Over 80 students on the cyber security and forensic computing degree and the software engineering degree will start the course this month.
The nation’s real-world threats and challenges are being tackled by University of Portsmouth computing students, as part of a course to address complex real-world problems.
Mission Driven Entrepreneurship; Hacking for Ministry of Defence (H4MoD) is a module where students come together to think through and solve some of today’s most pressing issues around national security, natural disasters, energy and the environment.
It is led by the Common Mission Project, an organisation focused on building mission-driven entrepreneurs to solve national security and defence, civic and social challenges.
Projects include looking at GPS spoofing (when data is altered to make the receiver look like they’re in a false location) to mitigate security threats, investigating more efficient ways of moving large quantities of data to ships and remote deployment sites, identifying high potential individuals in the military and locating optimal helicopter landing sites.
One of the projects looks at locating optimal helicopter landing sites
Dr Gail Ollis, from the School of Computing, said: “This module offers students a unique opportunity to tackle real problems and make a difference. It’s unlike anything they are used to, and very challenging. The effort is 100 per cent worth it, though, for the experience they gain in validating original problems and proposing valuable solutions based on extensive evidence. They frequently tell us that it’s the hardest module they have ever taken, but also the best!”
Over 80 students on the cyber security and forensic computing degree and the software engineering degree will start the course in October and work in teams of up to six for 11 weeks, before presenting their findings and solutions in January 2023. Each team is assigned a different problem and they work alongside a government sponsor for the duration.
Former Portsmouth student, Luke Caruana, enjoyed the course so much he is coming back to help this year’s students. He said: “H4MoD was a chance to put into practice skills in project management, leadership, teamwork and business. Whilst you are thrown in at the deep end, there are a plethora of different mentors with you on the journey. The mentorship and guidance you receive allows you to fail fast and learn, pushing yourself beyond your own expectations. I am excited to come back and help other teams along their own journeys.”
This module offers students a unique opportunity to tackle real problems and make a difference. They frequently tell us that it’s the hardest module they have ever taken, but also the best!
Dr Rachael Kelly, Director of Programmes of the Common Mission Project said: “We couldn't be more excited to be working with the University of Portsmouth to deliver their third iteration of Hacking for MoD, our unique and fast-paced mission-driven entrepreneurship course that gives students the opportunity to work on real-world national security and defence problems. This year, the course has been opened up to the wider School of Computing making it our biggest cohort of students to ever take the course. We can't wait to see what these students accomplish.”
Hacking for Defence, H4MoD’s sister programme, was piloted at Stanford University in 2016, and runs now in 60+ universities in the US, UK and Australia.