WP Campus Connect: students become open source contributors

Open source thrives when new perspectives and diverse voices join the community, and students are one of the most powerful groups to lead that charge. In this talk, I will explore how academic institutions and student communities can bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world impact by contributing to WordPress and other open source projects. Based on my own experience interacting with students and educators, I will share strategies for introducing open source into educational environments, addressing common challenges, and creating pathways for students to contribute meaningfully even without deep technical expertise.
Participants will learn how open source engagement can improve student skills, increase employability and foster leadership, while also enabling institutions to create a culture of innovation and collaboration. This session highlights actionable steps to build sustainable student engagement and shows why empowering students as contributors is essential to the long-term growth of the WordPress ecosystem. I will also share the story of organizing WordPress Campus Connect Dhaka 2025 with 20 partner campuses and over 2000 students over a month-long multi-campus event.

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