Is A Guest Lecturer Better than a Full-time Position?

A guest lecturer

The college experience can be fascinating for students. Your campus will likely have a vibrant life that makes student life a joy for anyone. Classes, on the other hand, are not always as fun. Many students often have preferences for different professors based on their teaching styles and grading scales. However, occasionally, you’ll see a guest lecturer taking classes, causing you to consider the difference between lecturers and professors.

What are the Differences Between Lecturers and Professors?

People often interchangeably refer to lecturers and professors. However, there are some significant differences between the two. Here’s how to distinguish between the two:

Lecturers

Lecturers are post-secondary teachers who teach in colleges or universities. They can teach both undergraduate and post-graduate students. However, educational institutions hire lecturers based on their professional experience and careers. As a result, they don’t necessarily need a Master’s or Ph.D. degree to teach. Instead, their real-world knowledge makes them qualified to teach specific courses in universities.

Most lecturers aren’t full-time teachers at colleges and universities. Hence, they continue pursuing their professional careers despite their position at an educational institution. Their teaching hours generally vary around their profession, and they usually only teach three or four classes within a semester. Lecturers cannot get tenure and normally work on year-to-year contracts.

Research shows lecturers typically receive less compensation than professors. According to statistics, the average salary for lecturers is approximately $56,712.

Meanwhile, the average salary for full-time professors is $103,803. Lecturers also don’t have any research or service responsibilities. Hence, you’re unlikely to see lecturers publishing academic findings in journals.

Professors

Professors also teach undergraduate and post-graduate students in higher education institutions. However, they differ from lecturers because they have post-graduate degrees. Professors are generally required to have a Master’s or Ph.D. degree. Unlike lecturers, professors primarily pursue a career in academia. As a result, they’re usually full-time employees in the university. Professors are eligible for tenure. They also have research responsibilities. Hence, you’ll often find professors researching to further their specialization and publish findings in academic journals. Universities generally monitor new professors to assess their performance, while older professors have more leeway because of their extensive experience.

A professor

What are Guest Lecturers?

You’ll often see many guest lecturers attend a higher education institute. Generally, student organizations, departments, or professors invite them to the campus. Guest lecturers are typically experts or well-known in their field. However, sometimes, an up-and-comer might also receive an invitation to visit a campus.

Guest lecturers usually provide industry-specific knowledge to students, opening their eyes to potential job prospects. They bring relevant market experience to students, helping them learn about how a specific sector or industry works. For instance, a computer science department might invite a cybersecurity professional to come as a guest lecturer. The guest lecturer would help students learn more about the specifics of the cybersecurity industry. In addition, they would also answer questions about their field.

Is Becoming a Guest Lecturer Worth It?

Guest lecturers don’t have a schedule because they usually only teach a class or two. However, becoming a guest lecturer is a good idea because it’s an excellent addition to your CV. In addition, it allows industry professionals to share their knowledge with the upcoming generation. While guest lecturers might only be present for a session or two, they can leave a lasting impression on students.

Becoming a guest lecturer is also a good gateway into the academic world, particularly if you’re interested in pursuing a position as a lecturer or professor.

Learn More About Guest Lecturers with Francisco Faraco

Francisco Faraco is a CFA Charterholder. He’s also a Teaching Assistant in the Master of Science in Financial Mathematics at the University of Chicago. He immigrated to the United States from Venezuela in 1999. Faraco has been a resident of New York for the past twelve years.

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