Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine
Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance
Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History
Luxembourg Centre for European Law
Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems
To celebrate the International Day of the Midwife, the Department of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the 8xav¸£Àûµ¼º½ of Luxembourg, in collaboration with the Association Luxembourgeoise des Sages-Femmes (ALSF) and the Municipality of Bettembourg brought together students, educators, practitioners, researchers, and members of the wider community for an evening dedicated to reflection and dialogue on the midwifery profession.
From the outset, the atmosphere was one of collaboration and commitment. Prof. Pascal Bouvry welcomed participants on behalf of the university and highlighted the collective effort behind the development of the new Bachelor in Midwifery Sciences—a programme built through strong cooperation between academic and healthcare partners.
The event invited attendees to look simultaneously backward and forward, honouring the legacy of those who have shaped the profession, while amplifying the voices of those who will carry it into the future.
One particularly moving moment was the tribute to Valérie Strecker-Steffen, presented by Fabienne Michaux. Through a dedicated exhibition, generously donated for the occasion by the Municipality of Bettembourg, participants discovered the life’s journey of a midwife whose contribution has left a lasting imprint on midwifery practice in Bettembourg and across Luxembourg.
Questions about identity and the public’s understanding of the profession emerged throughout the evening. Dr. Joeri Vermeulen shared findings from a recent study exploring how university students in Luxembourg perceive the midwifery profession, thereby opening important conversations about awareness and recognition of the role midwives play in healthcare and our communities.
Prof. Ali Ghanchi offered a comparative analysis of midwifery education across 30 European countries. His presentation situated Luxembourg within the wider European context and underscored both the opportunities and challenges involved in shaping future midwifery education.
The discussion then shifted to lived experiences during a roundtable moderated by Anna-Christina Alborino, President of the ALSF. Participants Nicole Weber, Lara Carvalho Gomes, Beatriz Luis Joaquim, and Annabelle Pierron, alongside Dr. Vermeulen and Prof. Ghanchi, spoke candidly about their motivations, experiences, hopes, and concerns for the future of the profession.
For the first time, students in the Midwifery Sciences programme also presented a poster session dedicated to midwives’ competencies. Their work highlighted not only academic engagement, but also the enthusiasm and dedication of a new generation entering the field.
Perhaps the most symbolic moment of the evening came during what many described as la pépite de la soirée: the meeting between an experienced Luxembourgish midwife and Beatriz Luis Joaquim, a student midwife whom she had helped bring into the world nearly twenty years earlier. In that encounter, the profession’s enduring impact became personal and tangible.
The organisers also extended sincere thanks to Administrative Assistants Christelle Lebacq and Karine Michel for their invaluable support in helping make the event possible.