Map the System 2023

Bold ideas to address systemic problems

Representing Mount Royal University at the 2023 Map the System nationals, Alita Vaz (information design) and Amisha Sharma (criminal justice) presented their study, “Navigating Cultural Identity as a Third Culture Canadian.” Their research explores the experiences of “Third Culture Canadians”—immigrants or children of immigrants who grew up in Canada while navigating a different cultural background at home. This “hybrid culture” often leads to a cultural identity crisis. To investigate this, the duo conducted desk research, an anonymous survey, and interviews with both subject-matter experts and individuals with lived experience.

The findings suggest that while Canada portrays itself as an inclusive mosaic, significant systemic work is needed to foster a true sense of belonging. “Systems including the government, school boards, and society at large all contribute to this identity crisis,” the team explains.

This year’s event was adjudicated by a distinguished panel:

  • Curtis Wong, MRU alumnus (Anthropology and Social Innovation)
  • Anna Johnson, Calgary Foundation
  • Dr. Jaqueline Musabende, PhD, Associate Professor of International Business
  • Kaitlyn Squires, 2022 Map the System winner and EQuIS researcher
Alita Vaz, left, and Amisha Sharma.

About Map the System 2023

Map the System 2023 turned the lens on Calgary’s most pressing challenges: navigating cultural identity and overcoming educational barriers. The event featured top undergraduate teams pitching their research in 10-minute presentations, followed by a rigorous Q&A with judges. Beyond the competition, attendees gained insights from Andrea Klaiber-Langen, Vice-President of Transformation at ATCO, who discussed how systems thinking can reveal optimistic opportunities for change.

The stakes are high: the winning team advances to the Canadian finals in May, with the ultimate goal of competing at the global finals at the University of Oxford this July. This year, 61 institutions worldwide—including 15 in Canada—participated in this prestigious challenge. Organized by MRU’s Institute for Community Prosperity, the program pushes students to look beyond their regular coursework to uncover the root causes of systemic problems and propose real-world solutions.

Original reporting by Rob Petrollini — Mount Royal University, April 13, 2023.