ACIPSS Conference “Connected” with Top Speakers on Security Issues

In early October, the 37th ACIPSS conference took place at the Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences under the theme “Connected.”

The Austrian Center for Intelligence, Propaganda, and Security Studies is a long-standing partner of the Department of Risk and Security Management; another partner was the Association of Academic Security Advisors of Austria (VASBÖ). On behalf of HCW, CFO Silvia Kaupa-Götzl and Department Head Martin Langer welcomed the guests and speakers. Kaupa-Götzl highlighted the importance of security for universities and the special role of Campus Wien University of Applied Sciences in training specialists and managers in the private security sector as well as for government agencies.
State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried began by providing an overview of current developments related to Austria’s security. He emphasized: “In addition to Islamist extremism, terrorism, and right-wing extremism, new forms of espionage, a growing misogyny that threatens democracy, the rapidly increasing trend of online radicalization, and the associated trend of perpetrators becoming younger and younger pose growing challenges to our society, our democracy, and our rule of law. It is imperative that we remain vigilant, strengthen our resilience, and effectively protect our country. This can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach involving the entire government and society. In this context, dialogue and collaboration with the academic community are indispensable and constitute a key component of our security architecture.”
From the Department of Risk and Security Management, Claudia Körmer presented some recent findings from the KIRAS project PUKE, which was completed this summer, including the systemic resilience framework developed by the research team.
Well-known author and trainer Markus Schimpl (closeprotection.at) presented his new book and his approach to managing adrenaline in extreme situations.
Isabella Mader (Excellence Research) presented “PSYOP: A Current Overview” and offered an exclusive first look at her new book on the topic.
Profil editor-in-chief Anna Thalhammer spoke in a discussion with Thomas Goiser (ACIPSS representative in Vienna, corporate and PR consultant, lecturer at HCW) about her approach to espionage in journalism and in Austria.
Graduate Esref Öztürk presented his thesis from the Integrated Risk Management program on “Risk Culture as the Foundation for Effective Awareness and Sustainable Risk Management in Insurance Companies.”
Finally, Florian Schodritz (Austrian Red Cross – Lower Austria Regional Association) presented selected findings from his master’s thesis on “Civil Society 2.0: Lessons from the Floods.”