‘It is knowledge that changes the world’: Where policy and academia meet in W&M’s NSIN class
William & Mary’s division of the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) is yet another example of how the university’s professors are finding new ways to bring real-world experiences into the classroom.
Now in its second semester at W&M, the NSIN: Hacking 4 Defense class gives students a chance to tackle real-world challenges in the Department of Defense and intelligence communities, such as restructuring the U.S.-U.N. peacekeeping role in a post-Afghanistan environment and designing new policies to stem the attrition of Army female Special Operations Forces members.
“We need this especially for the policy arena — academia and business brought together to create a meaningful impact,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Matthews, an adjunct lecturer.
As the Global Research Institute bridges the gap between scholarship and policy, it offers coursework that prepares students to work on cutting-edge issues in their future careers. Other courses GRI has developed in recent years have centered around blockchain and development, 5G networks and participation in the State Department’s Diplomacy Labs. Despite its title, the Hacking 4 Defense class is not actually about computers — “hacking” refers to problem-solving, so students from any major who want to develop solutions and gain hands-on policy experience are encouraged to apply.
