Are you thinking about becoming a lecturer in the Further Education (FE) or the Higher Education sectors (HE)?
In the below article, we shall explore some key differences and similarities of the two roles.
HE Lecturer
Working as an HE lecturer can be an incredibly rewarding job. You can talk about a subject that you genuinely enjoy. You get to see young people’s love of their subject increase, their academic performance improve, and you can guide them in the choice of their future career. Students can make you change the way you think about your academic work and can be a source of inspiration.
Qualifications
If you wanted to become a lecturer fifty years ago, a postgraduate qualification was not necessary. A few decades later, many people find it impossible to get a permanent lectureship without having completed a PhD. The qualifications that you need are a good bachelor’s degree (2.1 or above), possibly a masters, and a PhD in the relevant field.
Teaching
As an HE lecturer, you would be teaching students over the age of 18. You would need to be able to deliver engaging and interactive sessions to develop students’ interest in the given subject area. Serious disciplinary problems are generally rare because most students engage with their chosen course. There are three main aspects to being a lecturer: teaching, research and administration. Different institutions prioritise research and teaching differently, and you need to find out which aspect is most important for the lecturer job you are interested in. As a general rule for the UK, Russell Group universities prioritise research, whereas post-1992 institutions place more emphasis on teaching.
Responsibilities
Lecturers are employed by the university, and they support students with their academic studies. Lecturers may be involved in the following responsibilities:
- Delivering lectures and seminars
- Providing 1-2-1 supervision to students
- Marking students’ coursework, projects, and exams
- Mentoring students and providing academic advice
- Developing academic courses
- Completing research and attending conferences
- Contributing to research funding bids
As well as managing classroom activities, lecturers are encouraged to be active researchers. Although the two strands of work could work in harmony, it can be challenging to fit in both aspects of the job. Working on your research and publications means that you are seen as an expert in your field. Being involved in research can greatly enhance your reputation as a teacher in the eyes of your colleagues and your students.
Career progression
Perhaps the easiest way to get started is to become an associate lecturer, taking up teaching and marking assignments. Some associate positions are available on a freelance basis, while others are on a contractual basis. Being an associate could help you to get your foot in the door and could contribute to gaining a full-time contract. The next step would be to take up a Lecturer or a Senior Lecturer role, which is normally offered on a permanent basis.
FE Lecturer
FE focuses on helping people step into fulfilling careers. Colleges across the country provide courses to equip students with skills for the workplace. The courses may range from GCSE, A-levels, T-levels, and vocational courses just to mention a few. Learners can choose from a range of relevant pathways covering Business, Construction, Art, Engineering, Health and Social Care, IT and Computing etc.
Many FE teachers would agree that working with students is both challenging and incredibly varied. While in a traditional nine-to-five job, you might be dealing with the same issues, your job as a teacher is varied every day. You may be delivering lectures, marking assignments or researching for new course materials.
Vacancies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields are increasingly hard to fill due to an ongoing shortage of applicants. You might be surprised to hear that there is a real shortage of FE teachers specialising in STEM subjects. There is an acute shortage of people entering STEM professions, which creates strong demand for educators.
Qualifications
Most FE employers would expect you to have at least a level 3 qualification in the subject area that you want to teach. It is beneficial to have some previous experience in class teaching, either face-to-face or online. The standard qualification to work in the sector is the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training. Some FE employers are actively looking to recruit people with industry experience who can share their knowledge and experience with the next generation, and prepare them for the world of work.
Teaching
There is a large number of General FE and tertiary colleges, Sixth Form colleges and Private trainer providers you could work for. You could teach young people who want to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills prior to applying for an apprenticeship. You could teach adult part-time learners and deliver evening courses. You could be involved in teaching mature learners who wish to reskill and change careers. As an FE lecturer, you would deliver teaching sessions to learners over the age of 14. It is essential that you can tailor your teaching style to suit a wide range of students who may come from different cultural, academic and geographical backgrounds.
Responsibilities
FE lecturers help students to develop their knowledge and understanding of their subject area. The main responsibilities could include:
- Teaching groups of students, normally on a face-to-face basis
- Developing learning materials for teaching sessions
- Marking students’ work and providing constructive feedback
- Keeping accurate records, managing administrative tasks and monitoring students’ progress
- Providing pastoral support for your learners
- Interviewing and inducting new students
- Representing the college at open days, career fairs, conferences, etc.
- Researching and developing new teaching materials
Career progression
To get started, you could apply for temporary or permanent FE lecturer positions. A teaching job could lead to becoming a curriculum manager, departmental manager or head of department. If you have significant industry experience but limited classroom teaching experience, you might find it helpful to start with a few hours a week and gradually increase your teaching hours over time.
I am a British Student 👩🎓, doing my UG course BSc biomedical science, with Teesside University 🇬🇧.
I also haves Level 5 qualification in Education and Teaching from this university “Certificate in advanced continuing education”.
Looking into my extended history as a meritorious postgraduate student 👩🎓 from another country MSc., PhD, I was under the impression that it is easier for me to get a senior lecturer 👩🏫 position with research focus in HE.
But it is all left to the impression of the administration and Human Resources, I have come to understand.
PS: Budget is a constraint for all