Mid Career Fellowship > Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Overview

How long does the Mid Career Fellowship last?

The Mid Career Fellowship lasts for seven months, from June to December.

Fellows are responsible for getting all the necessary relevant permissions from their employers or educational institutions to take part in the Fellowship.

What would you gain from the Fellowship?

As a Mid Career Fellow, you would:

– Increase your leadership skills and knowledge to more successfully navigate your team in times of uncertainty and disruption.
– Develop systems-and-design thinking, as well as strategic foresight.
– Become familiar with multi-disciplinary and multistakeholder approaches to digital transformation.
– Acquire practical tools and build skills that you can use to address and navigate a range of challenges, and
– Have access to a global network of Internet experts and leaders to join and benefit from.

Is there a fee to participate?

No. All costs including academic coursework, online sessions, and other program elements are covered by the Internet Society. You’ll just need to supply your own materials and technology devices.

Will the Fellowship be held in person or virtually?

We anticipate that the program will remain 100% virtual until further notice. We’ll announce decisions about future in-person cohorts as circumstances evolve.

Is there a certificate or similar upon program completion?

Yes. All fellows will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Internet Society and partners upon successful completion of the program.

How can I receive updates on this and other Fellowship programs at the Internet Society?

We keep all program information up-to-date. Information will be updated on an ongoing basis. We also encourage you to follow us.

I cannot commit to the current cohort timeline. Will there be other Fellowship programs?

Yes. The Mid Career Fellowship runs once a year.

Eligibility and Requirements

Who should apply for this program?

Mid-career professionals who:

– Have an undergraduate/vocational/honors degree and at least 10 years of impactful and relevant experience, including leading teams and/or projects.
– Have experience of or are involved in the Internet space in a technical, policy, economic, societal, or other capacity.
– Currently work in a position or organization that is addressing digital challenges or facing digital disruption and transformation.
– Desire to solve problems, work in multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary teams, and acquire new knowledge and skills.
– Understand and are keen to ensure that the Internet remains open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy.

What are the minimum requirements?

The fellows need to:

– Have reliable access to broadband Internet connection and relevant devices.
– Commit to a minimum of six hours per week for coursework, seminars, and other program activities.
– Complete the required seven months.
– Attend all required seminars or sessions that normally happen between 12h and 16h UTC.
– Be proficient in verbal and written English.

We also expect fellows to:

– Actively participate in seminars, workshops, trend talks, case studies, networking activities, and other events.
– Complete all required readings, assignments, coursework, and additional tasks when required.
– Collaborate and engage with colleagues in a respectful manner.
– Present their work at the Symposium.
– Join and contribute to the Internet Society Alumni Network once graduated.

How are candidates evaluated?

Fellows are chosen by the Internet Society Fellowship Selection Committee, composed of leaders from the Internet Society Community, the program team, and subject matter experts.

Each candidacy will be reviewed through a multi-step evaluation process that is anonymously conducted. After the review process we will get in touch with every candidate to let them know if they have, or have not, been chosen to move forward with their candidacy.

Application

Can applicants use generative AI tools when preparing their applications?

While the use of generative AI tools to support the preparation of fellowship applications is not prohibited, these tools should serve only as supportive resources, e.g., language translation, grammar correction, accessibility needs, etc.

Applicants are expected to use their own words and ideas to build an application that accurately represents their experience, expertise, and project vision. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that all information in their applications is accurate, truthful, and relevant to the proposed fellowship program for which they are applying.

When using public AI tools, avoid entering confidential information or personally identifiable information, and ensure that your use of these tools aligns with all applicable data protection laws, regulations, and policies.

If you have questions about these guidelines, please contact [email protected].