Announcing the EU Tech Policy Fellowship

By Jan-Willem, Cillian_, SteveThompson @ 2022-03-30T08:15 (+53)

Announcing the EU Tech Policy Fellowship, a cost-covered programme to catapult relevant graduates into high-impact career paths in European policy and Tech Policy roles. 

Summary 

Training for Good is excited to announce the EU Technology Policy Fellowship. This programme enables promising EU citizens to launch careers focused on regulating high-priority emerging technologies, especially AI and cybersecurity. 

This fellowship consists of three components:

• Remote study group (July - August, 4 hours a week): A 6 week part-time study group covering AI governance & technology policy fundamentals.
• Policy training in Brussels (late August / early September - exact date TBD): An intensive week-long bootcamp in Brussels featuring workshops, guest lectures from relevant experts and networking events.
• Tracks: Fellows will then participate in one of two tracks depending on their interests.
  • Track 1 (September - December full time): Fellows will be matched with a host organisation working on European tech regulation for a ~3 month placement between September and December 2022.
    • Host organisations include The Future Society, Centre for European Policy Studies, and NLAI Coalition (among others).
  • Track 2 (September): Fellows will receive job application support and guidance to pursue a career in the European Commission, party politics or related policy jobs in Europe. 
    • This will include career workshops, feedback on CVs, interview training and mentorship from experienced policy professionals.

Other important points:

• If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the program and whether or not it’s the right fit for you, Training for Good will be hosting an informal information session on Thursday April 7 (5.30pm CET), please subscribe here for that session.
• This fellowship is only open to EU citizens.
• Modest stipends are available to cover living and relocation costs. We expect most stipends to be between €1,250 and €1,750 per month (though will take individual circumstances into consideration).
  • For track 1, stipends are available for up to 4 months while participating in placements.
  • For track 2, stipends are available for up to 1 month while exploring and applying for policy roles.

Apply here by April 19th.

The Programme

The programme spans ~5 months from July to December, is fully cost-covered, and where needed, participants can avail of stipends to cover living costs. It consists of 3 major parts:

• Remote study group (July - August): A 6 week study group covering AI governance & technology policy fundamentals (draft curriculum). This study group will run from July 18 - August 28, including ~4 hours of readings and a 1 hour discussion each week.
• Policy training in Brussels (exact date TBD): An intensive week-long bootcamp in Brussels featuring workshops, guest lectures from relevant experts and networking events.
  • This training will either run the week commencing August 29 or September 5 (exact date to be decided).
  • All accomodation, food & travel costs will be fully covered by Training for Good.
• Tracks: Fellows will then participate in one of two tracks depending on their interests.
  • Track 1 (September - December): Fellows will be matched with a host organisation working on European tech regulation for a ~3 month placement between September and December 2022.
    • Host organisations include The Future Society, Centre for European Policy Studies, and NL AI Coalition (among others).
    • Modest stipends are available to fellows during these placements to cover living and relocation costs for up to 4 months.
  • Track 2 (September): Fellows will receive job application support and guidance to pursue a career in the European Commission, party politics or related policy jobs in Europe. 
    • This will include career workshops, feedback on CVs, interview training and mentorship from experienced policy professionals.
    • Modest stipends are available to fellows during this period to explore and apply for policy roles for up to 1 month.

Who should apply

Ideal candidates for this fellowship might have:: 

• Excellent academic records and relevant extracurricular activities
• A strong interest / educational background in policy, technology or artificial intelligence
• A desire to maximize the good they do with their careers

In addition to the above, we expect that:

• Many candidates will be recent graduates or current students nearing the end of their studies.
• Some applicants will have a technical background. This is seen as a plus, but is by no means a requirement. Additional pre-reading materials will be shared where needed.

This fellowship is only open to EU citizens. If you’re interested in similar US-focused programmes, we recommend the Open Philanthropy Technology Policy Fellowship.

Our Aims

This programme aims to provide EAs with the ambition to play an important role in shaping European AI/Tech policy and to gain a headstart in their career. They will leave the programme with:

• Increased knowledge of the most important aspects of AI Governance
• An understanding of the regulatory landscape in Brussels
• Increased exposure and a better network
• Either career capital (for example, having spent 3 months interning at a relevant institution) or completed applications for relevant positions within the EU institutions
• A valuable addition to their CV/Resume.

Placements at Host Institutions (Track 1)

Each placement will be unique. Fellows will be matched with a partner organisation based on the needs of the organisation and the fellows' skills. We have agreed placements with The Future Society, Centre for European Policy Studies, and NLAI Coalition (among others).

• Partner organisations will host a fellow, physically or remotely.
• Placements will typically last for 3-4 months between September and December 2022.
• Fellows will have one or more designated task(s) / practical assignment(s) with clear goals.
• Fellows will participate in team meetings and other relevant activities to provide a good impression of what a career in this field would entail.

Placements will be based on the fit between candidates and our partner institutions. Both participants and partners will be consulted in this process and partners will interview potential interns. 

Job Application Support (Track 2)

Support, mentoring, feedback, and guidance in what, how and when to apply for relevant jobs in EU policy will be provided for those wishing to pursue a position at the European Commission, in party politics or in other high–impact policy roles.​

• Fellows will receive a 1 month stipend to explore and apply for policy roles focused on emerging technology in Europe.
• Fellows will participate in career decision workshops to determine which policy roles they might have high personal fit for.
• Fellows will receive feedback on their CVs and interview training.
• Training for Good will provide feedback on fellows' applications.
• Connections and mentorship opportunities from others working in emerging technology policy in Europe.

Our Rationale for running this program

• We are (non-exclusively) targeting soon-to-be graduates and fresh graduates with backgrounds in either policy or tech with a view towards placing them into particularly focused paths to impactful careers.
• We believe that gaining exposure and a relevant network is key to building career capital and influence over time. “Breaking in” is challenging—but once in, individuals can positively influence upcoming European tech policy.
• By helping applicants at this first inflection point, we believe we may be able to significantly alter their counterfactual impact over time.
• Many great EA candidates don’t apply for tech policy roles simply because they lack the application skills, network or the confidence.
• Testing out, in a robust way, whether or not candidates are a good fit for various roles in policy is valuable to their decision making processes.
• By providing stipends, we are sponsoring individuals to explore valuable career paths that they otherwise could not afford to take time off for.

Apply Now

To apply for European Technology Policy Fellowship, please fill out this application form by 19th April.

The application process includes:

• An application form (deadline April 19th).
• A 1-2 hour test task.
• A 30-60 minute interview with Training for Good and your host organisation .

If you are unsure whether you should apply

• Please book a career chat with us here.
• Attend our informal information session on Thursday April 7 at 5.30pm CET. Please subscribe here

Please contact janwillem@trainingforgood.com with any questions.

We are thankful to the Long Term Future Fund for their generous support of the 2022 European Technology Policy Fellowship and for  CHERI's incredibly helpful ongoing advice on this program