From Participation to Partnership: Rethinking Student Engagement in Interprofessional Education
19 October 2026
UTC 14:00; London 15:00; Paris 16:00; Doha 17:00; New York 10:00; Chicago 9:00
Presenters:
Esraa Lotfy Afifi, Abdulla Al-Emadi, Faissal Al Zeir, Rama Tabashas, Mubarak Al-Maadid – Qatar University
Moderator:
Dr. Alla El-Awaisi – ANIC; Qatar University
Description:
Meaningful interprofessional education requires more than bringing students from different health professions together. It requires creating an environment where students actively contribute, collaborate, lead, and learn from one another. Drawing on experiences from interprofessional education initiatives in Qatar, this session will explore practical approaches to transforming students from participants into active partners in IPE. Through examples including structured debates, healthcare challenges, student task forces, peer facilitation, community engagement, and diverse learning modalities, the session will invite participants to exchange experiences and consider how meaningful and sustainable student engagement can be strengthened across different educational contexts.
Abstract:
Interprofessional education (IPE) is increasingly recognized as an important foundation for preparing future healthcare professionals to collaborate effectively. However, simply bringing students from different professions together does not necessarily result in meaningful engagement. The challenge is to create learning environments in which students actively learn with, from, and about one another, understand the contributions of different professions, and develop a sense of shared responsibility for collaborative practice.
Drawing on experiences from interprofessional education student association (IPE-SA) in Qatar, this session explores practical approaches for moving students from participation to partnership in IPE. The presentation will highlight how health care team challenges, structured interprofessional debates, student task forces, leadership opportunities and community-focused activities can create more active and meaningful forms of engagement. It will also consider the importance of moving beyond isolated activities toward longitudinal engagement, ensuring that every profession has a meaningful role, using diverse learning modalities, and supporting students in developing both their professional and interprofessional identities. A central focus will be the evolving role of students themselves. Rather than positioning students solely as recipients of IPE, the session considers how they can become co-creators, peer facilitators, leaders, and contributors to a sustainable culture of interprofessional learning.
The presentation will provide a foundation for an interactive Global Café discussion around a key question: What enables students to move from simply attending IPE activities to genuinely owning and sustaining interprofessional collaboration? Participants will be invited to share experiences from their own settings, discuss barriers, and explore how these approaches might be adapted across different institutional, cultural, and healthcare contexts.
Authors:
Esraa Afifi is a Senior Pharmacy Student (Honors Program) at Qatar University with a strong interest in interprofessional collaboration, leadership, and healthcare education. She currently serves as Vice President of the Interprofessional Education Student Association (IPE-SA), contributing to initiatives that bring together students from diverse healthcare disciplines. She also served as a Youth Ambassador for Earthna in 2025 and has been a certified debate adjudicator with Qatar Debate Center since 2021. Her extensive debating and adjudication experience has shaped her ability to examine issues from multiple perspectives, strengthening her approach to interprofessional education, teamwork, critical thinking, and collaborative decision-making.
Abdulla Al-Emadi is a final year medical student at the College of Medicine, Qatar University. He serves as the President of the Interprofessional Education Student Association, where he promotes collaboration among healthcare disciplines and advocates for the interprofessional education (IPE) concept. Abdulla is passionate about developing leadership skills and contributing to student-led and community initiatives within the medical field.
Faissal Al Zeir is a final year medical student at Qatar University with a strong interest in interprofessional education, research, and ethical healthcare practice. As Vice President of the Interprofessional Education Student Association, he has helped organize numerous conferences, forums, outreach activities, and educational programs that promote collaboration among health professions. He is actively involved in research, with several publications, manuscripts, and conference presentations across multiple medical specialties. Alongside his studies, Faissal works as a Research Ethics Specialist at Qatar University, supporting ethics review processes, guiding investigators, managing research documentation, and contributing to initiatives that strengthen responsible, efficient, and high-quality research.
Rama Tabashas is a fourth-year dental student with a strong interest in leadership, research, and community engagement. For the past four years, she has served as Head of Events and Logistics for the Interprofessional Education Student Association (IPE), organizing numerous events and contributing to initiatives such as the Student–Senior Facilitating Program. She was awarded Best Executive Member for her leadership and contributions to IPE. Her research interests include dentistry and interprofessional education, alongside a passion for health promotion and outreach. Rama also served for two years as her batch representative in the Qatar Dental Student Association (QDSA) and is a member of the Qatar Diabetes Association Volunteer Board.
Mubarak Al-Maadid is a final year medical student at the College of Medicine, Qatar University, and serves as Treasurer of the Interprofessional Education Student Association (IPESA). Through his role, he contributes to the organization of student-led initiatives that promote interprofessional collaboration and teamwork across healthcare disciplines. Mubarak is passionate about leadership, healthcare, and professional development, and is committed to creating meaningful opportunities that enhance student engagement and contribute to the wider healthcare community.
Corresponding Author: Esraa Lotfy Afifi
Email: hamoshaey@gmail.com