What is Interprofessional Education (IPE)?
Interprofessional Education (IPE) is a transformative and well-established approach to collaborative learning in healthcare and social services. As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2010), IPE involves students from two or more professions learning about, from, and with each other. This approach enables students to gain a holistic understanding of teamwork, allowing them to appreciate the diverse roles, knowledge, and skills each professional brings to the table.
The primary aim of IPE is not just academic learning, but the preparation of future professionals to collaborate effectively in real-world settings. IPE fosters the development of essential communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills by placing students in multidisciplinary teams, where they engage in shared learning experiences across various fields such as nursing, social work, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, early childhood education, respiratory therapy, and community justice services. These collaborative experiences mirror the professional environments that students will encounter in their careers, where working together across disciplines is critical for improving health, wellbeing, and social outcomes for individuals and communities.
By promoting teamwork across professional boundaries, IPE helps overcome the traditional compartmentalization of academic disciplines in post-secondary education. It offers an alternative model, where students integrate their knowledge and skills, gaining not only technical expertise but also the ability to work collaboratively in diverse, complex settings. This unity enhances the quality of services provided, fosters better healthcare delivery, and contributes to addressing pressing social issues.
Ultimately, IPE prepares students to meet the challenges of an interconnected world by fostering professional unity and strengthening collaboration to better serve and support communities.
Why Attend the UPLIFT 2025 – Uniting Professionals in Learning and Interprofessional Frameworks for Tomorrow?
The UPLIFT 2025 – Uniting Professionals in Learning and Interprofessional offers a unique opportunity for educators, students, community partners, and professionals to engage in transformative conversations about the future of Interprofessional Education. Whether you're a faculty/staff member from an academic institution, a student, a recruiter, or an existing/potential community partner, this conference is designed to provide valuable insights, foster collaboration, and inspire action in the ever-evolving landscape of IPE.4
Here’s why you should attend:
Gain direct access to some of the most influential voices in IPE. Learn from experts in the field, hear about the latest research, and explore innovative strategies for overcoming challenges in IPE programs.
Join an interprofessional audience from a diverse range of academic institutions and fields. This conference brings together professionals from healthcare, social services, education, and more, allowing you to share experiences, best practices, and strategies for fostering effective collaboration.
Be part of critical conversations about the future of IPE. Help identify the key opportunities, challenges, and strategies for advancing interprofessional education in Canada and beyond. Your input will play a role in shaping the direction of IPE programs moving forward.
Explore opportunities to build and strengthen partnerships between academic institutions and community organizations. Learn how to collaborate more effectively with community partners to enhance IPE outcomes and address real-world challenges.
Stay up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and practices in IPE. Attend sessions that focus on emerging issues such as equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), cultural safety, accessibility, and the impact of COVID-19 on education.
Meet and network with fellow educators, students, researchers, and professionals from across Canada and beyond. Build connections that can help further your career, research, or professional practice.
This conference is an inspiring space for learning, sharing ideas, and innovating together. Take away fresh perspectives, actionable strategies, and a renewed commitment to advancing IPE in your own practice or institution.
Whether you're looking to deepen your knowledge, collaborate with others, or contribute to the next phase of IPE development, this conference provides the tools, resources, and connections you need to make a lasting impact. While IPE has gained wide acceptance in post-secondary institutions across Canada and beyond, recent challenges have raised questions about its long-term sustainability. Some IPE programs have struggled or ceased to operate, while others remain strong and continue to grow.