I have extensive teaching experience in political philosophy at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, and I work with students across philosophy, politics, and PPE. My teaching emphasises nurturing students’ enthusiasm for the subject and their self-directed learning. I link my teaching material to contemporary issues, and real-life examples, in order to keep students engaged, and to understand the full reach of the theoretical material under discussion. I always strive to teach a diverse curriculum.
I have undergone the requisite academic teaching training to merit the status of Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA), and am in the process of obtaining a full Fellowship (FHEA).
I also have extensive experience supervising undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations. I always strive to strike a balance between the students pursuing their interests, and finding ways to focus these so that they can become cohesive and achievable theses projects.
Student feedback (spring 2023):
Selected quotes:
‘Ane made the material really engaging. My lectures were at 5pm on a Monday and I would still be so interested in what she was teaching and the things she was saying. She has been my best seminar leader I’ve had – making the environment comfortable for everyone and no pressure to participate. She’d make sure everyone felt heard, respected. Ane is also clearly very knowledgable in her field. A real asset to teaching staff.’
‘Seminars were the most productive I’ve had of any module at Leeds – there’s always plenty of discussion and debate to be had, which helped me to develop my own ideas’
‘Ane’s seminars are always helpful and she is able to create an environment that is welcoming and comfortable which allows for successful and interesting conversations as everyone is able to get involved without the fear of being ‘wrong’. The materials used are interesting as not only is it based on a philosophical thinker but it’s always linked to a relevant topic in the world which opens up debate and opposing opinions. I enjoy the wide variety of different thinkers addressed across the module as it gives different perspectives.’
‘Ane’s seminars were extremely effective at solidifying my knowledge of various theories of political philosophy and her kind approach to teaching made it very welcoming to ask questions whenever I was stuck.‘
Modules taught:
Justice, Community & Conflict (Leeds, Spring 2023): This is a large 2nd year undergraduate course discussing analytic political theory and its relationship to real world political issues through focus on three key themes, i.e. justice, community, and conflict. I functioned as the module leader, as well as one of two lecturers. I also ran a number of seminar groups.
Political Theory in Action (Leeds, Autumn 2022): This is a compulsory module for students on the Social and Political Thought master’s programme with focus on theories of injustice, oppression, reparations and responsibility. I designed the module curriculum, and I was the module leader and sole teacher of this module.
Freedom, Power & Resistance (Leeds, Autumn 2022): This is a large scale compulsory 1st year module serving as an introduction to political theory, covering five key historical thinkers. I gave the lectures on Karl Marx, and ran a number of seminar groups.
Revolution and Reaction (Leeds, Autumn 2022): This is a large 2nd year undergraduate course discussing continental political theory with the focus on theories of revolution and democracy. The lectures were pre-recorded, and I ran a number of seminars.
Modern Political Thought I, lectures and seminars (MMU, Spring 2022): This module served as an introduction to political philosophy, covering Niccolò Machiavelli, as well as key contract theorists (i.e. Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau), and critiques of contract theory from the perspective of philosophy or race and gender (e.g. Charles Mills, and Carole Pateman). We discussed key questions in politics such as: why should I obey the state? What is political power, and how is it used? I designed the module curriculum, and I served as the module leader, and sole teacher of this module.
Modern Political Thought II, lectures and seminars (MMU, Spring 2022): Introduction to political philosophy, covering Karl Marx, Emma Goldman, Frantz Fanon, Catharine MacKinnon, Kimberlé Crenshaw, John Rawls, and Iris Marion Young. We discussed questions such as: What is injustice? Do we need the state? Is the personal political? How did the development of industrial societies transform the workings of political power? I designed the module curriculum, and I served as the module leader, and sole teacher of this module.
Political Theory Since 1918, seminars (MMU, Spring 2022): We read and discussed key texts by Hannah Arendt and Pierre Bourdieu. I served as one of two seminar leaders.
Society, State & Humanity, seminars (University of Sussex, Spring 2018): Introduction to political philosophy, from Aristotle, through Rousseau, Marx, Arendt, MacKinnon. We discussed how and why human beings come to form societies and political institutions, and who we include and exclude in these practices, touching on questions about culture and identity formation. I served as one of four seminar leaders.
Truth & Morality, seminars (University of Sussex, Autumn 2017): Introduction to moral philosophy. We discussed big questions in moral philosophy, touching on questions of identity and selfhood, such as ‘What is the moral significance of love?’ and ‘Should abortion be morally permissible?’. I served as one of two seminar leaders.
Ane Engelstad 