THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. To explore the challenges in recruiting midwives into midwifery education at an international level. 2. To facilitate open debate and generate ideas as to how these challenges may be addressed, specifically in the participants’ own workplace. 3. To consider opportunities and aspirations that the RPC Europe could translate into a realistic strategy to support building a competent midwifery education workforce across the region.

THE PROCESS/ACTIVITIES:
Education by a competent midwifery workforce is essential to the provision of safe, quality maternity and newborn services. With a critical shortage of around one million midwives worldwide, there is also a growing concern of an increasing lack of proficient midwife educators to prepare subsequent generations of midwives for their role (UNFPA/ICM/WHO, 2021) The workshop will begin with an introduction to the International Confederation of Midwives (2023) Position Statement regarding the Qualifications and Competencies of Midwife Educators (that embraces the WHO [2013] Midwifery Educator Core Competencies), to set the challenges in context and how it aligns with the ICM (2021) Professional Framework for Midwifery.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
The participants will engage in small group discussions (5-6 / group) facilitated by the presenters, supported by members from the RPC (Europe), to share their ideas, best practices, and top tips in building a globally competent midwifery education workforce. Data collected will be used by the RPC to inform a strategy to guide faculties in preparing the next generation of midwife educators to further strengthen the midwifery profession. Additional reading International Confederation of Midwives. Position Statement: Qualifications and Competencies of Midwife Educators. International Confederation of Midwives; 2023. International Confederation of Midwives. Professional Framework for Midwifery. International Confederation of Midwives; 2021. United Nations Population Fund, International Confederation of Midwives, World Health Organization. State of the World’s Midwifery. United Nations Population Fund; 2021. World Health Organization. Midwifery Educator Core Competencies. World Health Organization; 2013.