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SEEDIG Youth School 2026

Seeding Together – A Journey from Learning to Leading

...because meaningful change starts with informed and connected youth

What Is SEEDIG Youth School?


SEEDIG Youth School is a dynamic capacity-building initiative aimed at equipping university students and young professionals from 18 countries in SEEDIG region with foundational knowledge and skills in the fields of internet governance and digital policy.

The 2026 edition is structured in two complementary phases. The first phase consists of a moderated online Internet Governance Course developed by the Internet Society, offering a comprehensive overview of key stakeholders, infrastructure, and frameworks defining digital ecosystem. The second phase is an in-person, one-day event held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, featuring interactive workshops, expert discussions, and peer-to-peer exchange.

Successful participants will be awarded two certificates – one upon completing the online course and another for full participation in the SEEDIG Youth School.

As an additional benefit, all Youth School participants will have their participation costs covered for the SEEDIG 11 meeting and join a growing regional community committed to shaping digital governance across South Eastern Europe. Subject to final budget approvals and logistical arrangements, there may be an opportunity for some participants to travel to Nairobi for the IGF meeting. 
Scroll down to learn more!

Date & Venue

The SEEDIG Youth School 2026 will kick off on
12th November at Zgrada Rektorata UNSA in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the ideal place to begin your journey into internet governance.
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View location on Google Maps

Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Partner
Who Can Apply?
  • Age: 18-30 years old
  • Background: university students and young professionals
  • Language: fluency in English
  • Place of origin or residence: must be from one of 18 SEEDIG region countries
  • Motivation: demonstrated interest in internet governance, digital policies, and related fields
  • Commitment: available to complete an online course in September 2026 and to travel to Sarajevo for active participation in SEEDIG Youth School on 12th November, and SEEDIG 11 Meeting on 13–14 November 2026

Participation Costs

Selected participants will receive:

  • Free access to the Internet Society’s online Internet Governance Course
  • Full coverage of travel, accommodation, and meals for SEEDIG Youth School and SEEDIG 11 Meeting
Process & Deadlines
  • Application: submit your application by 10 August 2026
  • Selection: SEEDIG Youth School organizing team will review all applications and announce selected participants on 15 August 2026
  • Participation slots: a total of 25 slots, with priority given to highest-scoring applicants. 

  • Online course: In September 2026, participants will enroll in a moderated Internet Governance Course delivered by the Internet Society. In addition to self-paced learning modules, the course includes weekly live webinars with thematic experts, offering participants the chance to engage directly and deepen their understanding.

    The course provides a comprehensive overview of internet governance, covering key areas such as its history, core policy principles, key actors and stakeholders, infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, multilingualism, and cybersecurity. It also explores the multistakeholder model and the developmental dimensions of internet governance.

From Youth School To Bigger Stage

SEEDIG Youth School is not your final destination – it’s your entry ticket into the digital governance space. As a participant, you don’t just complete a program – you step into a broader ecosystem of opportunities, visibility, and meaningful engagement. Here’s what awaits you beyond the Youth School:

🔟🎂SEEDIG 11 Meeting – as we continue our regional collaboration, so do you – by sharing this important milestone, 11th edition, with us and brainstorming on what comes next. You get two extra days funded to attend the main meeting.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑SEEDIG community membership – you join the largest internet governance community in the SEE region

🫱🏻‍🫲🏽Networking opportunities – get the chance to engage with key stakeholders and policymakers, expanding your professional network and exploring new paths for advocacy, collaboration, and career development in the digital governance ecosystem

📝Endorsements for fellowship applications – alumni may receive support letters when applying to regional/global fellowship programs

Click here to apply

🔽Explore Past Editions🔽

2024 EDITION

30 graduating students
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2020 EDITION

17 graduating students
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2019 EDITION

17 graduating students
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2018 EDITION

12 graduating students
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2017 EDITION

19 graduating students
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Alumni testimonials

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to participate in the SEEDIG Youth School 2024 in Belgrade. It was an inspiring experience that deepened my understanding of Internet governance and allowed me to engage with a diverse group of passionate peers from across the SEE region. The program offered valuable insights through sessions led by an international team of experts, and attending the SEEDIG conference was a unique chance to witness real-time policy discussions. Thank you to the organizers, mentors, and everyone involved for creating such a welcoming and enriching environment — I left Belgrade with new knowledge, meaningful connections, and lasting motivation.
Narek Sargsyan
Narek Sargsyan2024 alumnus
As someone who had their first contact with internet governance through the SEEDIG Youth School, I have to say that the experience was incredibly valuable. It introduced something very interesting and engaging. The issues we discussed reflected current dilemmas in cyberspace and those likely to evolve even further in the future. After the Youth School, we also had the opportunity to attend the SEEDIG 9 annual meeting, where we gained even deeper insights into developments in this field. Beyond the knowledge we acquired, we also met some wonderful people and formed friendships that truly enriched the entire experience.
Ana Kerleta
Ana Kerleta2024 alumna
I recently had a wonderful opportunity to take part in the SEEDIG Youth School, a fantastic initiative that gathers young people from all over South Eastern Europe to explore key issues in internet governance. This experience was incredibly motivating, offering not just essential knowledge and skills but also a chance to connect with others who share a passion for shaping the future of the internet. I strongly recommend that students and young professionals interested in digital policy consider joining the SEEDIG Youth School. It’s a remarkable chance to learn, network, and create a meaningful impact. Thank you SEEDIG for having me!
Ana Zaninović
Ana Zaninović2024 alumna
I’ve been a tech enthusiast for quite a while now, but my first acquaintance with the realm of Internet governance was at SEEDIG YS this year, and it has opened a whole new range of horizons for me. It has made me more aware of all the stakeholders that are involved in the Internet ecosystem, their respective roles and responsibilities, and all the ways in which Internet governance impacts various aspects of our daily lives.
Irina Buzu
Irina Buzu2020 alumna
For me, the SEEDIG Youth School proved that efficient online education is possible and maybe even better! While I was tired of trying hard to focus on 2-hours-long monologues of my professors at the university to not to miss anything, the YS enabled us to learn well-curated content at our own pace and dive deeper into the new concepts that we’ve learned with a multinational and multidisciplinary team of participants. Besides successfully covering the basic knowledge and terminology of Internet governance, the programme also encouraged us to develop and share ideas about the most pressing issues around it.
Zülal Erdoğan
Zülal Erdoğan2020 alumna
To me, the SEEDIG Youth School was the beginning of a journey and a continuous learning experience in the field of Internet governance. Going through rigorous yet exciting online & onsite activities made me gain enough momentum to keep getting involved in other events. The fact that I’m still in touch with the participants and I occasionally meet other SEEDIG members in international Internet governance activities shows how connected and carrying this community is. If you want to learn more about Internet governance, make new friendships or professional connections, SEEDIG Youth School is the perfect place to kickstart.
Daniel Kalemi
Daniel Kalemi2019 alumnus
The SEEDIG Youth School was an amazing experience, which helped me learn a lot about many Internet governance-related issues. Meeting different people with all sorts of interests made me think more about the intersections of Internet governance and other fields. Moreover, we had awesome discussions and struck up lasting friendships.
Aleksandra Ivanković
Aleksandra Ivanković2019 alumna
The SEEDIG Youth School it is one of my best workshops, the initiative is awesome, and the experience is priceless. I met a lot of interesting people and experts on different topics with different perspectives and opinions. I learned a lot about Internet governance and the activities in this region, where I plan to get more involved thanks to this programme.
Marko Paloski
Marko Paloski2018 alumnus
I enjoyed the fact that despite coming from a social sciences background, I was able to get actively involved and share roles and responsibilities with all the other peers at the 2018 SEEDIG Youth School. Round tables and informal talks on the topic of Internet governance and artificial intelligence were particularly interesting for me. SEEDIG’s willingness to engage with individuals and organisations representing various stakeholders with a diverse level of involvement and skills was an important precondition for the productive dialogue in Ljubljana.
Mirko Savković
Mirko Savković2018 alumnus
Being part of SEEDIG was a very interesting experience for me. I learned a lot of new things regarding cybersecurity and its future. The most important thing is that thanks to SEEDIG I would love to work and have a career in this field. I really hope that in a near future I will have the opportunity to meet again with experts of cybersecurity.
Gesara Halili
Gesara Halili2017 alumna