As part of the Hacking for Ministry of Defence (H4MOD) module at Imperial College London, a team of four postgraduate students on the MSc Security and Resilience degree programme developed a visionary solution for a modern military challenge: creating a distributed and adaptable command structure resilient enough for the demands of modern warfare. This concept, dubbed “Open Human Architecture”, reimagines how military command and control (C2) can operate in a dispersed, technology-driven environment.

The dilemma faced by the RAF is that, in a fast-paced organisation, abruptly discontinuing FGen is not a viable option. The challenge was to find a solution that could rectify the existing problems while the system continued to operate. This was the problem given to a team of six postgraduate students at King’s College London – Stephanie Ianc, Michael-Giles Coyle, Afonso Spencer, Olga Rasse, Reito Kaneko and Esha Alex. Over the course of their 12 week ‘Hacking for MOD’ module, they interviewed 66 people across defence and industry to learn about this pressing problem and develop and test solution ideas.

Today, students face the daunting task of standing out amidst fierce competition. They require not only academic credentials, but also real-world experience, tangible skills, and a robust professional network to navigate the complexities of the professional realm. Given that many students have spent several years in full-time education, they often find it challenging to successfully navigate the graduate market with distinctive experience and skills ready to make their mark.

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between the Common Mission Project and Palantir Technologies to multiply the power of our Impact Fund, a fund that enables students to accelerate their learning beyond the traditional classroom, engaging directly with real-world challenges and innovative problem solving.

We recently interviewed Dr Gail Ollis, Lecturer in Computing and Module Lead for Complex Problem Solving (Hacking for Ministry of Defence (H4MoD)) at the University of Portsmouth. As Lead Educator of our largest, exclusively STEM-based course, Gail offers her expert insight into embedding the course into an institution and making it a success across multiple degree programmes. This blog explores the value of the course for students and universities, exploring STEM, employability, and team formation.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern warfare, one of the most critical challenges faced by military forces lies in tactical communications. The ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ student team, studying BSc Physics at the University of Leicester, took part in the Hacking for Ministry of Defence (H4MOD) course in Autumn 2023 and delved into the complexities of this issue.

A team of students from King's College London, Department of War Studies threw themselves into an Army Linguistics Capability problem during the Autumn 2023 term, proposing a solution that their Army Problem Sponsor found hugely valuable – and most importantly: viable.

In Autumn 2023, the "Tailoring Success in the Skies" student team embarked on a mission extending beyond the classroom. This was a mission to unravel the effects of female-specific clothing and equipment on the comfort and morale of female aircrew.

In September 2023, 11 former H4MOD students started two-year work placements in the heart of the Ministry of Defence. Project TIGER embodies a problem-focused approach, navigating defence challenges with Lean and Agile principles.

Recently, the words ‘mobilisation’ and ‘conscription’ have dominated the headlines after Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, emphasised the urgent need to train a ‘citizen army’ for potential conflict. Amid grim warnings from senior military figures across NATO about the looming threat of war with Russia, the call for preparation rings louder and truer than ever.

In a recent Hacking for MoD (H4MOD) course, a team of postgraduate students embarked on a challenge to enhance the UK's credibility as an ally and strengthen its deterrence capabilities in the 21st Century.

In autumn 2023, Problem Sponsor Major Aaron Thompson, from 47 Air Despatch Squadron, collaborated with a talented team of postgraduate students from Imperial College London to address the challenge of delivering small to medium stores to operations.

We're pleased to share some encouraging news: our partnership with Glasgow University has been recognised with a commendation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

The Hacking for Ministry of Defence (H4MoD) pilot at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in July 2023 wasn't just an educational program; it was a catalyst for change in the defence sector.

We are delighted to announce that Glasgow University, in collaboration with CMP, has been shortlisted for the 'Best Business School Partnership' at the prestigious AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2024.

This insightful blog from Dr Jim Santa, Director of International Academics at CMP US, discusses bringing together academia and defence to create innovation.

Devon shares her 5 'lessons learned' that she believes will help future H4MoD participants.

Andrea’s involvement with the Aberdeen University Officer Training Corps opened the door to the transformative H4MoD course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).

H4MoD students from the 'Measuring Skills' team at King’s College London's esteemed Department of War Studies tackle a Royal Navy morale problem.

How H4MoD inspired and equipped one student to pivot their career from civil service to the founder of the dual-use start-up; Inqusiv.