MA Applied Security Strategy Simulation Week
The Security and Strategy Institute emphasises active learning in its approach to engage students
with the real life working environment. From the 9th to the 13th March, MA Applied Security Strategy
students were immersed within an international strategic crisis simulation, to allow them to put into
practice the knowledge and skills they had been learning.
Dr Danny Steed states:
“The simulation is designed to really give the students this forum to practice strategic skills
that we try and educate them and train them on throughout. Unlike in a traditional course
where you simply do an assessment… Here, [the simulation aims to] give them serious time for
an extended period, where they are able, in teams, to really put these tools to tasks, and try
and experience being a strategic actor.”
Within the simulation, professionals from multiple backgrounds were brought in to mentor the
students through the experience. The interface between the students and professional mentors
brought a strong multi-disciplinary approach to the learning environment.
The simulation also used technology to enhance the students’ experience of the week. Using a
Virtual Online Network, the students were able to communicate within and between teams through
tools such as email, social media, blogs, an RSS News Feed and file upload points. Students were also
put under the pressure of media attention, through video and radio interviews.
The feedback and assessment within the week was quickly turned around so that students received
constant responses to their progress within real time. The emphasis of this simulation was to allow
students to apply their learning within a real life environment.
The simulation involved many challenges, as Danny explains:
“The challenges of the simulation involved “getting to grips with the narrative that we create
and the real pressure points… We flood them with a great deal information, deliberately, so
that we can force them to prioritise.” The difficulties for students involved the “orienting at the
start and managing to keep focus and discipline and energy all the way throughout, no matter
what’s happening around them.”
The impact of the simulation:
“[The students] felt that this type of exercise has really bridged a big chunk of the learning that
we’ve put into the course, and it’s given them a great deal of insight as well as the practical
chance to apply them… It really gives them this chance to run-out the skills in this far more
immersive environment that goes much deeper into the subject matter, and gives them the
chance to really put this into practice in ways that you just don’t get to do in a normal
classroom.”
Additional resources:
Dr Danny Steed discusses the impact of a multi-disciplinary simulation [YouTube video]
MA Applied Security Strategy website