CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Strengthening midwifery education and workforce sustainability through eportfolio innovation: The METIS project
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1
Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
2
Network Health and Care, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, Ghent, Belgium
Publication date: 2025-10-24
Eur J Midwifery 2025;9(Supplement 1):A19
ABSTRACT
Midwifery education and workforce development are pressing priorities across the European Union, particularly in response to shifting maternal health needs and
growing healthcare workforce shortages. These shortages are exacerbated by
factors such as newly trained midwives not entering practice, an aging workforce,
and challenging working conditions that contribute to burnout and early career
attrition. The resulting instability in the midwifery profession poses risks to the quality
of maternal and neonatal care. The METIS project (2025–2028) aims to address these challenges by designing and
implementing innovative Eportfolio-based interventions tailored to midwifery students,
newly qualified midwives, mentors, and employers. By fostering reflective practice,
professional identity development, and supportive career transitions, METIS seeks to
enhance retention and resilience within the midwifery workforce. Led by a multidisciplinary consortium—including one human resource management
program, three midwifery education programs, four companies, and two associated
partners such as the European Midwifery Association (EMA)—METIS will develop
and test scalable solutions over the next three years. This presentation will outline
the project’s planned activities and invite interested stakeholders to join the growing
METIS-Network, contributing to a stronger, more sustainable future for midwifery in
Europe.