Mariam Gongladze

KPM LLC, Georgia

I am a dedicated lawyer with a strong academic foundation, having recently earned a Master’s degree in Business Law from the Free University of Tbilisi in December 2024. Prior to this, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Law. Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have developed a strong interest in the dynamic intersection of law and technology. My academic work has equipped me with relevant legal knowledge and refined my ability to critically analyze the interconnectedness of business, technology, and law.

Fellow Report:

I am very happy that I had the privilege of attending the European Summer School on Internet Governance 2025 as a fellow and personally experiencing every detail of it.

The fellowship gave me the freedom to explore many things and an opportunity for professional and personal growth. As someone interested in the intersection of law and technology, participating in this year’s summer school was truly an exceptional journey for me. EuroSSIG helped me understand and learn not only the technical foundations of the Internet, but also the legal, policy and social issues that shape its present and future. I had a unique in-depth learning experience and it really exceeded my expectations in the best way possible.

Diversity is the word that best describes the school – from the programme and the faculty to the cultural and social events that brought us closer together and gave us a deeper understanding of the broad environment we are all part of. One of the most rewarding aspects was the chance to meet and exchange ideas with fellows and faculty from different professional and cultural backgrounds.

The diversity of the fellows representing the government, the private sector, academia, business, and civil society made this experience even more valuable. Being in a multistakeholder environment and hearing their perspectives and experiences helped me better understand the importance of dialogue and the different challenges we face daily regarding Internet governance.

I also wish to mention that breakout sessions, which were an integral part of our daily programme, proved to be among the most valuable components of the school. They allowed me to directly ask additional questions to the faculty, share my opinions and learn more about different relevant aspects.

Working on the WSIS+20 Review practicum was another highlight for me. It gave all the fellows the chance to contribute our voices and ideas to an important global process.

Last but not least, I want to mention the excellent organisational aspect of the school. It was obvious that everything was perfectly planned and carried out with great attention to detail and I really appreciated that.

I want to express my sincere gratitude and say thank you to the faculty, fellows, sponsors and everyone involved for giving me the opportunity to be part of EuroSSIG 2025, which proved to be an unforgettable experience.