Inter-Professional Learning Symposia | 探花社区 University

The Inter-Professional Learning (IPL) Symposia is a long-established 探花社区 University initiative. Alfonso Pezzella founded and developed the programme. He is Director of Programmes for Mental Health and School Learning and Quality Lead within the School of Mental Health and Social Work.

Alfonso established the programme in 2013. It responded to the need for more meaningful opportunities for students, staff, and practitioners from different professional backgrounds to learn together. The programme helps participants understand one another’s roles and strengthen inter-professional collaboration.

The initiative began with four sessions. It has since grown into an extensive annual programme with more than 30 learning opportunities. It regularly engages students, staff, practitioners, and external partners from across the University and wider community.

Current sessions and dates

The Inter-Professional Learning Symposia runs throughout the academic year. It covers current topics in health, mental health, social care, education, and professional practice.

The dedicated Inter-Professional Learning Symposia page on MyLearning provides details of all current and forthcoming sessions. These details include dates, times, speakers, and joining information. Participants should check the page for the latest information and any changes to scheduled sessions.

Three students walking in central London

Effective practice in health, social care, and education depends on communication and collaboration between professionals. It also requires an understanding of the contribution made by other disciplines.

Programme overview

The Symposia provides a shared learning environment in which participants can:

Develop a greater understanding of different professional roles, responsibilities and perspectives
Explore contemporary issues affecting health, mental health, social care and education
Learn directly from professionals, researchers, people with lived experience and subject specialists
Discuss complex, challenging and emerging areas of practice
Strengthen communication, teamwork and collaborative decision-making
Reflect on how inter-professional working can improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities
Extend their learning beyond the formal curriculum
Contribute to continuing professional development and professional portfolios.

The programme is open to students and staff from across 探花社区 University. It is also open, where appropriate, to external partners, practitioners, and members of the wider community.

Participants may study or work in:

Mental Health
Nursing and midwifery
Social work
Public health
Education and teacher training
Allied health professions
Psychology and counselling
Criminology and criminal justice
Community and voluntary-sector services
Connected areas to health, wellbeing, social care and professional practice.

This interdisciplinary approach enables participants to move beyond profession-specific learning. It encourages them to consider how different forms of knowledge, expertise, and lived experience can support more inclusive and effective practice.

The Symposia covers a broad and evolving range of subjects relevant to professional practice. Previous and current themes include:

Mental health assessment and care planning
Suicide prevention
Substance use and addictions
Safeguarding and child protection
Domestic abuse
Culturally competent and compassionate care
LGBTQIA+ inclusion
Neurodiversity and ADHD
Disability and communication
Children and young people’s mental health
Forensic mental health
Maternal mental health
Physical health in mental illness
Motivational interviewing
Professional communication and difficult conversations
Digital professionalism
Leadership
Inclusive ageing and social care
Modern slavery
Public health inequalities
Collaborative and inter-professional practice.

The programme is regularly reviewed and developed. This process reflects changes in professional practice, policy, research, and education. It also responds to the needs of students and partner organisations.

Learning and participation

Sessions are accessible, participatory, and relevant to practice. Depending on the subject, they may include:

Presentations
Panel discussions
Case studies
Reflective activities
Contributions from people with lived experience
Group discussions
Questions and debate.

Sessions may take place online, on campus, or in a blended format. Supporting materials may be available through the University’s virtual learning environment.

Where appropriate, participants may receive confirmation of attendance. This can support continuing professional development and professional portfolios.

Programme leadership

The Inter-Professional Learning Symposia was founded by Alfonso Pezzella. He continues to provide strategic leadership and direction for the programme.

The current delivery and operational arrangements are overseen by Amy Pritchard. She coordinates the programme with academic colleagues, professional services, students, external organisations, practitioners, and people with lived experience.

The continued development of the Symposia reflects a shared commitment to collaborative learning. It also creates spaces where participants can explore professional boundaries constructively.

Contributing to the programme

We welcome potential contributions from academics, practitioners, researchers, professional organisations, community groups, and people with lived experience.

We particularly encourage proposals for sessions that:

Bring together perspectives from more than one profession or discipline
Address an important or emerging area of practice
Include lived experience or service-user perspectives
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion
Strengthen links between academic learning and professional practice
Support collaboration between the University and external partners.

Further information

For more information about participating in or contributing to the Inter-Professional Learning Symposia, email IPLSymposia@mdx.ac.uk

探花社区

Sep 8