On 22 and 23 February 2024, our team proudly represented the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) at the finals of the Global Public Policy Network (GPPN) Conference hosted by Sciences Po in Paris, France. The GPPN, comprising eight prestigious policy schools across four continents, is dedicated to training bright minds to confront the policy challenges of the 21st century, with its annual conference featuring a highly anticipated student competition.
The conference highlighted innovative strategies employed by students in addressing this year’s theme of reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations. This experience showed the myriad approaches available to tackle policy problems, underscoring the value of diversity in problem-solving.
Our project, "Harnessing Eco-Tourism for Cleaner Oceans," aimed to integrate beach clean-up operations into travel packages, offering a practical solution to combat plastic pollution in tourist destinations like Palawan, Philippines. Developing this specific project provided valuable insights into implementation, emphasising the importance of practical, implementable policies with a focus on feasibility and scalability.
Moreover, the conference expanded our appreciation of public policy beyond academic theories, emphasising the need for collaboration and grounded, practical solutions. We took pride in crafting a replicable model, easily adaptable to diverse locales, while also injecting a touch of levity into our presentation. This approach resonated deeply with our peers, sparking genuine enthusiasm and interest in our project. This experience was truly affirming, and was the highlight of the conference for our team.
We owed our success to the support of our peers, faculty members, and LKYSPP. Their guidance, encouragement, and constructive feedback played a pivotal role in shaping our project and preparing us for the conference.
Finally, the sense of camaraderie within the global public policy community was encouraging. As we look back on our GPPN experience, we are filled with optimism for the future. By harnessing the momentum generated by conferences like this, we are confident in our collective capacity to translate innovative ideas into tangible, impactful solutions for a sustainable future.