Avery Kageyama and Noah Rappaport represented The School of Business at the 2025 Map the System Global Final.
Two business graduate students—Avery Kageyama and Noah Rappaport—recently took their systems thinking skills to the international stage at the 2025 Map the System Global Final. Hosted by the Saïd Business School and the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford, the competition brought together 40 university teams from around the world to present innovative, research-driven approaches to complex social and environmental challenges.
Selected from five student teams in PSU’s campus-level competition, Avery and Noah represented The School of Business and joined global peers in Oxford for the in-person event, held July 3–6. Their project earned an Excellence Prize in Systems Mapping and Analysis, a distinction awarded to five teams at the competition. This recognition reflects their months of rigorous research, critical analysis, and commitment to addressing global issues through the lens of systems thinking.
“Participating in Map the System introduced me to a completely new way of thinking and viewing the world,” said Rappaport. “The opportunity to represent PSU at the prestigious Oxford competition was an extraordinary experience that I will always cherish. The Skoll Centre brought together teams from 40 universities around the world, creating a vibrant and dynamic environment. The gathering fostered meaningful connections with other changemakers passionate about making a difference. The exchange of ideas in such an inspiring setting was truly invaluable."
The event was more than a competition—it was a dynamic, interdisciplinary experience that included workshops, networking opportunities, and presentations centered around global challenges in areas such as health, education, climate, and justice. The opportunity to be in conversation and community with systems thinkers from around the world provided an opportunity for bridge-building and the seeds of change-making among the participants. For Kageyama, the experience underscored the real-world impact of systems thinking.
“Map the System has introduced a new perspective on the ways one can be a changemaker,” said Kageyama. “It was an honor to represent Portland State University at the Map the System global finals at the University of Oxford. Although it was a competition, it was an amazing experience to be with other students taking on the challenge of systems thinking and applying it to situations around the world. It’s exciting to see where the future of this competition and systems thinking will go!”
About Map the System at PSU
Map the System is a global learning experience that emphasizes understanding over quick fixes. At PSU, the program is coordinated through The School of Business and is open to graduate students across campus. Participants develop a deep understanding of the root causes, stakeholders, and systems at play behind complex social or environmental challenges, and gain hands-on experience with systems thinking tools, mentorship from faculty and community partners, and the chance to share their work on an international stage.
PSU has participated in Map the System since 2019. Each year, one team is selected from the campus competition to represent the university at the global final.
Looking Ahead
We’re incredibly proud of Kageyama and Rappaport for representing PSU with excellence and for bringing home this well-deserved honor.
Interested in joining next year’s Map the System program? Explore how you can apply systems thinking to the world’s most pressing challenges—while building skills that make a difference and to have a chance to compete at Oxford!