Summary
Role of the lecturer
Teaching:
The lecturer is a official holds a position in higher education. Thus he ensures the transmission of his knowledge, in the form of courses, to students at the university. He collaborates in educational tasks, such as the preparation of controls or examination boards, the direction of studies…
Supervise research work:
But the work of a lecturer is not limited only toeducation. Supervisory tasks are added. He follows the work of his students:
- memory ;
- internship report ;
- and other work specific to each sector.
Do research :
The lecturer also contributes to the development science and technology. In this context, it is linked to major research organisations, such as the CNRS, and to the social and economic sectors. Thus, it participates in cooperation between university research, industrial research and the various production sectors.
Lecturer’s working conditions
The lecturer is a civil servant:
By virtue of his status, the lecturer is subject to the legal working time of 1,607 hours per year. But it also benefits from a particular framework, since it is difficult to quantify the hours spent on research.
The lecturer has an important part of personal work:
The lecturer indeed organizes his time as he can, outside of his hours at theuniversity. He must not only attend various conferences, sometimes even abroad, but also work at the laboratoryin the library, in the archives… Moreover, research activity is very often carried out within the framework of a team.
The lecturer must be available for his students:
On the other hand, it is clearly specified that the lecturer must provide 128 hours of lessons per year, or 192 hours of tutorials (TD) or 288 hours of practical work (TP). The lecturer works alongside studentsin a higher education establishment (universities, university institutes of technology), in large establishments such as:
How much does a lecturer earn?
At the start of their career, a lecturer earns a little over €2,000 gross, and up to more than €4,000 at the last level.
What training to become a lecturer?
Registration on the national qualification list:
To become a lecturer, you must be a candidate for the national qualification list. For this, you must either:
- to hold a doctorateor an equivalent diploma;
- either justify 3 years of effective professional activity during the previous 6 years, excluding activity as a teacher and researcher in the public;
- either be a full-time associate teacher;
- either be seconded to the body of lecturers;
- or belong to a body of researchers from a public institution.
The application file is examined by the section of the National Council of Universities (CNU) competent for each discipline.
Competitions by institution:
The candidate then receives a empowerment CNU. Thanks to it, he can apply for a position open to recruitment, transfer or secondment, published in the “Official Journal”.
For each position offered, each establishment finally organizes a competition which determines the recruitment.
Qualifications needed to become a lecturer
Curiosity : One of the main roles of the lecturer is to follow theevolution of the discipline that interests him. He must be passionate and rigorous, always on the lookout for novelties on his subject.
Taste of communication:
If he is interested in a particular disciplinee, the lecturer must also know to transmit this passion and the stakes of his discipline… It is often a whole amphitheater that he must captivate.
Moreover, as research work is often carried out in a team, the lecturer has every interest in being comfortable in public.
Layout:
This job requires a particular organization: between courses at the university, research in the laboratory, travel in France and abroad… the lecturer must show availability.
Content updated on 05/28/2012
Our tips:
Lecturers and university professors should not be confused. The latter are often former lecturers, having obtained the authorization to direct research.