The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is calling for applications for the NextGen@ICANN Program.
ICANN wants to hear from university students ages 18-30 living and studying in the Asia Pacific region who are interested in the future of the Internet and participating in the ICANN81 Annual General Meeting. ICANN81 is scheduled to be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 9–14 November 2024. If ICANN81 is held virtually, the NextGen@ICANN Program will also be held virtually.
The NextGen application window for ICANN81 will remain open until 17 May 2024. Successful candidates will be announced on 12 July 2024 on the ICANN website. For more information about the program and to apply, please visit the NextGen@ICANN website.
What is NextGen@ICANN?
The NextGen@ICANN Program provides opportunities for university students to better understand how ICANN contributes to the technical governance of the Internet and the multistakeholder model. Through an immersive program, participants will learn about topics such as the Internet ecosystem, Internet governance, and policy development at ICANN. The program also provides insight into how to engage and contribute to the work that supports the stability, resiliency, and reliability of the Internet.
NextGen@ICANN runs in conjunction with ICANN Public Meetings. It is geared toward students who are 18–30 years old and live in the region hosting the selected ICANN meeting. Participants will be required to attend courses and presentations six weeks before ICANN81. In addition, they are expected to prepare a 10-minute presentation during the meeting. Experienced mentors will support participants throughout the program.
About ICANN
ICANN’s mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.
Eligibility
Participants in the NextGen@ICANN program must be:
- Enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student.
- Between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of the ICANN meeting. If you do not meet the NextGen eligibility criteria, please explore the ICANN Fellowship program.
- Currently living and studying in the region of the respective ICANN meeting. ICANN’s meetings rotate through five geographic regions: Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Find out your ICANN region here. See the calendar and regional rotation for future meetings.In the event that applications are being accepted from regions other than the one in which the ICANN meeting is taking place, ICANN will make this information publicly available online in advance of the application process for that specific meeting.
- Interested in Internet Governance, the future of the Internet, and other topics covered at ICANN meetings.
- If selected, participant must be able to attend the ICANN meeting and required events. NextGen participants are expected to actively participate at the meeting.
- If selected, participant must be willing to present a 5 -10 minute project at the meeting. The presentation can cover topics including: research you are working on or completed, an activity related to ICANN’s work, an ICANN related website you are affiliated with, a thesis project, etc.
NextGen participants come from a variety of backgrounds. Check out previous participants and program statistics for more information.
Apply
Click here to apply to the ICANN81 NextGen@ICANN program
By applying, applicants are agreeing to attend the ICANN meeting with the NextGen@ICANN group as well as all required events. Each individual is provided a grant of support that covers the cost of economy class airfare, hotel and a stipend. NextGen participants are required to secure their own visas for travel at their own expense. If an applicant wants to obtain travel or health insurance this will be at their own expense. NextGen applicants must provide personal information; however, it is voluntary to apply.
Source: ICANN Website.