Application Deadline:31 January 2022
Map the System is a global competition of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, delivered in partnership with educational institutions around the world. From its inception in 2015, Map the System was designed to change the conversation in social impact education — moving from an overemphasis on the ‘heropreneur’ and new ‘solutions’ (typically in the form of a new proposed program or social venture) — toward a focus on deep understanding of complex problems as the foundation for driving transformational change.
The competition challenges participants to use systems thinking as a guiding approach to understanding some of the most complex issues the world faces today. Participants will delve deep into a social or environmental issue that matters to them and will take the time to explore, probe and research all its connecting elements and factors — later sharing their findings in a way that people can meaningfully understand, share, and learn from.
How it works
- Each year, universities and post-secondary institutions from around the world partner with the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford to bring the Map the System to their students for a local edition of the competition.
- Affiliated students and recent graduates from all disciplines and levels can register to take part individually or as part of a team of up to 5 members and spend the next several months diving deep into a social or environmental topic they are passionate about.
- Participants learn and utilise the principles of systems thinking as a guiding approach to understanding a complex social or environmental challenge and create visual systems maps as a means to articulate their findings in a way that people can meaningfully understand, share, and learn from – key skillsets for those interested in creating systemic and sustainable social or environmental change.
- One team of finalists from each partner institution is selected to present their findings at the Global Final event in June.
Requirments
Map the System is designed for students and recent graduates of any discipline who have an interest in social or environmental issues and who want to learn more about a problem they care about and present their findings to the world. It is ideally suited to those who meet at least one of the following:
- Those who have an existing passion for or lived experience of a particular social/environmental challenge and would like to investigate this problem fully to understand what sort of intervention in the system would be most effective.
- Those that are looking to have a high-impact career and want to understand where their unique skill set can be best applied to effect lasting change.
- Those who have an existing solution, product or business idea in mind, but would like to research the issue area thoroughly to understand what solutions have already been tried, and are willing to pivot their idea based on their findings.
Timeline
– Participant Registration: January 31st 2022
Students and recent graduates from partner institutions can register to take part. Register now!
Round 1 Submission Deadline: April 2022
Participants have until this date to submit their final materials:
- Visual systems map
- Written summary of research (max 3,000 words)
- Detailed bibliography
- Local Finals: Mid-April 2022
- Global Finalists Announcement: May 2022
Round 2 Submission Deadline: May 2022
Teams that are selected as finalists have until this date to revise their materials submitted as part of Round 1 and prepare their verbal presentation.
- Visual systems map
- Written summary of research (max 3,000 words)
- Detailed bibliography
- Verbal 10-minute presentation
Map the System Global Final
Map the System is looking to hold the Global Final event in person in June 2022.
Teams from all over the world will come to Oxford to present their systems maps and compete for the three top cash prizes. All finalists are given feedback by our judges, who have expertise in systems analysis and systems change. This event provides a great opportunity for finalists to build their connections with socially aware students, educators and innovators from across the world.
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