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Tertiary Lecturer

Tertiary lecturers teach at universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, wānanga and other post-secondary education providers. They may carry out research to be published.

Tasks & duties

Tertiary lecturers may do some or all of the following:

prepare and give lectures to students
prepare and mark assignments, essays and exams
give academic advice to students
may supervise students' research
keep up to date with their subject area
do administrative work
may conduct research and write reports
may deal with public and media enquiries
may attend and present at conferences on their subject area
may publish research and articles on their subject area
may visit students at work placements

Specialisations

Tertiary lecturers may choose to work in a particular tertiary instute such as university, polytechnic or wānanga. They may also do specialised research in their subject area.

Skills & knowledge

Tertiary lecturers need to have:

up to date knowledge of their subject area
teaching and lecturing skills
research skills, and up to date knowledge of research methods
writing skills
knowledge of assessment methods and regulations
an understanding of different cultures
excellent communication skills, including the ability to network effectively with other academics and professionals
planning and organisational ability
administrative skills
analytical and problem-solving skills
computer skills

Entry requirements

To become a tertiary lecturer you need a postgraduate qualification and/or extensive experience in the area you are teaching. To lecture in a university, you need to have a Masters degree or a Doctorate, and it is an advantage to have published some work. At polytechnics or institutes of technology, the entry requirements depend on the subject being taught.

A graduate degree is usually required to enter tertiary lecturing jobs at colleges of education.

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter tertiary training.

Training on the job

Tertiary lecturers gain many skills on the job and through carrying out research. Many tertiary education providers have in-house training courses in adult education.