On January 1, 2015, our Center was established under the leadership of its founding director, Dr. Ikuko Sakai, as a pioneering hub for education, research, and practice—unlike any other in Japan. During our first phase, we focused on enriching the “Inohana IPE (Interprofessional Education)” program centered at Chiba University’s Inohana Campus. We have dedicated ourselves to contributing to the advancement of health, medical, and welfare services, as well as higher education in Japan by widely disseminating the insights gained through this initiative.

However, our efforts are not confined to the fields of health and social care, nor are they limited to Japan. In 2022, we were honored to be selected for the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s “Inter-University Exchange Project” as the GRIP Program—Global & Regional Interprofessional Education Plus. Through GRIP, we are committed to realizing Sustainable Development Goal 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” This program aims to foster globally minded professionals who, whether in their own countries or abroad, can collaboratively tackle complex health-related social issues across disciplines and regions, and lead organizational efforts toward sustainable solutions.

Today, organizations around the world are increasingly embracing environments where every member’s rights are respected without discrimination, individuality is valued, and all can belong and thrive. Efforts grounded in DEIB—Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging—are rapidly advancing across sectors. In alignment with this movement, Chiba University established its own DEIB Promotion Declaration and Policy (C-DEIB) in 2024.

In our second phase, we position interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) as essential methodologies not only in health and social care, but also for realizing DEIB across borders—between disciplines, institutions, regions, and countries. Staying true to our roots in “Inohana IPE,” we will continue to move forward, striving to implement these approaches more widely in society.

Director of the IPERC
SUWA Sayuri