Introducing the MPS Foundation research competition
Dental Protection, in partnership with The MPS Foundation, has launched an annual research competition for dental, dental therapy and oral hygiene students in South Africa and Namibia.
The aim is to help improve patient safety, mitigate risk and enhance the wellbeing of healthcare professionals. The competition will have three categories, any of one of which final year students can choose to enter.
Join our Research at your fingertips webinar series which will introduce you to the fundamentals of research and help shape your submission to the competition. Click here to find out more.
Cash prizes to be won
- Each university winner for each of the professional groups will receive R4,000 and a certificate. Commended entrants will also receive a certificate.
- The university winners will compete for a national prize of R15,000 and a certificate for the overall winner for each professional group
- All winners and commended entrants will be invited by Dental Protection to publish their research for Dental Protection members and the wider healthcare community.
THE AIMS OF THIS COMPETITION ARE TO:
Support final year dental/dental therapy/oral hygiene students in developing their understanding and expertise in important areas of patient safety, risk reduction and wellbeing of healthcare professionals.
Raise the profile and generate an interest in research among dental undergraduates, to build research capability and capacity for the future in the dental sector.
Recognise, celebrate and reward excellence demonstrated by the competition entrants in patient safety and risk reduction.
How to enter
The competition is open to all final year dental/dental therapy/oral hygiene students in South Africa and Namibia. Entrants must be in the final year of their course at the time of entry into the competition. You can enter either as an individual or as part of a team. All members of a team must be final year students.
The deadline for submission is 1 February 2025.
How to submit your competition entry
Click to jump to section for full details:
For other questions please read the competition FAQs.
1. How to register your interest
Just complete your details on our online competition portal. You can do this at any time from 19 April 2024. Please note that you’ll have to register before submitting your entry.
2. Preparing your competition entry
Entrants should choose from one of three categories into which to submit their entry. These categories are:
- Quality improvement project which has application for patient safety, risk mitigation or the wellbeing of healthcare professionals in dentistry.
- Presentation of a case managed during the final year which showcases elements of patient safety and risk mitigation preceded by a mini systematic review.
- Small-scale research on patient safety, risk mitigation or the wellbeing of healthcare professionals in dentistry.
Visit our guidelines and terms and conditions to learn more.
3. How to submit your entry
The deadline for submission is 1 February 2025.
To enter the competition, you’ll need to submit an entry which includes the following information:
- The name of your university
- Your professional group (i.e. dentistry, dental therapy or oral hygiene)
- Whether the project is by an individual or a team of students
- The category under which your project falls
- The title of your project
- The rationale for your project
- How the project was undertaken
- The results of the project
- How the result could impact your practice and the practice of others
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a Dental Protection member to enter the competition?
No, we welcome entries from all final year dental/dental therapy/oral hygiene students in South Africa and Namibia.
Who is eligible to participate in the competition?
The competition is open to all final year dental/dental therapy/oral hygiene students in South Africa and Namibia. Entrants must be in the final year of their course at the time of entry into the competition.
How can I register for the competition?
Just complete your details on our online competition portal. You can do this at any time from 19 April 2024. Submissions close 1 February 2025. Please note that you’ll have to register before submitting your entry.
What are the criteria for judging competition entries?
The competition entries will be assessed by a panel of judges. Learn more about the judging criteria and rubric.
Can I submit more than one competition entry at the same time?
No, you cannot enter multiple submissions in any one year.
When is the submission deadline?
The deadline for submission is 1 February 2025.
What are the prizes and awards for the winners?
Each university winner for each of the professional groups will receive R4,000 and a certificate. Commended entrants will also receive a certificate. The university winners will compete for a national prize of R15,000 and a certificate for the overall winner. All winners and commended entrants will be invited by Dental Protection to publish their research for Dental Protection members and the wider healthcare community.
How and when will the results be announced?
Award notification date for regional winners is May 2025
Award notification date for national winner is July 2025