This year’s Middle School Individual Research Project (IRP) was a vibrant celebration of student agency, critical thinking, and global citizenship. The 2025 IRP invited students in Grades 6–8 to explore real-world challenges through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) lens.
Students began the journey by selecting one of the 17 SDGs, ranging from climate action to quality education and were then grouped according to their chosen goal. This allowed them to collaborate with peers who shared a common interest while still pursuing their own inquiry paths. As an interdisciplinary project, the IRP also integrates learning from Humanities and Pendidikan Pancasila subjects, encouraging students to examine global issues through both international and national lenses.
Each student engaged in a comprehensive process that included research, reflection, product design, and public presentation. The IRP framework emphasised key academic and life skills: critical thinking, research literacy, communication, and creativity. These were captured through each student’s process journal, structured essay, and final product or prototype.
Walking through the final exhibition, one could see a diverse range of student-created innovations. What stood out even more was the maturity and conviction with which our students explained their work. The IRP provided not only an academic challenge but also a platform for students to voice their values and offer meaningful solutions.
The IRP 2025 experience is a powerful reminder of how relevant and inspiring education can be when students are given the space to connect their learning to real-world purpose. We are proud of the vision and effort our Middle Schoolers demonstrated and look forward to seeing how they continue to lead with heart, purpose, and action.
