"a model to emulate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe someone or something which you believe to be an excellent example for others to follow. For example, "He was an impressive young leader and a model to emulate."
And if it delivers on its promises, the school could become a model to emulate statewide.
Some lawyers view Google's planning tool as a model to emulate.
Should historical awareness prevail over backroom influence peddling, our builders will want to look to the United Nations Headquarters as a model to emulate.
President Alan García has said that Peru must treat Chile as a model to emulate and exceed, not an enemy to fight and defeat.
With her long light-brown hair, Ms. Rotolo became a model to emulate for young women and an object of desire for men at the time.
Today he's cited by Liberian journalists as a model to emulate, the grandfather of modern Liberian journalism both figuratively and literally.
Although you said "…for now, there is a lack of a "complete" model to emulate," I would respectfully argue that "complete" hasn't been a requirement for management models, especially in turbulent times.
All of their stories told my soul I could change the world, a message that was especially important for a kid in a broken home craving a role model to emulate.
Perhaps the most telling tribute is that for many young composers today, Britten, who died in 1976, is not just a master to learn from but a role model to emulate in building a meaningful career.
The bad news is that for now, there is a lack of a "complete" model to emulate.
If you're lacking inspiration, you could find a role model to emulate: a strong, classy, beautiful woman who really represents female life at its best.
