HWG LU celebrates the 10th anniversary of the dual training-integrated degree program in midwifery and the successful launch of the dual practice-integrated degree program in midwifery science. Minister of Health Clemens Hoch: "Paradigm shift between vocational and academic training".
On Thursday, September 23, 2021, there were two reasons to celebrate at the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences (HWG LU): on the one hand, the tenth anniversary of the dual degree program in midwifery, which was the second training-integrated midwifery degree program to start successfully throughout Germany in 2011 and plays a pioneering role in the academization of the midwifery profession. On the other hand, the birth of the new dual practice-integrating degree program in midwifery science in the winter semester of 2021/2022, which takes into account the changed political and legal framework conditions resulting from the entry into force of the new Midwifery Act in 2019.
Clemens Hoch, Minister of Science and Health of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, delivered the state's greeting and praised the pioneering role Ludwigshafen had taken in the academization of the profession through the early establishment of the midwifery study program, as well as the conception of the new "Midwifery Science" study program. The results of the Accreditation Council clearly showed "what a well thought-out study concept is here," he said. "The academization of the health professions is one of the particularly great challenges in Germany. All the better that we have Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences on our side. We know that we can rely on their experience in teaching and practice-oriented research, and also on their established 'community', their strong alliance with practice partners in the state and in Baden-Württemberg. These are clinics that have many years of profound experience in midwifery education," the minister said.
In her keynote speech, Ulrike Geppert-Orthofer, chairwoman of the German Midwives Association, was also full of praise for the development of the young academic discipline of midwifery/midwifery science in Ludwigshafen: "As chairwoman of the Baden-Württemberg state association at the time, I observed the developments in Rhineland-Palatinate with great interest. As a university, you were there early on, and with both courses of study, you have an excellent offering ready at the university." You are on the right track!", said Ulrike Geppert-Orthofer. The academization of the profession was long overdue and an important step: "It strengthens the profession, the interdisciplinary exchange at eye level and is a way out of the educational cul-de-sac of the midwifery profession." As chairwoman of the German Midwives Association, she also hopes that academization will increase demand for midwives and obstetricians and thus provide a positive boost in times of shortage of skilled workers.
The question of what significance the academization of midwives has for obstetric practice was then discussed on the panel: student Theresia Collmer, Marielle Pommereau, graduate of the 1st year of midwifery, and graduate Marie-Luise Israel with more than 20 years of professional experience in obstetrics agree: academization is right and important. "Being able to reflect scientifically on practical midwifery work, to critically question one's own actions or traditional ways of doing things, and to be able to include current studies complements the very good practical training in Germany. Being able to act in a scientifically sound way gives me a sense of security," says Collmer, who is about to graduate. "Academization helps to bundle professional competencies and to be heard more politically and socially," Marielle Pommereau is convinced. Being able to give oneself one's own guidelines and to establish practice-oriented research from the midwives' perspective for the benefit of women, families and children are further reasons for academization of the profession, she says. The three are not afraid that academization will result in a shortage of practical experience - on the contrary: the proportion of practical experience in the delivery room, in birth centers and with freelance midwives is actually greater than before; the only thing that has been cut is the number of practical hours in other hospital departments.
In the concluding keynote speech, "Retroperspective and perspective - midwifery studies in Rhineland-Palatinate," Prof. Nina Knape, head of the midwifery and midwifery science program, illuminated the path from the "nucleus of academization" in 2008 at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences to the beginnings in Ludwigshafen and the present. "In 2011, Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences became the second university in Germany to embark on the adventure of academization without holding a midwifery professorship," she recalls. But the commitment of professors who were actually not involved in the subject - Prof. Dr. Eveline Häusler from health economics, Prof. Dr. Karin Kersting from nursing sciences and the then dean Prof. Dr. Hans Ebli from social work - as well as the midwifery schools and practice partners supported the development of the new degree program, which was then very well established by the substitute professor Christine Allgeier despite "some teething problems." In the current winter semester of 2021/2022, the last cohort of the study program will start with 32 students. At the same time, 46 first-year students will also start the new, primary-qualification course in midwifery science, which is thus running at full capacity. The team around Prof. Dr. Nina Knape has grown significantly in the meantime thanks to the support of the Ministry and the now "solid framework conditions", and the financing and establishment of a 900m2 area in the Postbank as a skills lab have also been secured.
"We thank the Ministry as well as the numerous cooperation partners for their support on this exciting and so far very good path," summarizes university president Prof. Dr. Peter Mudra in his welcoming speech. "After only 10 years, the bachelor's degree program in midwifery has itself given birth to a child: the bachelor's degree program in midwifery science," pointed out Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Dallmann, Dean of the Department of Social and Health Services, adding, "They are pioneers - not only within the discipline, but for the academization of the health professions as a whole!"
The ceremony was beautifully accompanied musically by Luca Sestak, pianist, singer, songwriter and graduate of the Mannheim Pop Academy. Agnes Maier, award-winning slam poet and midwife from Graz, provided the incursion of art and comedy into the academic world with her lyrically pointed remarks from the world of experience in obstetrics. The evening was charmingly moderated by Prof. Dr. Monika Greening.
Technical contact:
Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences
Department of Social and Health Services
Prof. Nina Knape
Director of Studies BA Mid wifery as well as BA Midwifery Science
Tel. 0621/5203- 574
E-mail: nina.knape@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 hwg-lu.de
