Gabriel Jabile, a third-year Engineering student, recently represented the University of Waterloo at the Map the System Global Finals in Oxford, hosted by the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. Competing against 40 teams from around the world, Gabriel fell just short of a podium place, but was recognized with an award for excellence for the inclusion of underrepresented voices for his research on livestock disease outbreaks done in collaboration with Ugandan farmers.
Unlike traditional pitch competitions, Map the System invites students to deeply explore a social or environmental challenge by mapping out the systems that shape it. The focus is not on proposing quick solutions, but on building a nuanced understanding by exploring the root causes, relationships, and dynamics that define complex problems. Each participating university hosts a local competition, and the top teams are selected to advance to the global finals in Oxford.
Gabriel earned his place at the global finals by winning a travel grant at the Map the System Canada competition in Banff this past May. His project focused on the structural weaknesses in Uganda’s veterinary system and the challenges it faces in managing livestock disease outbreaks. Drawing on government documents, academic research, and interviews with farmers and local stakeholders, Gabriel revealed a system strained by disconnected policies, limited infrastructure, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
“The system struggles with fragmented policies, lack of training, and poor coordination among stakeholders,” he explained in his report. “These issues are made worse by social inequalities, the underrepresentation of women and smallholder farmers in decision-making, and limited resources in rural areas.”
What made Gabriel’s research especially powerful was his commitment to listening. He spent time with farming communities, sitting in their homes, and learning how financial limitations, misinformation, and cultural beliefs affect their choices around animal health. “This experience taught me that human problems require more than just logical solutions,” Gabriel said. “They need compassion, curiosity, and a deep respect for local knowledge.”
During the global finals, Gabriel was inspired by the work of other teams and excited to consider what would come next. “There was a lot of energy in the room. It wasn’t just about competing. It was about learning, connecting, and thinking ahead,” he shared.
The overall winner of Map the System 2025 was a team of three students from Wesleyan University who explored the fight against sinking land and water scarcity in Jarkarta, Indonesia. Second place went to a team of four students from Vanderbilt University, who researched the impact of climate change on herders in Mongolia, and third place went to a team of five students from the University of Calgary, who used delays in hip and knee replacements as a gateway to understanding larger issues in the Alberta health care system.
In addition to the competition itself, the global finals included presentations and receptions at a variety of historic settings. Centre for Peace Advancement Director Paul Heidebrecht accompanied Gabriel to Oxford, and appreciated the opportunity to connect with educators and students from post-secondary institutions in over a dozen countries across North America and Europe, as well as Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. “Map the System can shape the learning journeys of students in so many interesting ways,” he reflected. “I was also impressed by how well Gabriel related to—and stood out among—such an inspiring and articulate group of emerging changemakers.”
Looking forward, Gabriel plans to continue his work through Enyana, an ag-tech startup supporting livestock farmers in Uganda. He hopes to use the insights from his project and research to expand into new regions and build long-term partnerships with local communities. “I want to keep meeting farmers, building trust, and learning from them,” he said. “This journey has just started.”
Gabriel also thanked Engineers Without Borders for helping make his internship possible, as well as the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement for its ongoing support and encouragement and support throughout the process.
The Centre for Peace Advancement team, along with our partners at the University of Waterloo, are proud to celebrate Gabriel’s achievement and the thoughtful, systems-based approach he brought to the global stage.