By Peter Wozniak

Gordon Brown has added teaching to his growing list of extra-political interests, becoming a visiting fellow at Harvard University's institute of politics.

The ex-prime minister is visiting the university for this week, engaging in the traditional role of visiting fellow, meeting students, taking part in seminars, and leading discussion groups.

John Culver, the interim director at the institute, sang Mr Brown's praises, saying: "We are confident our students, faculty and university community will enjoy engaging with Gordon Brown, a prominent international leader with experience at the highest levels of government and public service."

Mr Brown will give a lecture on international political economy to Harvard students later today.

The former prime minister, defeated in May at the general election, has generally kept a very low profile since leaving office, and has made no comment whatsoever on the Labour leadership contest now reaching its climax, even following the contentious release of Tony Blair's memoirs.

When he has appeared in public it has been to discuss aid, access to education and international development, in which he is taking unpaid advisory and board-level roles in various organisations, rather than being drawn on any discussion of British domestic politics.

This stands in contrast to Mr Blair's pursuit of a highly lucrative career in public speaking and directorships since 2007.

It is unclear at this point whether his newfound teaching commitments will allow Mr Brown to attend the Labour conference in time for the announcement of his successor on Saturday.

Some sources suggested the former PM was planning to appear on stage at the announcement of the new leader to 'pass the baton' - a symbolic move he considered important given what had been written about him in the Blair memoir.

Pundits are expecting an extremely tight race between Ed and David Miliband.