From Kathmandu to Oxford: King’s College Nepal Shines at Map the System 2025
This summer, five Westcliff MBA students from King’s College Nepal, a longtime partner of Westcliff University, took their ideas and research from the streets of Kathmandu Valley to the historic halls of the University of Oxford. Their project on solid waste mismanagement in Nepal placed them among the Top 6 teams in the world at the Map the System 2025 Global Finals, standing out among 1,740 participants across 17 countries.
Their achievement was more than a competition result, it was a moment of pride for Nepal and a powerful reminder of how young thinkers can drive global conversations about systemic change.
From Finalist to Mentor: Prakriti’s Journey
In 2023, Prakriti Dhakal stood on the Oxford stage as a finalist herself, representing King’s College Nepal with a project on inequitable access to infertility care. Today, she returned to Map the System in a new role — mentor.
“This year, I had the honor of mentoring the King’s College–Westcliff team,” Dhakal shared. “They were already an incredibly strong group: insightful, rigorous, and brave in their approach to tackling waste management in Kathmandu Valley. My role was not to instruct but to walk alongside them, helping them feel confident in the work they already had.”
For Dhakal, the journey has come full circle. Since her student days, she has completed her Masters of Science in Global Health Policy at the London School of Economics, founded a nonprofit, and served as a panelist, judge, and trainer in Map the System programs around the world. Her growth reflects the long-lasting impact of the competition and the strength of the King’s–Westcliff partnership.
Breaking Down a Complex System: The Students’ Project
The team’s project, “Policy, Power, and Corruption: Diving Deep into the Political Economy of Solid Waste (Mis)management in Kathmandu Valley,” tackled an issue that touches daily life for millions in Nepal. While overflowing garbage bins and landfill disputes may appear to be logistical failures, the students uncovered deeper systemic roots: corruption, elite capture, divided governance, and neglected informal waste workers.
“The problem initially appeared to be an issue of waste collection and disposal,” explained team member Kebin Shrestha. “But as we conceptualized the stakeholders and policies of the system, we understood how it is defined by the historical formation of power structures and informal networks. The lightbulb was that solutions have to go beyond technical fixes. They have to involve structural changes in governance, accountability, and political economy.”
Their courage to question entrenched power structures, and to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, set their project apart on the global stage.
Nepal’s Voice on the Global Stage 
For the students, presenting in Oxford was both an honor and a responsibility.
“To be in a room among teams representing countries located all over the world and tell a story through the lens of the streets of Nepal was a feeling of responsibility,” said Shrestha. “Not only did we present a project, but we also voiced the lived experiences of millions of Nepalese. It was a moment of pride to place Nepal’s systemic issues onto the global map.”
Dhakal echoed this sentiment: “Too often, young voices from smaller nations feel invisible in global discussions. Yet here was a team from Nepal, standing shoulder to shoulder with the best, proving that innovation and systems thinking are not limited by geography or ranking.”
Partnership and Purpose
The success of this year’s team reflects more than individual dedication — it speaks to the strength of a partnership. For more than a decade, Westcliff University and King’s College Nepal have worked together to champion social entrepreneurship, applied learning, and systems thinking.
Westcliff’s innovative and practical curriculum empowers students to go beyond theory, engaging directly with real-world challenges in ways that prepare them for meaningful careers. Opportunities like Map the System show how research, mentorship, and collaboration can transform local issues into global conversations.
Systems Thinking as a Mindset
As the students return to Nepal, their work is far from over. They hope their findings will spark deeper discussion on the political roots of the waste crisis and encourage bold action from policymakers, civil society, and citizens alike.
“The use of a systems-thinking lens not only taught us to examine deeper into the issues,” said Shrestha. “It also made us appreciate participatory research a lot more. There is something gained in actually listening to waste workers, municipal officials, and local residents that is missing in statistics.”
Dhakal’s message to future students is equally powerful: “Be authentic. Do not hide behind perfection. Share both your strengths and your struggles. That honesty is what makes your work relatable and powerful. Remember, Map the System is not just a competition, it is a mindset and a community.”
A Global Community of Changemakers
From finalists to mentors, from Kathmandu to Oxford, the story of King’s College Nepal and Westcliff University at Map the System is a story of resilience, curiosity, and courage. These students have proven that systemic change is possible when young thinkers are given the tools, mentorship, and global platforms to thrive.
And as this year’s team has shown, their voices are not only contributing to global conversations, they are shaping them.