Beyond Brexit: Cross-border collaborations in pre-registration midwifery education

In June 2016, the UK's European Union (EU) referendum resulted in 51.9% of the electorate voting to leave. Leaving the EU will have wide ranging social, legal and constitutional implications including (but not limited to) trade, business and financial services, employment, transport, immigration, police and justice, health, higher education (Miller, 2016). In relation to health, the EU has a significant role in supplementing national policies, and while the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) has established the international standards for midwifery education; teaching and practice are regulated through the European Directive 2005/36/EC (European Parliament and Council, 2005), which includes the recognition of professional qualifications and free movement to practise anywhere within the EU.

When it comes to higher education, the UK is a full member of the European Higher Education Area (European Ministers of Education, 1999), whereby members aim to increase compatibility between education and training systems across the EU to promote high quality learning and teaching and to facilitate the free movement of students, researchers and teachers.