecturers;

Graduate assistant lecturers: These are lecturers that deliver instruction and teaching to undergraduate students in Universities and other higher institutions. You need at least a relevant bachelor’s degree to qualify for this position.

Assistant lecturers: Typically, assistant lecturers possess both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. They are step(s) above graduate assistants.

Senior, principal, or chief lecturers: They possess a Ph.D. and can teach or instruct graduate students studying for a master’s degree. They prepare lessons, manage courses, deliver lectures and facilitate learning.

Associate professors: An associate professor performs different activities such as teaching, performing research, attending conferences, completing administrative tasks, and monitoring students.

Professors: Professors are at a higher rank than associate professors. Being a professor is the pinnacle or Holy Grail of lecturing. 

                                                    

Lecturer Job Description

Below are the lecturer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a lecturer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

Lecturers devise and administer a schedule of lectures and tutorials following a prescribed course of study. They have strong communication skills which they use to lead lectures and guide discussion amongst class members while providing academic guidance to students. The lecturer job description should contain a variety of functions which includes;

• Contribute to curriculum revisions and course and degree requirements.
• Provide consultation to academic boards, councils, and committees.
• Develop curricula and course material that can be used on different platforms
• Deliver and prepare tutorials, lectures, seminars, and workshops.
• Collaborate with other lecturers and academics to improve teaching methods and expand knowledge.
• Provide technical support to students and colleagues.
• Prepare, set, and grade exams, assignments, and tests.
• Participate in training opportunities and initiatives organized by the institution.
• Attend and participate in conferences, meetings, and other events within and outside of the institution.
• Stay current by reading widely and producing published work in the field.
• Conduct research and write papers, books, and journal articles.
• Interview course applicants.
• Encourage personal development by organizing tutorials or pastoral work.
• Invigilate examinations and assessments.
• Supervise Ph.D. students and research staff.
• Prepare bids for funding of departmental research projects.
• Manage research budgets and spending.
• Develop and implement new methods of teaching to reflect changes in research.
• Undertake individual and collaborative research projects that are published in peer-reviewed journals thereby contributing to the institution’s research profile.
• Carry out administrative tasks related to the department such as student admissions, induction programs, and involvement in committees and boards.
• Participate in staff training activities.
• Establish collaboration with other institutions; as well as with industrial, commercial, and public organizations.
• Conduct office hours regularly to provide time for students to come and talk about their grades, assignments, and other issues.
• Mentor students, especially graduate students, and assist them in their pursuit of a degree such as providing academic, career, and research advice.
• Organize field trips and laboratory sessions where applicable.
• Give seminars and travel to other institutions to deliver a lecture as guest faculty.

 

Qualifications

Choosing to pursue a degree in education and a career in lecturing is highly subjective; lecturers have the freedom to pursue their research. At the same time, they become experts in their field and share their knowledge with students. If you enjoy teaching and in-depth study of a subject matter, consider becoming a lecturer in a high institution. That way, you can train and guide the students in a specific subject and work as an instructor, researcher, and subject-area expert in your field of study. Therefore, the following are the major qualifications and requirements for lecturers;

• Lecturers are required to complete one or more bachelor’s degrees in their chosen field of expertise. For career progression and advancement, the individual can enroll for and complete a postgraduate degree at the masters or doctorate level. This is a prerequisite by most employers. Relatively, potential lecturers should consider completing a teaching qualification during their postgraduate studies; this is desirable. Remember, the more qualifications and education you have, the better your chances of getting hired. Although every institution has its educational requirements, the consensus is that a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required for an entry-level lecturing role (graduate lecturing assistant).
• Most institutions require postgraduate work experience such as experience as a trainer or instructor in a recognized institution. Some employers accept candidates with excellent undergraduate degrees and accompanying teaching experience in a secondary school. Such applicants must, however, present a professional certification in education to stand out among their competitors. Hence, try and get some teaching experience while completing your master’s or Ph.D. You can apply for and take up roles of graduate teaching assistants which typically involve taking seminars or tutorials and marking essays or exams. You can assist with laboratory activities and other minor administrative tasks to enhance your experience.
• Training and professional development/certification: Professional certification is an essential requirement for lecturers. Employers desire candidates with professional certificates in education and relevant training. Therefore, if you haven’t completed an education qualification, you can apply for and earn a post-graduate or professional diploma in education to cover for the education background. In contrast, candidates who came through the education line can focus on registering and obtaining a teacher’s certificate. All these are an advantage of recruitment. Additionally, try and enroll in institutions that offer a series of short in-house or online training covering areas like administration, information technology, personal development, and research techniques.
• Research: Research is an essential cog in the lecturing endeavor. Most employers lookout for applicants with verifiable research. Hence, start building your research profile while in school and stand out during the hiring process

 

Essential skills

Lecturers need a combination of soft and hard skills to complete their tasks effectively. Below are some of the essential skills needed for the lecturing profession;

Written communication skills: Lecturers use their written communication skills to relay information effectively in written formats. They often need to write for curriculum, presentations, and research publications. Written communication skills are also useful for drafting funding proposals.

Lesson planning: Preparing a lesson plan is an integral part of teaching and learning. Before providing instruction to students, the lecturer prepares a lesson plan that involves different concepts, assessments, and activities.

Oral communication abilities: Apart from good written communication skills, lecturers also need strong oral communication abilities. This skill can be used to deliver ideas and spoken instructions to students in a clear way. Also, it helps the lecturer to provide feedback to students during a lecture or conference.

Modes of delivery: There are differences in the learning pattern and abilities of students; thus, lecturers must understand the different learning modalities and decipher how to use them to teach in multiple styles. This can help facilitate the teaching and learning process.

Spontaneity: Can there be anything worse than someone reading from a script? Clearly, this isn’t lecturing or teaching but reading aloud. Lecturers need to tell real stories to capture the attention of students without derailing the learning process.

Emotional intelligence: An effective and efficient lecturer requires cognitive, emotional, and compassionate empathy because relationships matter more than anything in the profession. The lecturer should be able to cue into emotional cues, show sensitivity, and understand others’ perspectives, leverage diversity, and help students to reach their full potential. 

                                         

How to Become a Lecturer

Understanding the steps to become a lecturer can help you to create your professional path in this field. Here are tips on how to become a lecturer;

• Select an area of expertise.
• Pursue an undergraduate degree.
• Earn an advanced or postgraduate degree.
• Pass an entrance exam.
• Obtain or gain teaching experience.
• Write and publish research articles.
• Apply for an adjunct position as a lecturer.

 

Where to work

Universities, colleges, polytechnics, and further education institutes make up the largest proportion of employers of lecturers. However, you might be employed by special postgraduate institutions such as law schools or business schools depending on your subject area.

                                         

Lecturer Salary Scale

Lecturers in the United Kingdom earn an average salary of 33,797GBP to 49,553GBP per year. Similarly, the average salary of lecturers is 80,642CAD in Canada.

Education and Training

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