Dear colleagues and friends,
　　On behalf of the Steering Committee and of all of those who have been involved in its preparation, I am pleased to invite you to the VIIIth International Conference on Systems Sciences in Health-Social Services for the Elderly and the Disabled. SYSTED11 will focus on 'Systems Sciences in Health-Social Services in a Global Context: International Perspectives and Lessons in Creating Inclusive Communities for All in the 21st Century'.
     Global perspectives and Inclusive Communities are two key-words in the management of health-social services policies and practices concerning persons in all nations. Pluralistic societies in which all, regardless of health status, age or capacity, can fulfill a valuable role in the community, is a goal across the world. Creating and sustaining inclusive communities has been a major concern in many countries in recent years. It is time now to review and share the accomplishments of various policies and programs around the globe, as well as to discuss the applicability of successful developments to other societies in the 21st century. In addition to systemic changes, there has also been an increasing focus over the past ten years on the willingness of people to become more involved in the choices which concern their life. Thus, issues related to empowerment of individuals in the development, implementation, and assessment of social policies and practices is a key component of success in the 21st century.
     This is a brief outline of the issues the Conference will give us the opportunity to discuss and deliberate. I am confident that our exchanges will allow all of us to obtain a better understanding of the issues, each other’s social and cultural context, and will contribute to the enhancement of our professional and research skills. In turn, we will better equipped to work towards improvements in health and social policies and practice for all the people around the world. We look forward to your participation in and contribution to this endeavor.

                                                 Tokie Anme, PhD
                                                 8th SYSTED President
                                                 Steering Commitee of SYSTED
                                                 Professer of University of Tsukuba, Japan