Westminster students look to repeat title run as they compete against students around the globe

Students from Adelaide’s south will be back on the global stage as future problem solvers, in an international competition to find out more about Neurotechnology development.

A group of student’s in Adelaide’s south will look to go back to back on the global stage as future problem solvers.

Westminster Students Janet, 12, Kate, 11, Gerard, 12 and Kate 12 will take part in the international finals for the Future Global Issues Problem Solving competition following their big win in the national finals late last year on the topic of Living in Poverty.

Westminster School is the only school in the state to make it this far in the competition, which aims to teach students problem solving strategies, critical and creative thinking skills and effective communications in a teamwork environment.

“I like that we work with other people our age that we wouldn’t necessarily hang out with,” Kate said.

Established in 1974, by Dr E Paul Torrence – a pioneer in creativity research and education, Westminster Preparatory School has been participating in the competition since 2015.

Westminster future problem solvers Gerard, 12 Kate, 12 Kate, 11 and Janet, 12. Pic: Emily Jarvis

The Future Problem Solving International program involves thousands of students from more than 36 states and seven countries worldwide.

Westminster is the only school from South Australia competing in the International Finals which will once again be held virtually, due to the pandemic.

The students will complete the two-hour competition at Westminster, within a time window on June 10-11, with the international finals being ‘Neurotechnology’.

Their teacher, Tanya Madex said the school – which is undergoing a $38m redevelopment – are beyond proud of the students achievements thus far.

“It’s pretty amazing to think they are only 12 and some of them were 11 when they won the national competition,” Ms Madex said.

“It was a well-oiled machine, everyone knew what job they were doing, we always talk about team work but these guys really show what it’s all about.”