Unil team recognised at the global Map the System finals in Oxford
This summer, three students represented Unil at the global finals of Map the System, organised by the University of Oxford. During the event, the Unil team received a Storytelling Excellence Award, recognising their ability to communicate a complex public health issue in a clear and accessible way.
Created by the University of Oxford, Map the System is an international competition that invites students to explore social and environmental challenges through a systems-thinking approach.
The aim is to move beyond simplistic solutions, understand the interactions between different elements within a system, and develop new perspectives to address today’s complex challenges.
An interdisciplinary team exploring a major public health challenge
Selected to represent Unil at the global final, the team was composed of three members from the Faculty of Biology and Medicine : Ko Ko Maung (PhD student), Afifa Tanweer Qureshi (postdoctoral researcher), and Eleonore Hyeyoung Sun (Master’s student).
Their project focuses on a major public health issue : differences in cardiovascular disease care between women and men in Switzerland.
Through a systemic analysis, the team explores the multiple factors contributing to these inequalities by examining the interactions between medical practices, healthcare stakeholders and the various mechanisms influencing patient care.
A distinctive aspect of this team is also their journey : its members met through Map the System itself.
For Ko Ko Maung, the experience provided an opportunity to develop a new way of approaching complex issues :
“At first, the Map the System competition seemed quite intimidating, but it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey. It introduced me to systems thinking, teaching me to look beyond individual problems and understand the broader factors that shape complex issues. This way of thinking has been valuable not only for my research but also for approaching personal and professional challenges from new perspectives.”
A global final bringing together engaged students from around the world
Over three days, the Unil team joined finalists from diverse academic and geographical backgrounds to present their project alongside other international teams.
This 2026 edition brought together :
🌎 19 countries represented
🎓 48 higher education institutions participating
👥 More than 160 students in the finals
🏆 3 excellence awards presented
The finals highlighted projects addressing complex challenges. The first prize of the global finals was awarded to the Johns Hopkins University team for their project Borrowing from Tomorrow: The High Price of Kenya’s Sovereign Debt-Climate Trap. The second and third places recognised projects focusing respectively on data surveillance of migrant populations in Latin America and child food poverty in Ghana.
Afifa Tanweer Qureshi reflects on this international experience :
“During the course of preparation for this presentation, I learnt a lot from my teammates and practiced group work, communication, and collaboration skills. Visiting the historic university of Oxford was also an experience in itself. It was my first visit to England and I am grateful to Unil to provide such a learning and working opportunity to its students.”
Developing a systemic perspective to imagine tomorrow’s solutions
For Unil, this participation fully reflects its commitment to promoting the entrepreneurial mindset and supporting students as they explore complex issues related to social, environmental and economic transformations.
Beyond the award they received, the team members highlight an experience that was both academically enriching and deeply human, allowing them to develop new skills and perspectives.
The next edition of Map the System will take place in 2027
Students will be invited to join this engaged international community, explore an issue that matters to them, and develop the tools needed to better understand and transform the systems shaping our society. More information under this link .
