2023 Global Creative Competition launches for healthcare students

Artwork by 2020 competition winner Akelekeh Ndah

Imperial College London and the University of Leeds have announced the 2023 Global Creative Competition for Healthcare students.

The Global Creative Competition was originally launched in 2020 by MEdIC (the Medical Education Innovation and Research Centre). MEdIC is Imperial College London’s translational centre which uniquely brings together medical education, community needs and health policy into innovation and research that positively impacts society.

The 2020 and 2021 competitions saw hundreds of entries from more than 50 countries. This year’s competition is hosted by the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Leeds.

Dr Ravi Parekh, Acting Director of MEdIC in Imperial’s School of Public Health, said: ‘”I am thrilled that MEdIC is launching the 2023 Global Creative Competition in partnership with the University of Leeds. This is an exciting opportunity to bring together the immense talents of healthcare profession students from across the globe in developing creative entries on the hugely important topic of "Healthy Planet Healthy People". I cannot wait to see all of the entries!”

Healthy Planet, Healthy People

This year’s theme is ‘Healthy Planet, Healthy People’ and submissions are welcomed from any student worldwide studying on an accredited programme to become a healthcare professional.

Professor Sonia Kumar, Professor of Medical Education at the University of Leeds, said: “It has been a privilege to oversee this competition over the past few years and see it go from strength to strength. This year we are really excited to collaborate with Imperial College London, on the competition theme of ‘healthy planet healthy people’, a theme that resonates with so many of us and the strategic intentions of our universities. It is a call to action for our future health workforce to reflect on and respond to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the creative arts. We can’t wait to share their amazing work with you in the coming months.”

Students are asked to submit their creative responses and reflections on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, a framework of the local and global priorities to create a fair, just and sustainable world by 2030. 

Creative work can be submitted in several categories, including visual arts, performing arts or literature. Further information on categories and how to submit your work is available via the MEdIC web pages.

The competition closes on 1 September 2023 and the winner (prize of £300) and three highly commended pieces (prize of £150 each) will be announced at an online awards ceremony in November 2023.