SEEDIG Youth School 2025
Growing 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 2025 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 Athens 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 10 anniversary meeting and join a growing regional community committed to shaping digital governance across South Eastern Europe.
Scroll down to learn more!
Sponsors
Date & Venue
9 October 2025
Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece
Partners
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 2025 and to travel to Athens for active participation in SEEDIG Youth School on 9 October, and SEEDIG 10 Anniversary Meeting on 10–11 October 2025
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 10 Anniversary Meeting
Process & Deadlines
- Application: submit your application by 30 June 2025
- Selection: SEEDIG Youth School organizing team will review all applications and announce selected participants on 10 July 2025
- Participation slots: a total of 30 slots, with priority given to highest-scoring applicants. Of these, 26 were awarded to top applicants from SEE region, and 4 to best-ranked candidates from host country, Greece, who were evaluated through a separate review process.
Online course: In September 2025, 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 community membership – you join the largest internet governance community in the SEE region
🔟🎂SEEDIG 10 Anniversary Meeting – as we celebrate our first decade of regional collaboration, so do you – by sharing this important milestone with us and brainstorming on what comes next
🫱🏻🫲🏽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
🧑🤝🧑SEEDIG community membership – you join the largest internet governance community in the SEE region
🔟🎂SEEDIG 10 Anniversary Meeting – as we celebrate our first decade of regional collaboration, so do you – by sharing this important milestone with us and brainstorming on what comes next
🫱🏻🫲🏽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 or recommendations when applying to regional or global fellowship programs
🐶Selfie with Umka – Meet SEEDIG’s beloved mascot, Umka! The most active and creative participants will get a chance to snap a selfie with Umka—because what’s a Youth School without some fun (and a boost to your social media presence)?
🐶Selfie with Umka – Meet SEEDIG’s beloved mascot, Umka! The most active and creative participants will get a chance to snap a selfie with Umka—because what’s a Youth School without some fun (and a boost to your social media presence)?
Meet 2025 Youth School Participants
👤 Xheni Adushaj
🏛 Polytechnic University of Tirana
🇦🇱 Albania
🏛 Polytechnic University of Tirana
🇦🇱 Albania
👤 Ilenia Kaso
🏛 Protik
🇦🇱 Albania
🏛 Protik
🇦🇱 Albania
👤 Uestli Guci
🏛 Universum powered by Arizona State University
🇦🇱 Albania
🏛 Universum powered by Arizona State University
🇦🇱 Albania
👤 Lusine Mnatsakanyan
🏛 Yerevan State University
🇦🇲 Armenia
🏛 Yerevan State University
🇦🇲 Armenia
👤 Jessie Kizi
🏛 American University of Armenia
🇦🇲 Armenia
🏛 American University of Armenia
🇦🇲 Armenia
👤 Fatima Hidayatova
🏛 UNESCO Center for Peace
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
🏛 UNESCO Center for Peace
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
👤 Lazar Lukac
🏛 Lewis and Clark College
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
🏛 Lewis and Clark College
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
👤 Lamija Kovačević
🏛 Mediacentar Sarajevo
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
🏛 Mediacentar Sarajevo
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
👤 Tamazi Mirianashvili
🏛 Georgian Technical University
🇬🇪 Georgia
🏛 Georgian Technical University
🇬🇪 Georgia
👤 Ani Tutisani
🏛 Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
🇬🇪 Georgia
🏛 Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University
🇬🇪 Georgia
👤 Christine Sotiriou
🏛 Law School of Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
🏛 Law School of Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
👤 Anhelina Kyrychuk
🏛 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
🏛 National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
👤 Elira Salihu
🏛 Democracy Plus (D+)
🇽🇰 Kosovo*
🏛 Democracy Plus (D+)
🇽🇰 Kosovo*
👤 Danil Rodionov
🏛 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
🇲🇩 Moldova
🏛 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
🇲🇩 Moldova
👤 Andrijana Paljušević
🏛 University of Macerata
🇲🇪 Montenegro
🏛 University of Macerata
🇲🇪 Montenegro
👤 Marko Vulevic
🏛 University of Montenegro – University of Cologne
🇲🇪 Montenegro
🏛 University of Montenegro – University of Cologne
🇲🇪 Montenegro
👤 Veda Evtimova
🏛 Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
🏛 Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
👤 Martin Bogatinoski
🏛 Artemisoft
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
🏛 Artemisoft
🇲🇰 North Macedonia
👤 Teodora Milosavljević
🏛 Commissioner for Protection of Equality
🇷🇸 Serbia
🏛 Commissioner for Protection of Equality
🇷🇸 Serbia
👤 Sava Dokmanovic
🏛 University of Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
🏛 University of Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
👤 Rahmi Uysal
🏛 Istanbul Bilgi University
🇹🇷 Turkey
🏛 Istanbul Bilgi University
🇹🇷 Turkey
👤 Zeynep Buyukarman
🏛 Middle East Technical University (METU)
🇹🇷 Turkey
🏛 Middle East Technical University (METU)
🇹🇷 Turkey
👤 Görkem Tükenmez
🏛 Humboldt University
🇹🇷 Turkey
🏛 Humboldt University
🇹🇷 Turkey
👤 Veronica Vashchilina
🏛 National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
🇺🇦 Ukraine
🏛 National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
🇺🇦 Ukraine
👤 Yehor Potebenko
🏛 Dnipro University of Technology
🇺🇦 Ukraine
🏛 Dnipro University of Technology
🇺🇦 Ukraine
👤 Anna Gumenyuk
🏛 Ukrainian-American Concordia University and Pryazovsky State Technical University
🇺🇦 Ukraine
🏛 Ukrainian-American Concordia University and Pryazovsky State Technical University
🇺🇦 Ukraine
👤 Ivan Radyk
🏛 NGO ‘Internews Ukraine’
🇺🇦 Ukraine
🏛 NGO ‘Internews Ukraine’
🇺🇦 Ukraine
Agenda Coming Soon...
Great things take time! Our team is working with top experts to craft sessions you won’t want to miss👩💻😎
🔽Explore Past Editions🔽
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
