This year, five of our students participated in the Map the System competition, earning a spot at the 7th annual event. Congratulations to Igor, Vitor, Fabio, Saad, and Nicole, what an incredible achievement! We couldn’t be prouder of this group! 🎉
Locked In: Platform Dependency in Brazil placed in the top five and took home the Excellence in Business Systems Analysis award at the 2026 Humber Polytechnic Map the System Competition.
By Igor Popazoglo, Vitor Nania, Saad Almorad, and Fabio Byate
Our project, Locked In: Platform Dependency in Brazil, explored how digital platforms have evolved from tools of opportunity into gatekeepers of economic survival, influencing who gets work, who gets visibility, and ultimately who gets paid across Brazil’s gig and small business economy. The topic carried real weight for our team. Two of our members, Igor and Vitor, are Brazilian, and their lived connection to the issue brought an important layer of perspective that shaped our research from the beginning. This was more than just an academic project for us, it was personal.
What made our team’s journey especially meaningful was how we came together. Igor and Vitor were originally planning to compete separately from Fabio and Saad, but instead of competing against each other, we decided to combine our ideas and build something stronger collaboratively. For Fabio and Saad, this was their first time participating in Map the System, while Igor and Vitor brought valuable experience from last year’s competition. Their understanding of systems thinking methodology and the competition standards pushed all of us to think deeper, ask harder questions, and present with greater clarity and confidence. Placing in the Top 5 and receiving the Excellence in Business Systems Analysis award was an incredible honour. More importantly, we hope our project encourages meaningful conversations around digital equity, economic autonomy, and what it means to build inclusive economies in an increasingly platform-dependent world.
We’re deeply grateful to all the faculty and mentors who supported us throughout these months of research, preparation, and rehearsals, and we look forward to returning next year even stronger.
Challenges Youth Face While Aging Out of the Foster Care System in Canada earned a top-ten placement.
By Huong Nhi (Nicole) Trinh & Lauren Fernandez
This project was an unexpected collaboration yet meaningful experience between Child & Youth Care graduate Lauren Fernandez and Digital Business Management student Huong Nhi (Nicole) Trinh, thanks to Professor Elinor in the Thinking in Systems course. The topic, “Challenges Youth Face Aging Out of the Foster Care System in Canada,” depicts the ongoing efforts of care workers across provinces and the push for change among federal policymakers. It also sheds light on the underlying structural gaps that continue to limit meaningful progress, resulting in largely reactive responses. These challenges are often rooted in the lack of longitudinal data and insufficient data tracking across cross-functional stakeholders. Prior foster care Youths are also a part of the future of Canada, yet their educational outcomes, housing stability, quality of life, and overall wellbeing are somehow overlooked. By exploring the deeper causal factors behind these issues, this project aims to raise awareness and emphasize the urgent need for more effective and sustainable responses.
Hanadi Alnawab 