Introduction to Teaching Philosophy Statements

Date & Time

Thursday, 13 November 2025 - 9:00am to Thursday, 13 November 2025 - 10:00am

Location

Online via Zoom

Organizer

Postdoctoral Fellows Office

 

A teaching philosophy statement (TPS) is a key part of most academic job applications and a valuable way to clarify your teaching values and approaches. In this webinar, you’ll gain a clear understanding of what a teaching philosophy statement is, why it matters, and how to begin writing one that reflects your experience and goals as an educator.

We’ll explore common components and purposes of a TPS, look at real examples from a range of disciplines, and identify strategies to get started, even if you have limited teaching experience. This session lays the groundwork for a follow-up workshop where you’ll begin drafting or refining your own statement.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain the purpose and common components of a teaching philosophy statement (TPS).
  2. Identify features in sample excerpts that make a TPS clear and effective.
  3. Recognize strategies for writing a meaningful TPS, even with limited formal teaching experience.
  4. Articulate at least one belief, value, or approach they might highlight in their own statement.
  5. Identify a realistic next step for developing or refining their TPS.

FACILITATOR

Dr. Isabeau Iqbal

Dr. Isabeau Iqbal

Dr. Isabeau Iqbal helps faculty and instructors advance their careers in higher education through practical, supportive guidance. With over 20 years of experience at UBC, she strengthens teaching practices through individual consultations and professional development programs.

As a Senior Educational Developer at the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology, Isabeau supports instructors in developing teaching dossiers and serves as a trusted reviewer for documentation used for applications and career progression.

In addition to her CTLT work, Isabeau is a Professional Certified Coach who maintains a private coaching practice in which she partners with faculty and staff to foster career wellbeing.

Based in Vancouver, Isabeau finds joy hiking along mountain trails, in song (even when it makes her nervous), and anywhere there’s fresh air and movement.

Registration

Registration in this session is required and is now open. Those successfully registered will receive a registration confirmation within one week of the session date.

NO-SHOW PENALTY: If you register and do not attend or cancel after 3pm on the day before the event, it may affect your eligibility to join future events. To avoid this no-show penalty, please cancel by at least 3pm the day before the event by e-mailing postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca.

Accessibility

If you have a disability or medical condition that may affect your full participation in the event, please email postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca in advance of the event.

This session will be held online via Zoom and live captions will be enabled during the session.

PDFO EVENT COMMUNITY AGREEMENT

The PDFO has created a community agreement for our events in order to foster an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment in which all event attendees feel safe and supported.

By participating in a PDFO event, we commit ourselves to:

  • Treating one another with kindness, courtesy and respect in all interactions;
  • Engaging in gracious, active listening and valuing others’ opinions;
  • Not dominating discussions so that others can share during the session;
  • Ensuring that any potentially confidential or sensitive information shared as part of the session is not shared outside of the session;
  • Actively participating in the session; and
  • In online sessions, when possible and if comfortable sharing audio and/or video to create a greater sense of community and participation.
  • If comfortable sharing audio and/or video to create a greater sense of community and participation.