Explore: The Education Industry - FutureLearn (2023)

It is in our nature to share and transmit information. From prehistoric petroglyphs to the earliest cuneiform writing, humans have always wanted to capture and convey details of the world around them. The first formal education systems are relatively much more recent, and the education industry is practically modern by comparison. However, worldwide it is one of the largest in the world and essential for many countries.

We take a detailed look at where education is today, exploring the size, scale and variety of jobs available. We also look at the impact of COVID-19 on education, as well as how you can get a job in the industry.

The global education industry

Before we delve into some of the details related to education, let's first take a moment to define a proper definition and look at the size of the industry. This helps us get some context for more details later:

What is it?

The education industry is huge. That's not a surprise given the central role it plays in our lives. From preschools to universities, there is a wide range of institutions and organizations that are directly involved in learning. Plus, there are government and political functions, e-learning organizations (like ours!), tech companies, and more.

Unsurprisingly, and as we will see, the roles in some of these sectors are also varied. Although teachers play a central role, they are far from the only profession. Support, administration, development, politics, finance and other areas are also vital to the education sector.

Because it is extensive and varied, there are several routes for the different sectors. Furthermore, as the industry and technology develop, so do the opportunities for all types of professionals.

How big is the industry?

The education industry plays an important role in the British and global economy. The most recent figures from the UK show that theireducation exports abroad worth almost £20 billion. Much of this comes from higher education for international students, as well as English language training abroad.

On a global scale, estimates suggest that the totaleducation spending by governments and individuals could reach $10 trillionby 2030, up from the current $6.5 trillion. This growth would mean that it represents more than 6% of the Gross World Product.

If we look at a specific market, we can see that tthe world CuponlineThe education market is forecast to be worth $319.167 billion.by 2025, up from $187.877 billion in 2019. Studies suggest that increased internet availability, cloud computing, and investments are driving this rapid growth.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the education sector?

The coronavirus pandemic has affected education systems around the world. From preschool to higher education, there were closures and students studying from home. According to numbers ofUNESCO, as of the end of March 2020, the education of nearly 1.6 billion students around the world was affected by the pandemic.

And more, according toUNICEF, a third of the world's school-age children (around 463 million students) were unable to access remote learning when their schools were closed.

The effects of these issues, along with others, are definitely being felt in the near term. However, according to an OECD report, theimpact of COVID-19 on educationit will also have some significant long-term consequences, including:

• Immediate relief from the government. Governments around the world have implemented emergency financial measures to support education systems and students. Clearly, the economic disruptions of the lockdowns are felt in schools, colleges, and universities.
• Slower spending growth. The pandemic is forecast to lead to slower overall growth in public spending on education.
• Fewer international students. With travel bans, security concerns, and a reduced number of face-to-face classes, fewer students are likely to study abroad. Many higher education institutions rely on funding from these students, which can have ongoing impacts.
• A new teaching approach. With schools closing, teachers and other education professionals had to act quickly to ensure the continuity of student learning. The move towards digital and remote learning has been seen globally. However, as mentioned above, not everyone has equal access to this technology. Also, not all teachers are familiar with these methods.
• New learning environments. Schools face new challenges when it comes to reopening. Social distancing, attendance policies, and faculty and staff training are necessary in the current climate.

What types of jobs are there in the industry?

As you can no doubt imagine, there are all kinds of jobs related to education. Even within specific fields like teaching, there are all kinds of careers you can pursue. Options are available in many of the sectors associated with education, often in growing and developing professions.

However, with this variety of options, it can be difficult to identify the type of role that is right for you. race specialistsprospectshas a list of some of the jobs directly associated with teaching. Below, we've also highlighted some of the different areas you can choose from, as well as information on specific jobs:

teaching functions

These types of jobs are often the most practical types of roles. They require you to have direct contact with students, often planning materials and learning plans:

• Teacher.become a teacherusually means working at an elementary or secondary school. You may work with a variety of age groups in different settings and may specialize in a particular subject. It can be a varied and rewarding career.
• speaker. Professors work at universities and other higher education institutions. Typically, you'll be working toward a master's or doctoral degree and will publish scholarly articles. Your area of ​​expertise will generally be much more refined than teaching.
• private tutor. In this role, you will provide additional education to students. You do not need to be a qualified teacher to become a tutor, but you do need to have a high level of knowledge and experience in the field you are teaching.teach english onlineit's a popular choice right now.

educational support papers

These roles often support the work of other education professionals, as well as the students themselves. They're not as hands-on as the teacher roles, but sometimes have some level of direct interaction:

• Educational psychologist.Professionals in this job work with parents, teachers, doctors, and students tohelp young people who are struggling with learning disabilities. This could be in areas like emotional and social problems or learning difficulties.

• Pedagogical laboratory technician.This role can be quite varied and requires you to support science teachers and speakers at schools, universities and other institutions. Specific technical support is also often a crucial part of this role.

• Librarian.As an academic librarian, you will spend your time helping students find learning materials and information, as well as helping them develop their research skills. In addition, he will be responsible for managing the database and will oversee the management of books, journals, and other resources.

technology functions

The edtech industry is growing rapidly right now. As such, there is a wide range of jobs available. Some focus more on developing educational materials, while others focus on more technical aspects:

• learning technologist. Learning technologists work to manage, research, and develop learning technologies. This includes things like social media,virtual and online learning. They can also help students use these tools.
• educational software developer. This role is focused on creating applications and other software that facilitate the learning process. It is usually a very technical role, more focused on programming than educational aspects.
• course designer. For those interested in developing curricula and teaching/learning materials, this is the position for you. You will spend time developing, designing and redesigning courses and creating manuals and teaching guides.

What skills do I need to enter the industry?

So if one of the above roles or industries sounds interesting, you may be wondering what types of skills are valued. Well, in the education industry, a mix of hard and soft skills is often required.

Hard skills are often very job dependent. For example, if you want to be a science teacher, you may need a related degree. There is also a difference between the level of education you want to aim for and how practical you want to be.

For soft skills, things are usually a bit more flexible. However, there are certain qualities and attributes that can help significantly if you want to work in the education sector:

interpersonal skills

There are the interpersonal skills that can often determine how well you work as an individual and with others. Sometimes they are harder to quantify, but they are no less essential than technical skills:

• Communication. Whether you're working directly with students or with other professionals, the ability tocommunicate effectivelyIt is essential in the education industry. You must be able to convey ideas in an understandable and accessible way.
• creativity. Education often consists of findingcreative ways to solve problems. Whether it's thinking outside the box to teach a specific point or creating a new educational app, creativity helps.
• emotional intelligence.emotional intelligence helps you understand, manage and use your emotions, as well as recognize them in others. It is an essential skill for education, since it is closely linked to empathy.
• Adaptability. The education industry is often a dynamic and changing environment. Professionals working in this sector need to be able to adapt to these changes and face challenges with serenity.

How to compare salaries?

If you're considering a salary in the healthcare industry, you probably want to know how much certain jobs can pay. Again, this often varies significantly between functions and industries. However, to give you an idea of ​​this range, we look at some salaries in the education sector. We also look at how they compare to other areas.

Wages across the industry

Below, we've highlighted the average annual salary for a selection of roles. The data is taken frompay scale:

• teaching laboratory technician. £18,750
• elementary school teacher. £ 26.532
• librarian. £ 22.864
• high school teacher. £ 29.587
• e-learning specialist. £ 29.859
• educational psychologist. £ 43.779

compared salaries

According to some peoplesalary comparison tools, the median salary for healthcare jobs is £42,500, based on a sample of 1,046. However, this varies greatly depending on the region you are in. Some data suggests that teaching jobs in London pay up to £5,000 a year more.

There is also a significant difference depending on your level of experience. In accordance withprospect data, a newly qualified master ranges from £24,373 to £30,480. For a director in England and Wales (excluding London), this ranges from £46,457 to £114,060.

Why choose a career in education?

There are many reasons why you might decide that education is the right industry for you, no matter what specific role you choose. Some of the reasons why a career in this industry can be rewarding include:

• You start helping others.. Education has to do with promoting the development of future generations. It can be a rewarding field to work in, whether you're in a hands-on role or not.
• You can explore your passion.. For someone who loves a particular area or topic, getting involved in education in that niche can make her job a joy.
• There is a clear race. Teaching, in particular, offers a very stable career path, with plenty of room forcontinuing professional development. Other roles are also progressing and the industry as a whole is growing and evolving.
• Provides job security. Despite the difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, education is a fundamental and necessary industry. With this, there is a lot of job security, in addition to the demand for qualified professionals.
• Do you have possibilities to travel?. The education industry has many commonalities around the world. As such, there are often opportunities for qualified professionals to work abroad.

How to get started in education

If all this information about the education industry has caught your attention, you may be wondering how you can start a career in this field. Fortunately, there are several routes available. However, the exact requirements are dictated by the roles and types of professions you wish to pursue.

We have outlined some of the ways you can start your career in the education sector:

• Education. If you want to move into teaching or a more administrative or support role, education can play a central role. To become a teacher, you must first qualify as one, which usually requires a relevant degree. However, you can start your journey with aprimaryohigh school courseto see if the field is right for you.
• Training. Some roles in the education industry can be achieved through relevant training. Internships, apprenticeships, and other similar courses can help you learn and gain experience in your chosen field.
• Experience. For some roles, you can start as an assistant and progress as you gain experience and work-based learning.
• red. You will often find that more and more of your professional network can improve your chances of landing relevant work. You can check our guide athow to networkfor more information on making new connections.

final thoughts

The education industry is vast, varied and vital. Despite recent challenges, progress continues and there are always opportunities for skilled and passionate professionals. Whether you like the idea of ​​teaching or prefer a more technical or support role, there are many career options available. With the right knowledge, skills and motivation, you can start on the path to a job related to education.