Finnish midwifery teachers awarded Midwife of the Year 2025

Finnish midwifery teachers have been awarded the Midwife of the Year 2025 award by the Federation of Finnish Midwives. This is the first time that an entire teaching staff has received the award – previously, the award has been granted individuals or individual groups. 

Now the turn has come to the midwifery teachers at Arcada to receive the midwife's pinard horn – the symbolic prize awarded to Midwife of the Year. The pinard horn has a long tradition in the profession and was formerly used to listen to foetal sounds during pregnancy. 

Focus on encounter

Midwifery education is highly regarded and one of the most popular in the health and medical care sector. It comprises 270 credits over 4.5 years and leads to a double degree as a midwife and nurse. Arcada is one of eight educational institutions in Finland that offer the programme, and one of two that offer it in Swedish. 

‘At Arcada, we focus particularly on how midwives interact with clients, which has also been appreciated in the clinical field when our students are on practical training. Like all other healthcare programmes at Arcada, we also make extensive use of simulation pedagogy in our teaching,’ says Pernilla Stenbäck, Senior Lecturer in healthcare and Degree Programme Director of midwifery education at Arcada.

At Arcada, we focus particularly on how midwives interact with clients, which has also been appreciated in the clinical field when our students are on practical training.

Ensuring future needs 

The Federation of Finnish Midwives granted the award on the grounds that midwifery teachers are an essential part of Finnish midwifery education. The midwifery teachers ensure that the education is of high quality, evidence-based and meets the needs of both clients and working life.  

In addition, midwifery teachers create important conditions for professional practice, the development of professional identity, professional and safe care, and the reputation of the education and profession.

The award was also justified by the belief that ‘behind high-quality midwifery education are knowledgeable and competent midwifery teachers. Every midwifery student has the support of a midwifery teacher, and behind every fully trained midwife there has been a midwifery teacher.’ 

In 2026, Finnish midwifery education will celebrate its 210th anniversary. The programme began in Turku in 1816 as the very first vocational training programme for women in Finland.