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A collaborative partnership

Broadly, any partnership between a team of individuals in a participatory, collaborative and coordinated approach to shared decision-making around issues can be seen as��interdisciplinary. These partnerships recognize and value the expertise and perspectives of a variety of different disciplines.��It can include learning in health, social, academic, work, and community based settings, and is inclusive of all the participants in the continuum between education and practice.

At Camosun, an interdisciplinary focus is being actively developed at the course, program and college level. With collaboration and teamwork, students and faculty are bringing interdisciplinary elements into their coursework, initiatives, projects, practicum opportunities, events, and workplace practice.

Interdisciplinary education (IDE) is highlighted in a number of the Education division strategies and actions to support the college’s��Strategic Plan, including:

• "Embrace and promote the importance of interdisciplinary education as a process to integrate theory, practice, and services through inclusive, respectful, collaborative and holistic approaches to education."
• "Create and activate physical and virtual learning spaces that foster inter-disciplinarity, accommodate multiple perspectives and methodologies, and focus on strengthening connections across campus, disciplines and with the community."

HHS Community Partnerships��

Learning outcomes

Common interdisciplinary educational learning outcomes include:

• Accurately describing (own) professional role, responsibilities, and scope of practice, (as well as that of others).
• Being able to identify behaviours that demonstrate respect, communication, and team building ability with other disciplines.
• Demonstrating collaboration with others to establish common person-centred goals, through shared decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution.
• Being able to contribute to team effectiveness by sharing information, listening attentively, respecting other opinions, demonstrating flexibility, using a common language, proving feedback to others, and responding to feedback from others.

Benefits of interdisciplinary education

Effective interdisciplinary��education��will:

• ensure client-centred approaches
• enhance team work, collaboration, communication, and problem solving skills
• reduce service duplication and minimize unnecessary interventions
• reduce health care costs
• enhance client and health outcomes
• improve retention and recruitment of health providers
• enhance clinical effectiveness
• provide integrated, seamless care that is perceived as effective by the client in a range of settings

Benefits for students

Through interdisciplinary education opportunities,��students��will:

• learn new knowledge and develop new abilities
• develop the interpersonal skills needed to work effectively with others
• gain experience working in team settings in which group members share common goals
• learn how to work with others to maximize the performance and output of the group

Key competencies of interdisciplinary education

Interdisciplinary education focuses on elements of collaboration such as respect, trust, shared decision making, and partnerships.��Key competencies include:

• Role clarification: Understanding one’s own role and the roles of others
• Person - Centred Approaches: Integrating and valuing as a partner, the input, and the engagement of others involved in the process
• Team functioning: Understanding the principles of team dynamics and group processes to enable effective team collaboration
• Collaborative Leadership: Understand and apply leadership principles that support a collaborative practice model
• Communication: Communicating with others in a collaborative, responsive and responsible manner; and
• Conflict Resolution: Actively engaging self and others by positively and constructively addressing conflict.