Founding meeting of a dynamic coalition on schools of internet governance

Event report

[Read more session reports and live updates from the 12th Internet Governance Forum]

The session, moderated by Ms Sandra Hoferichter, EuroSSIG, featured discussions on how to found a Dynamic Coalition on Schools of Internet Governance (DC-SIG). A DC-SIG should serve as a platform to exchange experiences and good practices and to coordinate activities between different SIGs.

In her introductory statement, Hoferichter recorded that during the IGF in Guadalajara organisers of various SIGs presented their experiences and agreed to form a Dynamic Coalition.

This was a working session about the DC-SIG proposal and various representatives of SIGs around the world were there to collaborate on the document. During the session, representatives from India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal talked about the first time experiences of their schools, which were gained in 2017.

Some aspects discussed in the session were to:

• Show the importance of bringing together the various SIGs to compare their curricula and the way they work. The models can be documented using common terminology, to be developed, that makes learning from each of the models available to all who wish to start, or improve, an SIG.
• Find common points that can be shared across the various programs.
• Discuss whether there are any elements that are strict requirements for all SIGs. If there are, then to document those in a consensual manner.
• Work on sample curricula to help those schools that wish to establish a strong academic basis, and eventually introduce a level system (entry, advanced, specialised).
• Look at models for teaching the various topics, including remote instruction, webinars, prerecorded, and streamed content.
• Demonstrate the importance of  networking and face-to-face meetings as being crucial to achieving this goal.
• Look at models for introducing schools to the workings of the multistakeholder model.
• Look at models to certificate students. There are different models used for this: such as credits in a master or doctorate program at some national universities, or just simple certification.
• Investigate and develop models for funding schools around the world.
• Create a global database for alumni and faculty, with common teaching materials.
• Help the audience understand the differences between a forum and a school on Internet Governance.

At the end of the session, Hoferichter considered the necessity of representatives from at least three different sectors to create a DC. She offered a temporary space on the EuroDIG server for hosting the DC web site.

By Nathalia Sautchuk Patrício