In Japan, a variety of interprofessional education programmes exist. However, due to different curricula across universities, little collaboration exists between universities. Tokyo Metropolitan University has undertaken international exchange programmes with three universities in the UK, sending in total 48 students.

   Hierarchy of Interprofessional Education based International Exchange

Aims and Methods: The aim was twofold: widen students’ perspective on IPE and to develop the understanding of how IPE could be delivered. The evaluation was undertaken using a questionnaire, investigating the characteristics across the participating universities.

Conclusions: The international exchange leveraged both expected and unexpected outcomes. Besides the range of reflective skills students gained, their ability to contribute to the design of IPE in Japan was an added advantage.

The common effect among all students were (1) 98% of students engaged actively in self-reflection and realized own strengths and weaknesses, (2) 80% recognized the cultural difference between Japan and the UK; (3) 85% became aware of the international difference within professional training. The most difficult issue for students was verbal communication; however, the severity depended on each student's English ability. Students recognized the difference between delivery of IPE in the UK and Japan, with an ability to recognize the shortcomings currently existing in Japan.

Nobuo Ohshima : Tokyo Metropolitan University

Susan E. Strong : St George’s University of London

Pamela Jackson : University of Southampton

Edger Meyer : University of Southampton

Richard Pitt : University of Nottingham

I would like to say "Thank you very much" for all my colleagues and students. Especially, Susan,Pamaela,Edger and Richard, I apperecitae your friend-ship to Tokyo Metropolitan University.

１）Kazuo Endoh,Akira Magara,Yoichi Nagai,Nobuo Ohshima,etc:Development and Practice of Interprofessional Education in Japan,Tokyo, 2011.

２）Nobuo Ohshima, Kaoru Inoue, Chihiro Sasaki, Hiroyuki Fujii, Masanobu Kinoshita, Masahiro Shigeta: A study of effectiveness on Web-Based Resource Learning with Inter-professional Education(IPE) at university in health care and welfare, an International Association for Medical Education in Europe Conference 2008; AMEE 2008 Final Abstract Book: 130, 2008.

３）Satoko Ishikawa, Yoshihiro Ehara, Yoshihiro Abe, Shiro Iijima, Noriko Fukushima, Shizuko Kobayashi, Nobuo Ohshima, Masanobu Kinoshita, Miwako Matsutani, Osamu Fukushima: Collaboration workshop for students learning medical care: Trial of interprofessional education in Japan, All Together Better Health IV Conference; ATBH Final Programme and Abstract Book: 212, 2008.

４）Nobuo Ohshima, Masanobu Kinoshita, Tetsuko Iizuka, Takumi Yamada, Atsushi Senoo, Kaoru Inoue, Atusko Tanimura, Yuko Ito, Masahiro Shigeta, Satoko Ishikawa, Yoshihiro Ehara, Shizuko Kobayashi, Osamu Fukushima:A survey on the recognition and the potential for development of interprofessional education (IPE) at universities in the areas of health care and welfare in Japan, All Together Better Health IV Conference; ATBH Final Programme and Abstract Book: 54, 2008.