The 65th National University Corporation Midwife Education Teachers' Conference 2019 was held at Miyako Hotel (Gifu City) on July 12, 2019. The Nursing Course, School of Medicine, Gifu University assumed the rotating presidency and organized the conference 2019. In this conference, academic staff of midwife education from 38 national universities assembled together to discuss and ensure the quality of midwife education in Japan.

Ms. Yukari Sugita, Senior Specialist from the Medical Education Division, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) was invited as a guest speaker, and she gave an address under the theme, "The status of midwife education at present and challenges for future." The midwife education in national universities in Japan has courses for faculties and graduate schools. At the working session, the participants shared their views on points of attention in providing education for students who need special care in the respective course.

Midwife education has a long history in Japan. Midwives have traditionally taken care of pregnant women and their families, and worked hard to meet the needs of local community. With a passage of time, people's needs have changed, and fostering midwives who can live up to the expectations of people and society is one of the top priorities for national universities in Japan. More efforts are needed to raise the level of Japan's midwife education to that of global standards, examine the direction for the future, gather wisdom and develop human resources by utilizing advantages and unique features of universities and communities. While bearing "Higher Education Grand Design for 2040" in mind, the participants agreed with early realization of quality midwife education and addressing future challenges together.

With a large turnout, the 65th National University Corporation Midwife Education Teachers' Conference 2019 was a huge success.