Security Lancaster and the School of Global Affairs recently welcomed the UK Government’s Open Innovation Team (OIT) to campus for a full day Security Policy School, giving students a unique opportunity to develop real-world policy skills in the field of national security and resilience.

The workshop brought together 15 students from Politics, International Relations, Law, Criminology, and History for an immersive, hands on experience of government policymaking.

A realistic policy challenge

The day began with a detailed briefing from OIT policy experts, who introduced students to one of the UK’s most pressing security challenges: the growing threat posed by hostile actors targeting the nation’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

Students were asked to step into the role of Senior Policy Advisors in a newly formed Cabinet Office taskforce. Working in groups and with a notional budget of £500 million, they were tasked with producing a policy proposal that would strengthen the UK’s resilience in one of the following CNI sectors:

• Energy production and transmission
• Transport
• The health system and NHS
• Undersea cables
• Data centres

Each team analysed opportunities, challenges, acceptability, and value for money considerations to design ambitious but actionable policy options.

From briefing to ministerial pitch

Throughout the day, students collaborated intensely, researching threats, mapping vulnerabilities, and debating trade offs. Their challenge culminated in a final round of policy pitches, where each team presented their proposal directly to the OIT facilitators, who played the role of government ministers assessing the recommendations.

After a series of confident and insightful presentations, a winning team was selected based on the clarity, feasibility, and impact of their proposal.

Developing future policy leaders

The workshop offered students a rare and invaluable window into how national security policy is developed inside government. Many participants expressed that the experience strengthened their interest in future careers in the civil service, particularly in areas related to security, defence, and resilience.

Alasdair de Costa, Senior Policy Advisor at the Open Innovation Team, said: "It was wonderful to work with so many interesting and engaged students on their policy ideas. They were amongst the strongest pitches we've had, and if they all continue to pursue an interest in public policy the country will be so much the better for it! We're grateful to Basil, Janine and Helen for helping us to organise such a great day."

Professor Basil Germond, Professor of International Security and Co-Director of Security Lancaster, commented: “This was a fantastic day of engagement, creativity, and real-world learning. The level of analysis and professionalism shown by our students was outstanding, and we are proud to partner with the OIT to provide such meaningful opportunities”.

Security Lancaster extends its thanks to the Open Innovation Team for delivering a dynamic and thought provoking workshop and to Janine Bickerstaff and Helen Jackson from LU’s engagement team for supporting the organization of this event, and congratulates all participating students for their excellent contributions.