Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy
See here for APIGA2026 information
Information below applies to the annual in-person 5 day Regional APIGA event.
More information about the APIGA program expansion is here.
About the Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy
The Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) is a capacity-development program focused on Internet governance targeted at youths aged 18-35 from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. APIGA is co-hosted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA). It is organized in collaboration with regional organizations including the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), DotAsia Organisation, the Internet Society (ISOC), etc.
Aim
The Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) aims to develop youth leaders’ understanding of the Internet and its ecosystem. APIGA also aims to equip its participants with the knowledge and skills to participate in Internet policymaking through developing a foundation of the following:
The concept of Internet Governance, and the multistakeholder model of policymaking;
Current global Internet Governance issues, and applying these issues at the local and regional levels;
The confidence to speak up and take up community leadership roles in regional and international fora.
Last but not least, APIGA also aims to spark and develop participants’ interest in global Internet trends.
Learning is through immersive, hands-on sessions with dedicated mentoring by regional industry experts. Participants will also build a strong network with peers, APIGA alumni, leading APAC Internet organizations, and key APAC community leaders.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will build confidence in and appreciation for multistakeholder processes, such as that found in ICANN and IGF platforms. Participants will be exposed to a range of Internet governance topics and will be able to stay connected to the APAC Internet community through the academy’s partnerships with regional initiatives.
Upon successful completion of the 5-day event, participants will also receive a certificate of completion given by KISA and ICANN.
Upon graduation, participants will be part of the APIGA alumni network, where regional organizations will continue to share information and participation opportunities on regional and global Internet governance-related events including IGF and ICANN meetings.
Key Dates
Each year, the Regional APIGA event will be held for 5-days around July/August, and applications will begin around March. Local APIGA events are held within each cycle dates, typically around August/September to March/April.
Speakers
Leading speakers from the local, regional and global organizations involved in Internet governance, including ICANN and KISA, will be invited to lead discussions during the 5-day program.
Participants
Eligibility
This program is designed for motivated undergraduate and graduate students from universities and those engaged in IG relevant entities in the Asia Pacific Region. As the sessions and discussions are conducted in English, a good grasp of the English language is preferred. The program will include group work and projects, and participants are expected to be engaged full-time during the day, as well as outside of event session hours.
Full Fellowship will be given to suitable candidates from Asia Pacific.
Target number of participants: Approx. 40-50 participants (Exact number depends on the funding amount available each year)
Application Process
Participants will be selected through the following three avenues:
(1) Open application portal
(2) Local APIGA admissions
(3) Funded participants by partner/regional Internet organizations
Refer to the respective Regional APIGA website for each year for more details.
Prerequisites
Selected candidates are required to complete a series of pre-requisites to be eligible for the Regional APIGA event. This includes designated online live sessions as well as self-study online modules.
Key Program Elements
APIGA consists of a robust program that includes interactive components, such as model conference and group projects. The academy program includes the following topics:
History and Evolution of Internet Governance
Introduction to the Internet’s Global Ecosystem
Fundamentals of Internet Infrastructure and Internet Security
Introduction to the Internet’s Unique Identifier Systems and Relevant Coordination Bodies
Introduction to the Multistakeholder Model and ICANN’s Policymaking Process
Hot Topics on Internet Governance and Current Technologies
Refer to the respective Regional APIGA website for each year for more details.
Pre-Requisite Learning
To ensure effective learning and to facilitate more robust discussions at the 5-day Regional APIGA event, a series of self-study online learning courses as well as online live sessions are developed as part of participants' pre-requisite learning. All courses and sessions are mandatory (participants who fail to complete will not be eligible to participate in the 5-day program).
The pre-requisite learning are typically held between May-July each year, and information will be shared with participants accordingly.
Group Work and Projects
Group work and projects are a key component of APIGA. Example group projects include developing IGF workshop proposals and presentations on selected hot topics. This provides an opportunity for participants to develop cross-cultural communication and collaboration skills, as well as to instill confidence in public speaking and sharing of views in group settings.
ICANN Model Conference
Participants will prepare for, and present, in a role-playing segment during the ICANN Model Conference. The ICANN Model Conference is organized and led by youth leaders consisting of APIGA alumni and NetMission Ambassadors (NetMission.Asia is an Ambassadors Program supported by DotAsia Organisation, which aims to bring together a network of dedicated young volunteers to promote digital inclusion, Internet governance as well as a respectable and harmonious Internet environment). This session will allow participants to gain first-hand experience on how ICANN discussions are conducted and a better understanding of the ICANN multistakeholder decision-making process.
About the Hosts
Korea Internet & Security Agency, KISA
KISA is a government agency dedicated to promoting Internet and information security and contributing to Korea’s Global Competitiveness.
KISA has set ‘Internet Promotion’ for the future and ‘Information Security’ for our safety as its primary tasks, and is focusing on enhancing the information security capacity of Korea’s ICT industry while expanding global cooperative partnerships based on the K-ICT Security development Strategy, in order that these twin pillars may serve as the core competencies of the future Korea in equal and harmonious measure.
KISA, founded in 2009 through a merger of three separate organizations, is dedicated to developing Korea’s Internet industry and information security capabilities. As an Internet and security promotion agency armed with global competitiveness, KISA will maintain its commitment to creating a safe and happy Internet world.
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ICANN
ICANN’s mission is to help ensure a stable, secure and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you have to type an address into your computer – a name or a number. That address has to be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world.
ICANN was formed in 1998 as a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation and a community with participants from all over the world. ICANN and its community help keep the Internet secure, stable and interoperable. It also promotes competition and develops policies for the top-level of the Internet’s naming system and facilitates the use of other unique Internet identifiers.
ICANN doesn't control content on the Internet. It cannot stop spam and it doesn't deal with access to the Internet. But through its coordination role of the Internet's naming system, it does have an important impact on the expansion and evolution of the Internet.