Pacific Lutheran College Students Qualify for Future Problem Solving 2024 National Finals

Pacific Lutheran College Students Qualify for Future Problem Solving 2024 National Finals

In 2024 our Middle and Senior College students have fully embraced the Future Problem Solving (FPS) program. FPS is an international educational program designed to stimulate problem-solving skills and empower students to tackle real-world challenges by analyzing complex issues and creating innovative solutions.

This year, four teams of Year 7 and 8 students completed and submitted highly competitive qualifying booklets in the Global Issues Problem Solving (GIPS) division. GIPS encourages students to research pressing global issues and apply the FPS six-step problem-solving process to develop solutions. The 2024 Australian topics for GIPS include Tourism, Urbanisation, and Antarctica. These thought-provoking topics prompted students to explore the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism growth, urban expansion, and the protection of Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem.  Individual participants from Years 9, 10, and 11 also competed in the GIPS division, engaging with these complex global themes.

Year 7 and Year 8 Pacific Plus students worked on Community Problem Solving (CmPS) projects. CmPS is designed to empower students to identify real-world problems in their local community and develop practical solutions to address them. These projects encourage leadership, teamwork, and project management skills. In 2024, our CmPS projects focused on sustainability, environmental conservation, and social inclusion, enabling students to make a direct, positive impact on their school and community.

Several Year 7 students also participated in Scenario Writing and Scenario Performance divisions. In Scenario Writing, students created futuristic stories inspired by the FPS topics, exploring possible future outcomes based on current trends. Meanwhile, in Scenario Performance, students developed and performed original pieces around FPS themes, refining their creativity, storytelling, and public speaking skills.

We are proud to announce that the following students have been invited to represent Pacific Lutheran College at the FPS National Finals in Melbourne this October:

Global Issues Problem Solving Individuals:

Amy (Year 9), Isla (Year 10)

Community Problem Solving Teams

Campus Companions: Evie, Lara, Madeline, Zara, Evie and Sophia (Year 7)

The Litter Leaders: Macey, Georgia, Anita, Jessica and Kiarah (Year 7)

Community Problem Solving Individual:

Jessica (Year 8)

Scenario Performance Individual:

Evie (Year 7)

Congratulations to all participants on their hard work and dedication throughout the year. We are incredibly proud of the critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative skills our students have developed. We look forward to seeing them compete at the National Finals in Melbourne this October, and we wish them every success.

Mrs Jo Belchamber, Head of Learning Middle College and Mrs Linda Sydes, Teacher - English, Humanities