The UbuntuNet Alliance invites its member National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) to apply for the Emerging NREN Programme 2026, an international professional development opportunity delivered alongside TNC26, GÉANT‘ flagship conference of the global research and education networking community. The programme will take place 8–12 June 2026 in Helsinki, Finland, hosted with the support of CSC (FUNET), the Finnish NREN.
Through this programme, the Alliance aims to strengthen technical capacity within its membership by enabling selected NREN staff to engage directly with peers, experts, and decision-makers from across the global NREN ecosystem. Participants will be fully immersed in the TNC experience, combining conference participation with tailored sessions designed specifically for Emerging NREN Programme participants.
Two staff members from eligible member NRENs will receive full sponsorship to participate in the 2026 edition. The programme is targeted at engineering and technical staff and is designed to support professional growth, exposure to emerging trends, and meaningful engagement within the international research and education networking community.
Participants will benefit from a curated programme that complements the main TNC agenda, including dedicated interactions with the host NREN and the wider GÉANT community. The experience is designed not only to build technical insight, but also to foster long-term professional connections and collaboration opportunities that extend beyond the conference week.
2025 Emerging NREN Programme Reflections]
In 2025, the UbuntuNet Alliance supported Cynthia Oduor (KENET) and Kathleen Baker (Hendrick) (TENET) to participate in the Emerging NREN Programme alongside TNC25. Both participants highlighted the programme’s strong mentoring structure and small-group engagement as key to making a large international conference accessible, personal, and impactful. Their reflections emphasized the value of peer exchange, direct interaction with GÉANT leadership, and exposure to shared technical and organizational challenges across NRENs, with both describing the experience as confidence-building and motivating for continued contribution to regional and global NREN collaboration .
Interested NREN staff are encouraged to review the full Call for Proposals and Terms of Reference, available for download below, and submit their applications by the stated deadline. We strongly encourage NRENs to support diverse participation and to nominate candidates who will benefit most from this unique international exposure.