October 24, 2016
After 25 Years, There’s No Denying the Impact the Michigan Ross MAP Program Has Had on the World
Excitement was in the air this past weekend as Michigan Ross celebrated the 25th anniversary of a pioneering program that changed the face of business education – Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP).
When it was introduced in the 1990’s, the MAP program brought experience-based learning to the forefront of business education. During MAP, all first-year MBA students spend seven weeks on a full-time project with a sponsor company or organization. The students are tasked with seeking a creative solution to one of the company’s real business challenges.
Getting students out of the classroom and into the field to work with real businesses was revolutionary when it was introduced, and as it’s evolved over time, the program has sparked meaningful change in Ross students, innovation at companies and organizations, and even inspired a few similar programs at other top business schools.
When you look at all of the outcomes, there’s no denying the incredible impact MAP has had on the world. In the past 25 years, MAP has provided:
An Incredible breadth of opportunities
MAP projects have taken place in 92 countries and span almost every industry you can imagine.
Since 1992, Ross Students have completed 2,000 MAP projects.
Projects span all functions of business, ranging from a strategy project with Procter & Gamble in Brazil, to a finance project with a non-profit organization in India.
A resounding impact on business education
MAP pioneered a 21st century approach to business education. Many of the world’s top business schools, including Harvard, Darden, and Tuck, have followed Ross’ lead and added hands-on learning elements to their MBA programs.
Even so, MAP remains the benchmark – the most intense, in-depth program of its type.
MAP’s influence can also be felt in other programs at Michigan Ross. The concept of experience-driven education now defines the entire curriculum in all degree programs, having been recently introduced into Ross’ BBA and Master of Management programs.
A lasting impact on organizations
In 25 years, students have completed projects at more than 1,500 companies – including Amazon, General Motors, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook.
Many companies become repeat sponsors for one simple reason: MAP works.
Sponsor companies get access to fresh perspectives from some of the brightest minds in business, and they keep coming back for more. Since launching in the 90s, these companies have sponsored more than 15 projects, each:
Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Microsoft, American Express, Citi, DTE Energy, Whirlpool, Rainforest Expeditions, 3M, GM, Aravind Eye Care System, Comerica Bank, Cummins, Johnson & Johnson, Intel, Amazon, P&G, and Chase.
Learn more about sponsoring MAP
A profound impact on Ross students
The keystone of this hands-on approach puts students to work full time for seven weeks on a real project in the field. It puts their classroom learning into practice, and solidifies the lessons of their MBA experience.
Since launching, 12,026 students have participated in a Ross MAP project.
2,200+ Instagram Photos
You can explore the impact MAP has on students in a collection of more than two thousand pictures from the field – taken in every part of the world, capturing the MAP experience through the eyes of Ross students.
A promising impact for the future
MAP will continue to play a growing role in how Michigan Ross prepares students to be leaders who make a positive difference in the world. Business is the force that will lead our society into the future, and no one will be better prepared to help the business community meet the emerging challenges of a fast-changing world than students from Michigan Ross.
As MAP heads into its next 25 years, the possibilities are endless.
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