In April 2021, the Everest Center for Research and Development Partners (ECRDP) launched a pioneering two-week training program on System Dynamics (SD) titled “System Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World” in response to the increasing need for systems-based approaches in policy design, urban planning, environmental management, and organizational strategy in Nepal.
The course drew inspiration from the MIT-based curriculum and was adapted to local challenges in areas such as transportation, water management, climate adaptation, education policy, and energy transitions.
- To build foundational and applied knowledge in systems thinking and dynamic modeling.
- To enable participants to conceptualize, model, and simulate real-world complex problems.
- To support evidence-based policy development and scenario planning using system dynamics.
- To strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and data-informed decision-making capacity.
Week | Core Focus | Key Topics & Activities |
Week 1 | System Thinking Foundations | – Introduction to Feedback Loops (reinforcing & balancing) |
Week 2 | Simulation & Policy Modeling | – Stock and Flow Modeling using Vensim & Stella |
Interactive lectures, real-time modeling sessions, simulation exercises, peer-group workshops, case study presentations, and field-relevant applications.
- Total Participants: 45
- Policy makers from federal ministries (MoUD, MoEST)
- University faculty and PhD students (Engineering, Public Policy, Environmental Studies)
- Researchers from NGOs and development agencies
- Municipal planners and engineers
Domain | Key Results |
Technical Capacity | 95% of participants built simulation models using Vensim and applied them to real-world issues (e.g., water demand forecasting, education investment scenarios, waste management systems). |
Research Integration | 15 participants incorporated SD models into their thesis/dissertation or research grant proposals. |
Policy Use | Officials from two municipalities initiated SD modeling to evaluate transport congestion and land use policy. |
Follow-up | Creation of a System Dynamics Learning Network – Nepal, with quarterly peer-learning sessions and model repository sharing. |
Project Information
