Ludwigshafen, June 2026. With Prof. Nina Knape, Ph.D., and Prof. Michaela Michel-Schuldt, Ph.D., the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (HWG LU) was represented by two delegates at the 34th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), which took place from June 14 to 18, 2026, in Lisbon, Portugal. Under the theme “One Million More Midwives,” several thousand midwives, midwifery researchers, education experts, and representatives of professional associations from around the world gathered to discuss the future of the profession as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights.
According to current estimates, there is a global shortage of at least 900,000 midwives. Calculations suggest that with one million additional midwives, up to 4.3 million lives could be saved annually by 2035. Through keynote addresses, panels, and workshops, the congress provided a platform to develop strategies for increasing the number of better-trained and more effectively regulated midwives worldwide.
Four presentations by the HWG LU
Together with colleagues from HAW Hamburg, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, and Hannover Medical School, Prof. Knape and Prof. Michel-Schuldt organized the satellite symposium “World Café: Visions for Midwifery Master’s Programs.” At four thematic tables—Clinical Practice, Research, Education, and Leadership—the international participants discussed in two rounds of discussion which competencies midwives need, how they can expand their scope of practice, and what new professional roles might emerge as a result. Each group presented its findings to the plenary session, sparking a lively exchange that provided concrete ideas for the further development of academic educational pathways for midwives beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Together with colleagues from the ICM Regional Professional Committee for Europe, Prof. Michel-Schuldt also organized a workshop in which participants developed a practical toolkit for students and clinical instructors. She also presented a survey of midwives and association representatives from 19 countries on barriers and success factors in the implementation of ICM standards in Europe and Central Asia: In addition to commitment and high-quality continuing education, structural barriers such as economic constraints or a lack of political support were evident in many places.
Finally, Prof. Michel-Schuldt presented a poster on midwifery centers in Rhineland-Palatinate, which synthesized the findings of several master’s theses she supervised at the HWG Ludwigshafen and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, as well as teaching-research projects from the degree program “Innovative Care Practice in Nursing and Midwifery.” The studies by Gila Heusermann, Lucy Wächter, and Annika Schröder show that midwifery centers facilitate the matching of pregnant women with midwives but require more sustainable funding and better integration into healthcare systems.
Global Exchange and New Contacts
Beyond their own program items, both professors used the congress to engage in professional exchange with midwifery researchers from around the world. Among others, they met with colleagues from Nagoya City University in Japan as well as representatives from nine universities in the International Student Midwives Network—and also established numerous other contacts within their international network. These discussions gave rise to promising approaches for future collaborations in research and education.
“Exchanging ideas with colleagues worldwide shows that the challenges of our profession are similar everywhere—and international collaboration is the key to finding common solutions,” said Prof. Dr. Michaela Michel-Schuldt
Prof. Nina Knape, PhD, added: “By engaging with colleagues from very different healthcare systems, we can incorporate international perspectives into our own degree programs and enrich them.”
Participation in the conference was funded through the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, thereby underscoring the international focus of HWG Ludwigshafen’s education and research activities in the field of midwifery.
About HWG Ludwigshafen The Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society offers, among other degree programs in its Department of Social and Health Services, the Midwifery Science degree program as well as—subject to successful accreditation—the Master’s program in Midwifery Science (Advanced Practice Midwifery – APM), which is scheduled to begin in the summer semester of 2027, subject to successful accreditation. The university is also actively engaged in national and international research and education aimed at strengthening midwifery care.
Press Contact
Professor Michaela Michel-Schuldt, PhD michaela.michel-schuldt@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 hwg-lu.de
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