I go into the office only twice a week. It is difficult to think of many other jobs that can beat the flexible hours of the academia.

Neither. I'm based overseas.

No record. No leave application either. I only need to be there for the classes (app 5 hours per week). As long as I meet my publication targets I'm fine.

Hi all,

I am a student currently doing my Masters, and I am thinking of becoming a lecturer. From what I gather from reading this thread, there are some IPTS that accepts a Masters holder as a lecturer. I know that most lecturers will have to do research as well. The thing I’m curious about is regarding the publications, I’ve heard that lecturers have to publish a certain number of publications every year. Is that true? What I am curious to know is what would happen if a lecturer fails to meet that requirement?    Will the lecturer be fired? Or will he/she just get poor performance rating at the end of the year (thus losing out on perks like bonus, promotion, etc.)? If it is the former, then it certainly seems like a lecturer’s job is a very pressurized job. Because from my experience of my Masters research now, it certainly seems like the research duration is not something that is predictable, there are many occasions where ideas attempted end up in failure, thus taking up a lot of time.

I do believe I will enjoy teaching, though I’ve no experience in teaching yet. It is the research part of a lecturer’s job that worries me actually. So if anyone has experience on this, please share with me. 

Thanks. 

Yes, research is never a predictable thing on when and how long you are going to get it done.

Most of my lecturers did their Phd in overseas and end up in local university IPTA , teaching and researching are two main roles they do. Occasionally, they have to attend conferences, involved in mentoring, and paper works for sure.

Publications are only a must if you are graduated from Phd, and not really applies for Master. there is a tier 1,2,3 publication where the Tier 1 is the most excellent work of publication.
If you intend to just further up to master, you may find a lecturer position in IPTS to be relatively easier to secure compared to IPTA as IPTA now aiming for producing full time Phd holders to hold the lecturer position. While for IPTS which is not so heavily inclined on research, most of your time will be on lecturing.

By the way, again, it is important to state your field of study.

Yes thanks for clarifying. Do you know how to differentiate a IPTS between the premier and the non-premier?

As far as I know, those with university status will belong to the premier one, but I am just not too sure how established their research works and publications do.

Sunway, Taylor, HELP, Monash, Nottingham, AIMST, UCSI for sure belong to the premier one, right?

It is like comparing apples and oranges if we compare the research activities between a IPTA and IPTS due to the nature that IPTA are heavily highly supported by gov giving grant to carry out their research and thus theirs are much more established than IPTS. To me, IPTS is a money-minded industry, more or less, majority of them focus on getting more postgrads students with no strict requirements imposed. But some do very well, and contribute a lots to the industry and economy.

Nowadays, there are these common collaboration exists between IPTA and IPTS from the fact that many of the  Phd candidates with main supervisor from a IPTA have co-supervisor from a IPTS. Both complement with each other very well in research activities.

I think Monash and Nottingham can probably stand out from that list. I have no idea about AIMST (is this not semi government?). For the rest, I can tell you that research effort is minimal. They are trying to push for it, but still lightyears away.

Oh they do this because the government encourages it. There's a scheme whereby an IPTA gets funding if it collaborates with an IPTS.

Anyway for my field funding really doesn't matter. I just need a proper library and that's it. But people still whine about not having funding. I guess they whine about the money. Speaking of which, research grants can be a good source of income. Researchers are entitled to a good amount of honorarium.

Yes, I know. There are subject areas where funding is important for research. I'm confining my statement to my field. When you see these people yourself, they you may find whining to be an appropriate term.

Thank you all for the replies. From what I gather from your replies, the requirements for publications is dependent on the IPTA or IPTS itself, whether they are research intensive or teaching intensive. Since I'm still doing my masters and unsure which organization will want to hire me in the future, I guess the requirements of publications is a moot point for me at this moment. 

I am currently doing my masters in the field of engineering in MMU. Since I'm familiar with the university, my thoughts are that I might want to attempt to apply for a lecturer position later in MMU. So I'm just wondering, what are your thoughts about MMU? Is it a more research intensive or teaching intensive uni? Does it have a good reputation with regards to lecturing/researching?

Thank you all for sharing. 

My masters in the field of telecommunication engineering, and it is by research. I see, so MMU is sort of a more research intensive university and a highly rated IPTS. Requirements include publication of a high ranking journal every year. Thanks for the info. It does seem like it will be difficult to get a job as a lecturer with MMU but I guess I'll give a shot and apply once I finished my masters.

Just out of curiosity, do you happen to know what other IPTS/IPTA that would accept masters qualification as lecturers? The reason I'm asking is because after the completion of my masters degree, I would prefer to get a more permanent job as a lecturer first while working towards my phd, for want of better financial security. I could be mistaken, but I believe assistant lecturers are usually on contract. Hence my preference for a job as a lecturer. Do correct me if I'm wrong.

How much does a fresh phd lecturer in USM earn?

The pay for teachers seem to be rising and lectueer is higher grade i think haf good future

phd holder can earn up to rm6000++ if work as lecturer, the increment will be rm500++ per year, and this does not include other outcomes that you can earn from seminar, giving training and workshop, usually rm 100++ per hour

After lecturing in Korea for 4 years, I finally decided to come back to Malaysia and lecture here.
I lecture English Literature and boy was I disappointed at the fact that :

4. Politics is also 'amazing' here. It's either you play the game, or you're out of the game.

I might leave again if this all gets to me.

despite the relatively smaller amount of salary compared to what we think a PhD is worth, lecturers like me do receive grants in order to do research and/or publish. for example, once a year i embark on a journal paper or book chapter that earns me RM5k in equipments.

i may apply for this at several ventures at any time i feel like it. a book chapter for me is just about 2-3 week's job. a journal article is a bit longer. but it would mean two free laptops a year. or a considerably enviable gaming-capable PC (alasan nak buat 3D rendering bla bla bla).

and because it's equipments for university use, it's not taxable to me. and after 5 years, it will be declared obsolete and purged (dilupuskan), in which i can buy it for RM100. that is, IF i want to.

RM6k is not a lot. true enough. but that's RM6k with nothing much to spend on. laptop? dah ada. ipad? pun ada. smartphone? covered. books? lagi laa jangan cerita. hardcore gaming PC with multiple graphics card each with its own HD monitor? muahahahaha... life's good.