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When people ask me what I’ve been working on lately, the answer usually involves students, professors, and open sourceOpen SourceOpen Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. contributions. Something has been quietly building in Poland on the WordPress education front, and I think it’s time to share what’s been happening.
I’ve been coordinating WordPress Educational Initiatives in the Central and Eastern Europe region for a while now, and Poland has become one of the most exciting places to watch. Here’s a look at what we’ve built so far.
Universities Joining the WP Credits Program
The WordPress Credits Program connects students with real open source contributions, and Polish universities have been embracing this in a genuine way. Students aren’t just learning WordPress as a tool; they’re becoming contributors to a project that powers a significant portion of the web. For many of them, it’s the first time they realize that open source is something they can actively participate in, not just consume.
Seeing students submit their first contributions, earn their credit badges, and start to understand how a global open source community actually works has been one of the most rewarding parts of this work. What makes the Polish context interesting is the strong technical culture in Polish higher education, students come in with solid foundations, and the Credits Program gives them a meaningful way to apply that to something real and lasting.
Campus Connect Events
Alongside the Credits Program, we’ve been running WordPress Campus Connect events in Poland. These are hands-on sessions that bring WordPress into the classroom in a direct, practical way, connecting students with the broader community and giving them a taste of what contributor culture looks and feels like.
The events have been a great bridge between academic learning and the open source world. For a lot of students, meeting people from the WordPress community, hearing how others got involved, and realizing they’re already contributing to something global is the moment things click.
High Schools Stepping In
One of the developments I’m most excited about is what’s been happening at the secondary school level. VIII LO, a high school in Krakow, has students actively working on WordPress-related projects. This mirrors a broader direction in the WP Credits Program to explore contributions beyond universities, and it’s been incredible to see younger students take it seriously.
These students aren’t just building websites. They’re engaging with real problems, thinking about users, and learning what it means to create something that others will actually use. And some of them will be presenting their work at WordCampWordCampWordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more. Europe 2026 in Krakow, which makes this particularly full-circle: they’re in the host city, they’re local students, and they’ll be sharing their WordPress journey with an international audience.
What’s Coming at WCEUWCEUWordCamp Europe. The European flagship WordCamp event. 2026
Speaking of WCEU: as part of the Education programming at WordCamp Europe this year, students from Krakow University of Technology, Krakow University of Economics, and VIII LO will be showcasing the projects they’ve built during their involvement in WordPress educational initiatives. Having local students present at a flagship WordPress event is a big deal, and it’s a testament to how far this work has come.
Why This Matters
Rita Robles wrote beautifully about what the WP Credits Program means to her in Costa Rica: seeing students go from never having heard of open source to becoming active contributors, building real portfolios, and connecting to a global community. I feel the same way about what’s happening in Poland.
The thing that keeps me going in those initiatives is the moment when a student stops thinking of themselves as someone who uses technology and starts seeing themselves as someone who builds it. That shift happens across cultures, in Krakow just as much as in Cartago.
We’re still building. More institutions are in conversation about joining the Credits Program, more Campus Connect events are in the pipeline, and the student showcase at WCEU is going to open some doors. Poland is very much in motion.
If you’re an educator in Poland or elsewhere in CEE and you’re curious about bringing WordPress into your institution, reach out. There’s a place for you in this program.
Maciej “Matt” Pilarski is a Community WranglerWranglerSomeone, usually a person part of event organizing team, who looks after certain things like budget or sponsors. at Automattic, coordinating WordPress Educational Initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia, part of the WCEU 2026 Local Team in Krakow.
WordPress Campus Connect is growing, and we need community support to advance key initiatives. We are seeking assistance in the specific areas detailed below. If you are interested in contributing, please comment on this post or reach out to the team in the #campusconnectSlackSlackSlack is a Collaborative Group Chat Platform https://slack.com/. The WordPress community has its own Slack Channel at https://make.wordpress.org/chat/ channel.
Campus Connect MentorEvent SupporterEvent Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues.
Campus Connect Participant
Documentation
We require assistance with reviewing and creating content:
Education Handbook: Review for clarity of instruction and identify opportunities for improvement.
Community Handbook Program ManagerProgram ManagerProgram Managers (formerly Super Deputies) are Program Supporters who can perform extra tasks on WordCamp.org like creating new sites and publishing WordCamps to the schedule. Pages: Review for clarity of instruction and identify opportunities for improvement.
Draft WPCC Office HoursOffice HoursDefined times when the Global Community Team are in the #community-events Slack channel. If there is anything you would like to discuss – you do not need to inform them in advance.You are very welcome to drop into any of the Community Team Slack channels at any time. e-guide
Resources Page: Draft a new page in the Education Handbook that includes direct links to essential resources for organizers (e.g., pitch decks, logos).
After spending a month preparing, our WordPress Campus Connect Brahmanbaria event finally took place—and it became one of the most productive and inspiring days our community has experienced recently. With support from our volunteers, speakers, and attendees, the entire program felt meaningful from start to finish.
The event ran from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, and right from the registration desk, we felt the excitement in the room. For many students, this was their first ever introduction to WordPress, and their enthusiasm shaped the energy of the whole day.
As Lead Organizer, Shipon Karmakar welcomed everyone, introduced the purpose of Campus Connect, and set a warm tone for the rest of the program.
Why We Wanted to Bring Campus Connect to Brahmanbaria
Our vision for this event was simple: bring WordPress directly to students and help them discover new skills and opportunities.
In Brahmanbaria, many students haven’t had the chance to explore WordPress or understand how powerful the platform truly is. Campus Connect was our way of breaking that barrier—by offering a free, practical, beginner-friendly session right on their campus.
We also discussed:
joining our local WordPress meetupsMeetupMeetup groups are locally-organized groups that get together for face-to-face events on a regular basis (commonly once a month). Learn more about Meetups in our Meetup Organizer Handbook.,
the importance of WordCampWordCampWordCamps are casual, locally-organized conferences covering everything related to WordPress. They're one of the places where the WordPress community comes together to teach one another what they’ve learned throughout the year and share the joy. Learn more.,
and how students can start contributing to the WordPress project.
The feedback we received showed how much this exposure meant to them.
What We Taught Throughout the Day
To make the learning process smooth for beginners, we focused on five key topics:
Introduction to Campus Connect — Shipon Karmakar (Lead Organizer)
Discovering WordPress as an Open-Source Platform — Eh Jewel
WordPress 101: Build Your First Website — Tanvirul Haque
Your Roadmap to a WordPress Career — Shamim Mia
These sessions gave students a full learning journey—from “What is WordPress?” to building their very first website.
Behind the Scenes: Our Amazing Volunteers
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our volunteer team. They supported registration, logistics, workshop assistance, and made sure every student felt comfortable throughout the event.
Special thanks to: Meheraj Khan, Ashraful Amin, Mohammad Salman, Azim Jamshed, Musarraf Hossain, Monira Akther Nuri, Syed Riamul Haq, MD Safwan Ahmed, MD Shamrat, Seratul Mustakim
Their effort played a huge role in making the event smooth and enjoyable.
How the Day Unfolded (8:30 AM – 1:30 PM)
Registration and check-in
T-shirt and swag distribution
Opening ceremony led by Lead Organizer – Shipon Karmakar
2-hour hands-on workshop (building a WordPress.comWordPress.comAn online implementation of WordPress code that lets you immediately access a new WordPress environment to publish your content. WordPress.com is a private company owned by Automattic that hosts the largest multisite in the world. This is arguably the best place to start blogging if you have never touched WordPress before. https://wordpress.com/ website)
Tea break & networking
More sessions and discussions
Q/A session
Quiz competition
Prize distribution
Certificates for all participants
Group photo
Closing thanks
At the start, only 3–5 students knew what WordPress was. By the end, more than 50 students built their first website—a huge achievement for beginners.
Community Gathering: Learning & Connecting
One of the most meaningful parts of the event was the community gathering session. Students, speakers, and volunteers sat together, discussed ideas, shared inspiration, and talked openly about their learning journey.
We explained how joining regular meetups, participating in WordCamp, and contributing to open sourceOpen SourceOpen Source denotes software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified. Open Source **must be** delivered via a licensing model, see GPL. can help them grow faster.
Many students expressed interest in joining future events and staying connected.
Quiz Competition & Prizes
The quiz added a fun, exciting twist to the event. Students were fully engaged, and the energy in the room was fantastic. Winners received special gifts, which made the moment even more enjoyable.
Certificates: Celebrating Everyone’s Effort
Every participant received an official Campus Connect Certificate. For many students, it was their first certificate related to tech or WordPress, and it brought a real sense of accomplishment.
Looking Forward
The impact was clear:
Students gained their first real website-building experience
Many discovered new interest in WordPress and web development
The community gained new potential contributors
Students want more workshops and meetups
A strong foundation for future WordPress activities in Brahmanbaria has been created
WordPress Campus Connect Brahmanbaria wasn’t just a one-day program—it was the beginning of a stronger, more connected local WordPress community.
At the Faculty of Computer Science of Universidad Fidélitas, we have taken a historic step: we signed an agreement with the WordPress FoundationWordPress FoundationThe WordPress Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Matt Mullenweg to further the mission of the WordPress open source project: to democratize publishing through Open Source, GPL software. Find more on wordpressfoundation.org., turning our Computer Science students into key players in a global experience. Thanks to this partnership, every student will have the opportunity to complete an official internship through WP Credits, directly connecting with the WordPress community and its impact-driven projects.
This agreement reflects a deep conviction: higher education must be tied to the real digital ecosystem, with experiences that prepare students for jobs and to become agents of change within global tech communities.
Elineth Morera Campos (DeputyProgram SupporterCommunity Program Supporters (formerly Deputies) are a team of people worldwide who review WordCamp and Meetup applications, interview lead organizers, and keep things moving at WordCamp Central. Find more about program supporters in our Program Supporter Handbook. Director of 100% virtual courses at the Faculty) together with Mary Hubbard at the signing of the WPCredits agreement at WCUS25.
The Birth of the WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
To celebrate this alliance, we organized the first WordPress Campus Connect in San José, Costa Rica, from September 23 to 25, 2025.
This event marked a milestone as the first WordPress Campus Connect held in Latin America within a university, open to participation from any individual who was a university student, regardless of their field of study or academic level, and carried out in a three-day hackathon format. Throughout the event, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, received direct mentorship, and took part in the WordPress HackLab, a competition designed to transform ideas into digital products with real societal impact.
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
The Workshops: Learning with Energy and Creativity
The heart of Campus Connect lies in the eight workshops that guided students step by step in building their projects:
From Zero to Website in 90 Minutes – How to quickly start and launch a functional site.
Your Digital Empire, Brick by Brick – Strategic construction of a solid, scalable website.
Think Like a Rebel: Create Without Asking Permission – Fearless innovation, exploring creative freedom with design thinking.
Let’s Dress Up: Branding that Hypnotizes – Keys to visual identity and branding to stand out online.
Secret Vitamins for Your Website: What WordPress Doesn’t Tell You – Advanced tips and features to power up any site.
So Engaging They’ll Read with Eyes Closed – Strategies for clear, persuasive, and AI-enhanced content.
Houston, We Have a Website! (Go Live) – How to move a project from testing to production.
Your Story on Fire (and in 3 Acts) – Digital storytelling and impactful project presentations.
These workshops were not only technical but also creative and strategic, showing students that WordPress is a living, open, and limitless ecosystem.
Cely Cruz, co-organizer of WPCCSJ25, giving her talk
Daniel Solano, speaker at WPCCSJ25 giving his talk
Ariel Ramos, speaker at WPCCSJ25 giving his talk
Rita Robles Loaiza, Lead Organizer of WPCCSJ25 giving her talk
Nicole, Nazareth, and Yiqi, co-organizers of WPCCSJ25 and speakers at the event, before giving their talk.
Rosita Pereira, Co-organizer of WPCCSJ25 giving her talk
The Challenge: “Reconnecting the Human”
The central competition of the event was the WPCC 2025 Challenge: Reconnecting the Human.
The challenge stemmed from a paradox: we have never been so digitally connected, yet we have never felt so lonely. In response, teams had to create a digital product, presented in WordPress, that strengthens in-person human relationships within the university or local community.
The proposals were aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 10, and 11) and ESG principles. Within this framework:
SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) encouraged initiatives to strengthen emotional health and reduce loneliness.
SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) inspired inclusive and accessible solutions for the entire community.
SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) motivated proposals to rescue traditions and foster coexistence in public spaces.
At the same time, ESG principles framed the action plan: environmental care, positive social impact, and ethical, participatory governance. WordPress became the showcase to tell the story of the problem, the value proposition, the digital product, and the expected impact.
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
Photo taken by Gabriel Ramirez, volunteer at WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
The Organizing Team: The Force Behind the Event
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of a passionate organizing team that brought this first WordPress Campus Connect to life:
They were responsible for transforming a vision into a real experience, coordinating workshops, mentorsEvent SupporterEvent Supporter (formerly Mentor) is someone who has already organised a WordCamp and has time to meet with their assigned mentee every 2 weeks, they talk over where they should be in their timeline, help them to identify their issues, and also identify solutions for their issues., logistics, communication, and every detail to make the event shine.
Part of the team of volunteers and organizers of WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
Organizing Team of WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025
WordPress Club Fidélitas and Its Podcast
Another historic milestone was the official founding of the WordPress Club Fidélitas, a permanent space where students, faculty, and the community can come together to learn, share, and contribute to the WordPress ecosystem.
As part of this initiative, the Club’s podcast was launched, where we will talk about:
WordPress and its impact on the global web.
Technological innovation applied to education.
Academic and community experiences from Fidélitas.
This podcast will serve as a bridge between academia and the international WordPress community, amplifying the voices of our students and their projects.
The WordPress Campus Connect San José and the agreement with the WordPress Foundation are just the beginning.
Every student who participates in this program will take with them not only technical WordPress skills but also the experience of belonging to a global community, working with purpose, and using technology to generate human impact.
Inspiring Transformation
With this event, we proved that a university can be innovative, close, and global at the same time.
The invitation is clear: to keep dreaming, creating, and reconnecting the human through technology. Because when academia and community walk together, the impossible becomes reality.
Group photo of WordPress Campus Connect San José 2025 taken by Manuel Macias, volunteer from the WordPress San José community.
