Focus: T&I, agile software development, idea prototyping, public speaking skills, mentorship

TIM (Trust and Identity Incubator Mentorship) Programme is an initiative that brings together ambitious young minds and subject matters experts to pioneer and prototype new ideas in the Trust and Identity field.

TIM is a collaboration between subject experts (SME's and also known as content mentors) of WP5 T2 - T&I Incubator task, GLAD, NRENs (home mentors) and young professionals (participants) across Europe. The overall aim of the program it to contribute to a viable and sustainable pipeline of T&I products and services for the GN4.3 project and ultimately, for the European NREN community.

Nominated by their home NREN, participants (and their home mentors)are integrated into the work of the T&I incubator right from the start. They collaborate directly with the Incubator SMEs on the topics provided by SME's and NRENs. On this journey, they are mentored by the Incubator experts as well as their home NREN. GLAD provides additional support through training opportunities both for participants as well as for the NREN mentors. Finally all participants are expected to present their work at an international event or conference as advised by TIM.

TIM takes place in the form of a paid internship where the  participating NRENs and young professionals get reimbursed for the time dedicated to the T&I Incubator. The process of reimbursements is defined by the financial rules of GÉANT 4.3 project. 

The expected duration of each TIM programme cycle is 6 months. See table below.

What is in it for the young professionals?

TIM offers participants a fantastic opportunity to join the development of cutting edge solutions in Trust & Identity on a pan European scale. It is a unique learning and professional development opportunity that includes:

• a paid professional internship (which may be combined with thesis writing)
• Working in an international team with networking opportunities with the wide range of experts  in Trust and Identity and NRENs
• training and skills development in the fields of public speaking and agile software development  

Participant requirements are:

• Final year Bachelors, Masters or PhD level students in the fields of Computer Science, Engineering or other technology related fields and interest in Trust and Identity
• 6 months availability with an approximate workload of 3 days per week 
• Excellent command of the English language, both spoken and written
• All participants must be nominated by a GÉANT participating NREN

What is in it for the home NRENs?

If you are a NREN, TIM helps you strengthens collaboration across Europe with other NRENs in developing new T&I products and services. It is also an opportunity to foster local T&I expertise, learn from experienced SME’s and expand the portfolio of services. In addition it may strengthen relationships with your institutions as well as identifying promising young talents to join the NREN world.  To participate we expect the NREN to:

• be a member of GÉANT 4.3 project
• be willing to facilitate and administer a paid internship based on the local HR/ legal requirements
• be willing to mentor participants locally (for example, be a sounding board to the experience, provide a working space, introduce to the home NREN and NREN world in general)
• Have a mentor with an availability to support your participant in TIM with a workload of 0.5 to 1 day per week based on a 6-month cycle

What is the role of GLAD?

GÉANT Learning and Development team (GLAD) is passionate about building, diversifying and strengthening capabilities of European NREN community. With the help of TIM, we hope to disseminate and build T&I competencies across Europe to build the workforce of the future.

In course of TIM programme, GLAD is committed to deliver the following skills to the TIM participants and mentors:

• mentorship skills
• public speaking skills
• agile software development/ SCRUM training

NREN TIM application process

Step 1 Recruit* your candidates

Step 2 Identify the home mentor

Step 3 Submit application by email to glad@geant.org. The application should include:

• A TIM participant's CV
• A TIM participant's motivation letter explaining in a few paragraphs why they would like to take part in this initiative
• An NREN motivation statement, a paragraph of why the TIM work is important and how the internship arrangement will work locally 

Step 4 Receive the results of the application process. The application process is managed by the TIM Selection Committee which includes:

• a representative of WP5T2 Niels van Dijk (SURFnet)
• a representative of GLAD  Irina Matthews (GÉANT Association)
• a representative of the community (Ann Harding (SWITCH)

The Selection Committee is there to ascertain the level of participants' expertise and motivation to take part in the TIM challenge. It is also there to ensure that home NRENs are equipped to support the TIM participants.

Step 5 Formalise the internship with the TIM participant based on the local NREN rules

Step 6 Join the work of T&I incubator together with the TIM participant