gms | German Medical Science

Background: The reformation of midwifery education on the basis of a new midwifery law and new study and examination regulations in 2020 requires a sufficient number of adequately qualified programme directors and educators at German universities (including universities of applied sciences) that offer bachelor study programmes in midwifery. Moreover, this reform process offers the opportunity to participate in the discourse on midwifery science [1].

Aim: The workshop aims at offering a specific forum for midwives interested in a future doctoral dissertation. In the course of the workshop they can clarify organisational and practical questions as well as enquire about content-related and scientific-methodical aspects of a doctoral dissertation. The discourse with peers can foster the motivation of those interested and at the same time inform academic educators about questions and challenges raised on the part of the workshop participants.

Method: Educators of universities authorised to offer doctoral dissertation programmes will conduct this workshop together with midwives who are doctoral students or postdocs.

In order to facilitate a lively and interesting exchange of experiences a moderator will question the academic educators in form of an interview about organisational aspect of a doctoral dissertation. Subsequently, experiences will be reported by doctoral students and postdoc midwives. At each point during the conversation, the workshop’s participants have the opportunity to post their questions. Information materials will be made available by the universities at various presentation tables.

Results: In this workshop information will be provided on the application for a doctoral dissertation, study opportunities and post graduate programmes, and doctoral scholarships. Moreover, the process of working on a dissertation, offers for counselling and guidance as well as the opening of the examination procedures will be explained. Regarding all aspects, the experiences on the part of the universities as well as the postdocs will be shared.

Significance: Due to the reform of midwifery education in Germany, there is a special need for post-doc midwifery educators and researchers who will be involved in academic education. Midwives who are interested in attaining a doctoral dissertation may personally and in low-threshold manner inform themselves with regards to trans-regional opportunities for further qualification.

Recommendations: All midwives interested are invited who may have only a vague idea, or already specific conceptions, about attaining a doctoral dissertation.

Ethics and conflicts of interest: The research was financed by own resources. There are no conflicts of interest.