The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is calling for
applications for the
NextGen@ICANN Program for the ICANN80 Policy Forum.
ICANN wants to hear from university students living and studying in the African region who are interested in the future of the Internet and in participating in the ICANN80 Policy Forum. ICANN80 is scheduled to be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 10–13 June 2024.
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 and is geared towards students who are 18–30 years old and who live in the region hosting the selected ICANN meeting. Participants will be required to attend courses and presentations six weeks prior to the ICANN Public Meeting. In addition, they are expected to prepare a 10-minute presentation during the ICANN Public Meeting. Experienced mentors will support participants throughout the program.
The NextGen application window will open on 15 January and remain open until 23 February 2024. Successful candidates will be announced on 15 March 2024 on the ICANN website. For more information about the program and to apply, please visit the
NextGen@ICANN website.
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.