Adult education lecturer : Career development

Career progression is often slow due to the limited number of senior posts relative to the number of lecturers. Adult education tends to operate with a broad-based structure with a typical ratio, from the top down, as follows:

• centre principal;
• three or four heads of department;
• subject coordinators;
• more than 100 full and part-time lecturers.

Roles with more pay and responsibilities linked to curriculum development and management may be available to lecturers within two to five years, especially if you have formal teaching qualifications or relevant previous experience.

Lecturers in appropriate subjects who have qualified teacher status (QTS) may be able to move into sixth form or further education college teaching, where there are more clearly defined career paths and more higher grade posts. Some lecturers may also become involved in tutor training.

There are increasing opportunities to work for private training organisations, particularly since sector skills councils now monitor training in many industries. Anyone who can teach technical, professional or business skills, and who has teaching experience, is a good candidate for these jobs.

Opportunities in coordinating and developing community education, as part of widening participation initiatives, are also available, although these positions are mainly in project management and development and do not involve frontline teaching.

Most adult education lecturers become good administrators by necessity, so it may be possible to move into educational administration at a later stage, if you wish to.