Manipal: Dr Ciraj A.M., Professor of Microbiology at Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal, MAHE represented IndIPEN, the Indian Interprofessional Education Network at the World Coordinating Council (WCC) of interprofessional education and practice held at Auckland, New Zealand last week.

This is the first time that an Indian network was represented at the World Council, which has members of interprofessional networks from regions across the globe including, Centre for Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE-UK), Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC), Australasian Interprofessional Practice and Education Network (AIPPEN)and American Interprofessional Health Collaborative (AIHC).

Dr Ciraj was also nominated as the lead of the WCC working group on interprofessional development that oversees the training and development activities coordinated by the World Council.

Interprofessional education is a necessary step in preparing a “collaborative practice-ready” workforce capable of responding to the local health needs. The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners recognize interprofessional collaboration in education and practice as an approach towards enhancing health outcomes and mitigation of global health workforce crisis.

Dr Ciraj, an executive member of the Academy of Health Professions Educators (AHPE-India), is also the Course Director of MAHE-FAIMER International Institute for Leadership in Interprofessional Education (M-FIILIPE). The institute offers a two-year fellowship programme for academics from higher education which emphasizes the development of leadership competencies for interprofessional practice.

The details of this programme offered in collaboration with Federation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), Philadelphia, United States of America, is available at http://mu.faimerfri.org/mufiilipe.