Rotary International Peace Fellowship, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
I hold a bachelor’s degree in political science, where I developed a strong foundation in governance, political institutions, and public policy. I am currently pursuing an MSc in Sustainable Development at the University of Bradford, UK, as a Rotary Peace Fellow. I have also been awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue an MSc in International Development (Conflict, Security and Development) at the University of Birmingham, UK, which is currently deferred. My academic training focuses on global governance, development policy, and the interaction between international frameworks and national contexts.
Personal Reflection on EuroSSIG 2026
The European Summer School on Internet Governance (EuroSSIG) was one of the highlights of my summer. The intensive one-week programme brought together fellows from different parts of the world and faculty from the technical community, civil society, academia, government and the private sector to learn about and discuss how the Internet functions, how it is governed today, and how its governance should evolve in the future.
For me, the most valuable part of EuroSSIG was the opportunity to engage in discussions and debates with fellows and faculty who brought very different expertise, experiences and perspectives. As someone coming from a civil society and development studies background, I approached many of these discussions through questions of governance, inclusion, human rights and sustainable development. Other participants naturally viewed the same issues from technical, legal, governmental or private-sector perspectives. We did not always agree, but this was precisely what made the discussions valuable. It helped me understand that Internet governance involves balancing different interests, values and responsibilities rather than finding simple solutions.
Discussions on the multistakeholder model, human rights in the digital age, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, critical Internet infrastructure and the geopolitical dimensions of the Internet particularly broadened my understanding of the complexity of Internet governance. One of my highlights was the Practicum, where we worked in groups to develop a future vision for the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), including its values, mission and priorities. For me, the exercise went beyond Internet governance. It was also an experience in peer learning, dialogue, negotiation and finding common ground among people with different perspectives.
EuroSSIG was equally valuable beyond the classroom. Meissen provided a beautiful setting in which to learn about German culture and history, while the relationships developed during the week became an important part of the experience. I was also fortunate to participate in EuroSSIG’s 20th anniversary celebration, which brought together alumni from previous years. Meeting them provided an additional opportunity to learn about their experiences and become connected to the wider EuroSSIG community.
I am very grateful to EuroSSIG, its faculty, organisers, and sponsors for making this experience possible and for sustaining a space where people from diverse backgrounds learn, openly discuss, and debate the future of Internet governance. I leave the programme with a broader understanding of the field, new perspectives, and, importantly, new friendships and connections that I hope will continue well beyond the Summer School.