Interprofessional education in Europe: Policy and practice

Interprofessional education (IPE) is acknowledged as a need in higher
education based on societal demands. The impact of interprofessional
collaboration on the quality of care and on the quality of human health
is substantial. A continuous effort is needed to underpin interprofessional
learning and teaching with evidence and to support it with tools created
by research and development.

This book is written by scholars from various European countries, all
members of the European Interprofessional Practice & Education Network
(EIPEN). It contains two chapters on policy issues and six chapters
with concrete examples of programme reforms or successful interprofessional
courses in health and social care. The examples of good practice
show elements which have to be taken into account when developing
and implementing interprofessional courses, course units, or study programmes.

This book may contribute to the development of IPE in higher education
institutions where IPE is not yet deployed, but also in institutions where
IPE is present but not fully developed. It may encourage other people,
professionals as well as academics and policymakers, to engage themselves
in fostering the further development of this domain.

Andre Vyt (Artevelde University College and University of Ghent, Belgium),
Majda Pahor (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia), and Tiina Tervaskanto-
Maentausta (Oulu University of Applied Sciences and University
or Oulu, Finland) are Executive Office Members of the European
Interprofessional Practice & Education Network (EIPEN). They have
chaired and hosted European Conferences on IPE.