Inter Professional Learning Symposia

About the programme

The Inter-Professional Learning (IPL) Symposia is a long-established Middlesex University initiative founded and developed by Alfonso Pezzella, 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 in response to the need for more meaningful opportunities for students, staff and practitioners from different professional backgrounds to learn together, understand one another’s roles and strengthen inter-professional collaboration.

Beginning as a small programme of four sessions, the initiative has grown into an extensive annual programme offering more than 30 learning opportunities and regularly engaging 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 and covers a wide range of contemporary topics across health, mental health, social care, education and professional practice.

Details of all current and forthcoming sessions, including dates, times, speakers and joining information, are available on the dedicated Inter-Professional Learning Symposia page on MyLearning, participants are encouraged to check the page for the latest information and any changes to scheduled sessions.

View the full programme

Three students walking in central London

Effective health, social care and education practice depends on professionals being able to communicate, collaborate and understand the contribution of other disciplines.

Programme information

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 Middlesex University, as well as external partners, practitioners and members of the wider community where appropriate. Participants may include those studying or working within:

  • 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 creates opportunities for participants to move beyond profession-specific learning and consider how different forms of knowledge, expertise and lived experience can contribute to more inclusive and effective practice.

The Symposia addresses a broad and evolving range of subjects relevant to professional practice. Previous and current themes have included:

  • 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 to reflect changes in professional practice, policy, research, education and the needs of students and partner organisations.

Learning and participation

Learning and participation

Sessions are designed to be accessible, participatory and relevant to practice. Depending on the subject, sessions may include presentations, panel discussions, case studies, reflective activities, lived-experience contributions, group discussions and opportunities for questions and debate. Sessions may be delivered online, on campus or through a blended format. Supporting materials may also be made available through the University’s virtual learning environment. Where appropriate, participants may receive confirmation of attendance to support continuing professional development and professional portfolios.

Leadership

Programme leadership

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

The current delivery and operational arrangements are overseen by Amy Pritchard, who coordinates the running of the programme in collaboration 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 and to creating spaces where professional boundaries can be explored constructively.

Contributing to the programme

Contributing to the programme

Academics, practitioners, researchers, professional organisations, community groups and people with lived experience are welcomed as potential contributors.

Proposals are particularly encouraged where sessions:

  • 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 further information about the Inter-Professional Learning Symposia, including participation or contributing to the programme, please contact: IPLSymposia@mdx.ac.uk