Profession higher education lecturer

University professors teach tertiary students in one or more subject areas and conduct research projects. They may also perform management tasks, e.g. preparing departmental budgets.

Would you like to know what kind of career and professions suit you best? Take our free Holland code career test and find out.

Personality Type

• Social / Investigative

Tasks higher education lecturer

• Plan and prepare university courses (graduate, undergraduate) in collaboration with other staff.
• Prepare and deliver lectures for university courses (graduate, undergraduate) and supervise other staff in conducting classes.
• Evaluate and grade graduate and undergraduate students' work and research.
• Read, review and discuss journal articles, books and papers.
• Participate in professional conferences, e.g. by delivering lectures, presentations, chairing sessions, etc.
• Initiate scientific research projects and gather funds.
• Conduct scientific research in field of specialization, individually or by participating in a research group.
• Direct research projects of graduate students and staff.
• Publish research findings in scholarly journals or books.
• Perform management tasks, e.g. developing policy and preparing departmental budgets.
• Provide consultative services to external institutions or organizations, e.g. government or industry.

Related professions university teaching

• University lecturer agriculture, nature, animals, environment sciences
• University lecturer computer sciences and mathematics
• University lecturer economics, business and management sciences
• University lecturer engineering, transport and logistic sciences
• University lecturer health sciences
• University lecturer humanities
• University lecturer journalism, media and communication
• University lecturer law and public administration
• University lecturer leisure, hospitality and gastronomy
• University lecturer natural and life sciences
• University lecturer psychology, pedagogic subjects
• University lecturer social work
• University lecturer, other subjects

Knowledge

• Curriculum objectives

  The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

• University procedures

  The inner workings of a university, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.

• Assessment processes

  Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.

Skills

• Prepare lesson content

  Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.

• Guarantee students' safety

  Ensure all students falling under an instructor or other person’s supervision are safe and accounted for. Follow safety precautions in the learning situation.

• Write work-related reports

  Compose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligible way so they are comprehensible to a non-expert audience.

• Develop course outline

  Research and establish an outline of the course to be taught and calculate a time frame for the instructional plan in accordance with school regulations and curriculum objectives.

• Liaise with educational staff

  Communicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with the technical and research staff to discuss research projects and courses-related matters.

• Give constructive feedback

  Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.

• Apply teaching strategies

  Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners' level, goals, and priorities.

• Perform classroom management

  Maintain discipline and engage students during instruction.

• Assist students in their learning

  Support and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.

• Liaise with educational support staff

  Communicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issues relating the students' well-being.

• Assess students

  Evaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weaknesses. Formulate a summative statement of the goals the student achieved.

• Apply intercultural teaching strategies

  Ensure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural backgrounds. Explore individual and social stereotypes and develop cross-cultural teaching strategies.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB