IPE

IPE is an acronym used in different fields to denote several concepts. The two most common meanings are Interprofessional Education, a pedagogical approach that brings together students from multiple health and social care professions to learn with, from, and about one another; and International Political Economy, an academic field that analyzes how political forces shape global economic policy and outcomes.

Interprofessional Education (IPE) aims to prepare a collaborative practice mindset and improve patient outcomes by fostering teamwork, communication, and mutual understanding among physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other professionals. IPE occurs in university curricula, clinical training sites, and continuing professional development programs and faces challenges such as coordinating schedules, aligning curricula, and securing institutional support.

International Political Economy (IPE) examines the interactions between states, markets, and institutions. It incorporates theories from economics and political science to study trade policy, financial crises, development, regulation, and global governance. Researchers use both quantitative and qualitative methods to assess how power, interests, and institutions influence policy choices and economic performance across countries.

Other uses exist: the acronym is also employed by various institutes, organizations, and programs around the world, sometimes as part of longer names. Because IPE is context-dependent, readers should rely on surrounding text to determine the intended meaning. In practice, the meaning of IPE is usually clear from the field, country, and specific subject matter being discussed.