Mozilla Network Tech Policy Fellowship: Difference between revisions

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=Summary=
=Summary=
Over the past decade, a growing number of tech and policy experts have been actively creating a policy and regulatory environment that has contributed to the health and openness of the Internet. The leaders of this work need support consolidate and document what has been learned -- and also need avenues to collectively build a new policy agenda based on that learning. With this in mind, Mozilla will initiate a fellowship focused on technology policy inside its Mozilla Network (MN). The fellowship program will bring together fellows and other tech policy experts to research, publish, teach, convene stakeholders, and participate in events.
Over the past decade, a growing number of tech and policy experts have been actively creating a policy and regulatory environment in government that has contributed to the health and openness of the Internet. The leaders of this work need support to consolidate and document what has been learned -- and also need avenues to collectively shape the policy agenda going forward. With this in mind, in 2017 Mozilla launched a new fellowship focused on technology policy. The fellowship program brings together tech policy experts to research, publish, teach, convene stakeholders, and participate in events.
 
=Background=
=Background=
Tech policy plays an increasingly important role in the development of the Internet and the nature of online life. The last decade has seen a number of policy victories for the health of the Internet: (1) progress on net neutrality in the US, Europe and India; (2) increased government attention to digital literacy and coding in countries like the UK and Estonia; (3) the Marco Civil in Brazil. There are also some defeats and challenges on the horizon, especially in areas such as encryption and across new frontiers like the Internet of things.
Tech policy plays an increasingly important role in the development of the Internet and the nature of online life. The last decade has seen an increase in policy activity around the health of the Internet including progress on net neutrality in the Europe and India (and ongoing activity in the U.S.); increased government attention to digital literacy and coding in countries like the UK and Estonia; the Marco Civil in Brazil. There are also some opportunities and challenges on the horizon, especially in areas such as encryption, financial technology, and artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things -- not to mention combating any backsliding that may come from changing political climates.  


A growing number of tech policy professionals with experience in policy design, legislation and regulatory implementation, including individuals focused on Internet health related issues who have been at the forefront of securing many of these victories. A significant number of these people have left or are leaving government service. As these individuals leave, we can help them to consolidate and document what they’ve learned, as well as help to create opportunities for them to build upon this learning and participate in developing a future policy agenda for the health of the Internet. We can help create avenues for these people to stay connected, collaborate, learn from each other and continue their work.  
A growing number of tech policy professionals with experience in law, policy design, legislation, and regulatory implementation -- including individuals focused on Internet health-related issues who have been at the forefront of securing many of the victories in this space -- have left or are leaving government service. As these individuals move on, we can help them to consolidate and document what they’ve learned, as well as help to create opportunities for them to build upon this learning and participate in policy efforts to improve the health of the Internet. We can help create avenues for these people to stay connected, collaborate, learn from each other, and continue their work.


=Program Opportunity=
=Program=
To achieve the objectives outlined above, Mozilla will create a fellowship program focused on technology policy, to complement its existing fellowship programs. Mozilla Network Fellowships present unique opportunities for professionals who believe in the mission of a healthier Internet. This particular fellowship will give tech policy professionals, including those who have left government, a chance to collaborate, connect and accelerate their work and impact, including documenting their learning, developing future policy proposals and staying connected to each other. These fellows will leverage the infrastructure of the network, and will participate in network-aligned activities including publication and events.  
To achieve the objectives outlined above, in 2017 Mozilla launched a fellowship program focused on technology policy. Mozilla Fellowships present unique opportunities for professionals who believe in the mission of a healthier Internet. This fellowship will give tech policy professionals the opportunity to collaborate and connect with one another, with Mozilla’s own policy leaders, and with other tech policy experts within the Mozilla Network and the field. Fellows will have the support to accelerate their work and its impact, including documenting their learning, publishing and speaking, developing policy recommendations, and staying connected to each other.


The program will be global by design, ensuring that the analysis, reporting and documentation of lessons learned have global relevance and speak to a worldwide audience. In the first year, we will be seeking a mix of fellows who have left or are leaving after having served in government in the US (up to five), and people who have recently served in governments in other parts of the world (up to five).  
The program will be global by design, ensuring that the analysis, reporting and documentation of lessons learned have global relevance and speak to a worldwide audience. The fellowship cohort will consist of a mix of individuals who have recent government experience in the United States and in other parts of the world.


=Goals and Objectives=
=Goals and Objectives=
<b>Our aim is to grow the field of people developing policy that will keep the internet healthy.</b>  More specifically, these fellowships will help:
<b>Our aim is to grow the field of people developing policy that will keep the Internet healthy.</b>  More specifically, these fellowships will help:
* '''Enhance''' the ability of the network to anticipate, understand, and analyze policy developments.  
* '''Enhance''' the ability of the Mozilla Network to anticipate, understand, and analyze policy developments.  
* '''Establish''' an active and vibrant community of tech policy professionals  with interest in and commitment to internet health.
* '''Establish''' an active and vibrant community of tech policy professionals  with interest in and commitment to Internet health.
* '''Participate''' in thought-leadership work and communicate around internet health issues actively.  
* '''Participate''' in thought leadership work and actively communicate around internet health issues.  
* '''Position''' Mozilla as a partner and support of other organizations working on similar open internet issues.
* '''Position''' Mozilla as a partner and support of other organizations working on similar open internet issues.


Of course, this initiative is also designed to help fellows advance more specific project and career goals that each defines for themselves. These projects should focus on the overall theme of internet health.
This initiative is also designed to help fellows advance more specific project and career goals that each defines for themselves. These projects should focus on an aspect of tech policy that supports Internet health.


= Fellowship Details =
= Fellowship Details =
In general, the Mozilla Network helps drive the mission through common operating methods, which are reflected in and across each hub [see [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KLFDzyr1jC-19TH7sI6WEBSYmo2KUyzxHzgb0j_KaUg/edit strategy]]. Those methods include
In general, the Mozilla Network helps drive the mission through common operating methods, which are reflected in and across each area of focus. Those methods include
* '''Training'''. We provide free and open curricula and training programs to help leaders develop the skills they need to ensure the next wave of access, inclusion and opportunity online. Example: Web Literacy Training Module
* '''Training'''. We provide free and open curricula and training programs to help leaders develop the skills they need to ensure the next wave of access, inclusion and opportunity online. Example: [https://thimbleprojects.org/chadsansing/75057/#overview Web Literacy Training Module]
* '''Convening'''. We bring members of the Mozilla Network together, to learn from one another, exchange ideas and join forces. Example: MozFest
* '''Convening'''. We bring members of the Mozilla Network together, to learn from one another, exchange ideas and join forces. Example: [https://mozillafestival.org/ MozFest]
* '''Membership'''. Members join because they share Mozilla’s vision, and stay because of the strong, diverse community and unique professional development opportunities the network provides. Example: Fellowships
* '''Membership'''. Members join because they share Mozilla’s vision, and stay because of the strong, diverse community and unique professional development opportunities the network provides. Example: [https://science.mozilla.org/programs/fellowships Fellowships]


The tech policy fellowship program will establish a cohort of up to 10 fellows actively engaged at any point in time, working on a full-time or part-time basis for an approx. one-year duration (renewal possible). The program would provide fellows the intellectual freedom to define their own work focus, with broad parameters; the exact deliverables from the fellowship are defined by the fellows.  
The Tech Policy Fellowship will establish a <b> cohort of fellows</b> actively engaged for <b> one year</b>. The program will provide fellows with the intellectual freedom to define their own work focus within tech policy and fellows will define their own deliverables, including research, policy recommendations, convenings and workshops, public speaking, and publishing written pieces.  


Events and convening are a key method for the success of the program, allowing fellows to communicate their research and findings into the network, and collaborate with network members. Fellows will leverage existing programs, for example by working with the MozFest team to bring deep policy expertise into the event, organize policy-focused sessions and generally build the agency of the network to understand and influence developments at the policy level.
<b>Events and convenings</b> are a key method for the success of the program, allowing fellows to communicate their research and findings into the network, and collaborate with network members. Fellows will leverage existing programs, for example by working with the MozFest team to bring deep policy expertise into the event through organizing policy-focused sessions and building the agency of the network to understand and influence developments at the policy level.


Publications are another important avenue to disseminate learnings, and connect within the network. Fellows are expected to be key contributors to the Internet Health report, not only helping set its editorial direction but also contributing with content. Additionally, they may write opinion pieces and thought-leadership articles for mainstream media, helping enhance the understanding of the broader audiences of emerging tech policy challenges.
<b>Publications</b> are another important avenue to disseminate learnings, and connect within the network. Fellows work will be reflected in the Internet Health report and other Mozilla publications. Additionally, they may write blog posts, opinion pieces and thought-leadership articles, helping to enhance the understanding of the broader audiences of emerging tech policy challenges.

Latest revision as of 23:03, 7 March 2018

Summary

Over the past decade, a growing number of tech and policy experts have been actively creating a policy and regulatory environment in government that has contributed to the health and openness of the Internet. The leaders of this work need support to consolidate and document what has been learned -- and also need avenues to collectively shape the policy agenda going forward. With this in mind, in 2017 Mozilla launched a new fellowship focused on technology policy. The fellowship program brings together tech policy experts to research, publish, teach, convene stakeholders, and participate in events.

Background

Tech policy plays an increasingly important role in the development of the Internet and the nature of online life. The last decade has seen an increase in policy activity around the health of the Internet including progress on net neutrality in the Europe and India (and ongoing activity in the U.S.); increased government attention to digital literacy and coding in countries like the UK and Estonia; the Marco Civil in Brazil. There are also some opportunities and challenges on the horizon, especially in areas such as encryption, financial technology, and artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things -- not to mention combating any backsliding that may come from changing political climates.

A growing number of tech policy professionals with experience in law, policy design, legislation, and regulatory implementation -- including individuals focused on Internet health-related issues who have been at the forefront of securing many of the victories in this space -- have left or are leaving government service. As these individuals move on, we can help them to consolidate and document what they’ve learned, as well as help to create opportunities for them to build upon this learning and participate in policy efforts to improve the health of the Internet. We can help create avenues for these people to stay connected, collaborate, learn from each other, and continue their work.

Program

To achieve the objectives outlined above, in 2017 Mozilla launched a fellowship program focused on technology policy. Mozilla Fellowships present unique opportunities for professionals who believe in the mission of a healthier Internet. This fellowship will give tech policy professionals the opportunity to collaborate and connect with one another, with Mozilla’s own policy leaders, and with other tech policy experts within the Mozilla Network and the field. Fellows will have the support to accelerate their work and its impact, including documenting their learning, publishing and speaking, developing policy recommendations, and staying connected to each other.

The program will be global by design, ensuring that the analysis, reporting and documentation of lessons learned have global relevance and speak to a worldwide audience. The fellowship cohort will consist of a mix of individuals who have recent government experience in the United States and in other parts of the world.

Goals and Objectives

Our aim is to grow the field of people developing policy that will keep the Internet healthy. More specifically, these fellowships will help:

  • Enhance the ability of the Mozilla Network to anticipate, understand, and analyze policy developments.
  • Establish an active and vibrant community of tech policy professionals with interest in and commitment to Internet health.
  • Participate in thought leadership work and actively communicate around internet health issues.
  • Position Mozilla as a partner and support of other organizations working on similar open internet issues.

This initiative is also designed to help fellows advance more specific project and career goals that each defines for themselves. These projects should focus on an aspect of tech policy that supports Internet health.

Fellowship Details

In general, the Mozilla Network helps drive the mission through common operating methods, which are reflected in and across each area of focus. Those methods include

  • Training. We provide free and open curricula and training programs to help leaders develop the skills they need to ensure the next wave of access, inclusion and opportunity online. Example: Web Literacy Training Module
  • Convening. We bring members of the Mozilla Network together, to learn from one another, exchange ideas and join forces. Example: MozFest
  • Membership. Members join because they share Mozilla’s vision, and stay because of the strong, diverse community and unique professional development opportunities the network provides. Example: Fellowships

The Tech Policy Fellowship will establish a cohort of fellows actively engaged for one year. The program will provide fellows with the intellectual freedom to define their own work focus within tech policy and fellows will define their own deliverables, including research, policy recommendations, convenings and workshops, public speaking, and publishing written pieces.

Events and convenings are a key method for the success of the program, allowing fellows to communicate their research and findings into the network, and collaborate with network members. Fellows will leverage existing programs, for example by working with the MozFest team to bring deep policy expertise into the event through organizing policy-focused sessions and building the agency of the network to understand and influence developments at the policy level.

Publications are another important avenue to disseminate learnings, and connect within the network. Fellows work will be reflected in the Internet Health report and other Mozilla publications. Additionally, they may write blog posts, opinion pieces and thought-leadership articles, helping to enhance the understanding of the broader audiences of emerging tech policy challenges.