WordPress wants to help University Students

WordPress wants to help University Students ![rw-book-cover](https://readwise-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/static/images/article0.00998d930354.png) 🔗 **Source:** [WordPress wants to help University Students](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c) > [!note]+ Document Notes > tags: [wordpress-education, university-partnerships, developer-training, open-source-contribution, workforce-development] > author: [MISSING] > source: YouTube > reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c > date created: {{date:YYYY-MM-DD}} {{time:HH:mm}} > > # 🏷️ Title: WordPress wants to help University Students >  ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) - [📚 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ## 📝 Summary - WordPress Foundation announced a university partnership program at WordCamp Europe 2026 to engage new generations with WordPress through educational initiatives - Students learn WordPress while contributing back to the ecosystem, creating work-ready junior developers - Program offers real-world experience, professional certification, and mentorship from businesses - 700,000 open roles reportedly exist in the WordPress ecosystem that this could help fill - Universities partner with WordPress Foundation and local businesses for mentorship without direct costs - Students must demonstrate contributions through real projects, Slack participation, and progress blogs ## 📖 Main Content The WordPress Foundation unveiled an ambitious university partnership program designed to bridge the gap between education and the WordPress ecosystem. Unlike traditional courses that focus solely on basic WordPress skills, this initiative creates a symbiotic relationship where students gain practical experience while contributing meaningful work back to WordPress core development. ### Program Structure The program operates through partnerships between the WordPress Foundation, universities, and local businesses. Students participate in dedicated learning programs that go beyond basic WordPress installation and Gutenberg editing. They engage in real contributions to WordPress security, core development, AI capabilities, and other fundamental aspects of the platform. Business mentors dedicate time to guide students, creating a bridge between academic learning and professional practice. This mentorship model addresses the common industry challenge of lengthy onboarding processes, potentially reducing new hire integration from months to days or weeks. ### Student Requirements and Benefits Participants must demonstrate active contribution through several accountability measures: - Real project work beyond basic WordPress setup - Active participation in WordPress Slack channels - Maintained progress blogs documenting challenges and solutions - Evidence of contributions to specific WordPress sections In return, students receive professional certification, real-world experience, soft skills development, and direct pathways to employment in an ecosystem with reportedly 700,000 open positions. ### Expansion Potential The speaker advocates for extending the program beyond universities to include sixth form colleges and secondary schools, targeting students aged 15-17 who haven't yet committed to university paths. This expansion could capture interest during formative years when technology career decisions are being made. ## 🗒️ Notes #### ⏱️ [00:00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=0) Program Announcement - Most encouraging development from WordCamp Europe 2026 - Focus on helping new generation get excited about WordPress - University partnership program between WordPress Foundation and educational institutions #### ⏱️ [00:01:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=75) Program Structure - Not just basic WordPress learning - Students contribute back to WordPress ecosystem - Fits into broader contributors program strategy - Makes students more attractive to employers and plugin developers #### ⏱️ [00:02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=150) Market Context - Addresses criticism that "WordPress is dying" - Universities and businesses wouldn't invest without seeing future potential - Targets generation interested in AI, technology, and remote work #### ⏱️ [00:04:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=240) Student Benefits - Work-ready junior developers and designers - Real-world experience beyond tutorials - Professional certification - Demonstrated contributions to specific WordPress sections - Soft skills development #### ⏱️ [00:05:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=330) University Benefits - Improved employment statistics for marketing - Better outcomes than theoretical courses - Demonstrable career paths for graduates #### ⏱️ [00:06:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=405) Expansion Ideas - Extend to sixth form colleges and secondary schools - Target 15-17 year olds before university decisions - Local business involvement in outreach #### ⏱️ [00:07:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=450) Business Benefits - Reduced onboarding time from months to days/weeks - 700,000 open roles in WordPress ecosystem - Pre-trained talent pipeline #### ⏱️ [00:08:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=525) Implementation Logistics - Universities coordinate with WordPress Foundation - Local businesses serve as bridges for communication - Minimal cost to universities - Business cost is primarily staff time for mentoring #### ⏱️ [00:10:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=600) Student Requirements - Demonstrate actual contributions, not just setup work - Maintain progress blogs - Active Slack participation - Work on real projects - Can be done alongside regular coursework or employment #### ⏱️ [00:11:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=690) Personal Commitment - Speaker interested in local implementation - Focus on contribution rather than income - Opportunity to shape new generation of web professionals ## 📚 References - [WordCamp Europe 2026 announcement details](URL not provided in transcript) - WordPress Foundation partnership program - WordPress Playground for student practice ## 🗣️ Paraphrase The WordPress Foundation is launching an innovative educational program that transforms traditional web development training. Instead of passive learning, students actively contribute to WordPress while gaining skills, creating a win-win scenario where the ecosystem benefits from fresh contributions while students build portfolios of real work. This approach addresses both the skills gap in WordPress development and the need for meaningful educational outcomes that lead directly to employment opportunities. ## 📰 Newsletter 🎓 **WordPress Goes Back to School!** Exciting news from WordCamp Europe 2026: WordPress is partnering with universities to create the next generation of web developers! This isn't your typical "install WordPress and write a blog" course – students will be contributing to WordPress core, security, and AI features while learning. The program offers real-world experience, professional certification, and direct pathways to employment in an ecosystem with 700,000 open roles. Universities get better employment stats, businesses get pre-trained talent, and students graduate with actual WordPress contributions in their portfolios. Could this program expand to your local schools? The speaker is already exploring partnerships with sixth form colleges to reach even younger developers. If you're interested in mentoring the next generation, this could be your chance to shape WordPress's future while giving back to your community. [Learn more about university partnerships →](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c) ## ✅ Action Items #### Community - Explore partnerships with local universities and sixth form colleges to establish WordPress education programs - Connect educational institutions with WordPress Foundation for program setup - Develop curriculum that balances learning with meaningful contributions to WordPress ecosystem - Create mentorship networks pairing experienced developers with student contributors #### WordPress - Core Program Team: Establish clear contribution pathways for student participants with appropriate complexity levels - Community: Develop onboarding materials specifically for educational cohorts - Training: Create lesson plans that integrate skill-building with ecosystem contribution - Documentation: Develop guides for universities interested in partnership programs #### DevRel - Education: Design workshop formats suitable for semester-long programs with real project outcomes - Community management: Establish Slack channels and support systems for student contributors - Developer experience: Create educational-focused documentation and examples for common contribution areas ## 🧪 Hypotheses 1. **Student contributors will have higher retention rates in WordPress development careers** compared to traditional tutorial-based learners due to early ecosystem investment 2. **Universities with WordPress programs will see improved employment statistics** for web development graduates within 6 months of program completion 3. **Businesses mentoring students will reduce onboarding costs** by 50-75% when hiring program graduates 4. **Expanding to secondary education will increase long-term WordPress ecosystem growth** by capturing interest during formative career decision years 5. **The 700,000 open roles figure will drive significant university adoption** if validated and widely publicized ### 📊 Methodology - **Hypothesis 1**: Longitudinal study tracking career paths of program graduates vs. traditional learners over 2-3 years - **Hypothesis 2**: University employment statistics analysis comparing web development job placement rates before and after program implementation - **Hypothesis 3**: Business case studies measuring onboarding time and costs for program graduates vs. traditional hires - **Hypothesis 4**: Market research comparing WordPress adoption rates in regions with vs. without secondary education programs - **Hypothesis 5**: Survey of university decision-makers regarding factors influencing program adoption ### ❓ Questions - What specific contribution areas are most suitable for students at different skill levels? - How will intellectual property and code ownership work for student contributions? - What happens to students who complete programs but don't find WordPress-related employment? - How will program quality and outcomes be measured across different universities? - What support systems exist for international universities interested in participation? ### 🔮 Future Research - Impact assessment of student contributions on WordPress development velocity and quality - Analysis of optimal mentorship ratios and time commitments for business participants - Investigation of certification standards and industry recognition for program credentials - Study of program adaptation for different educational systems and cultural contexts - Research into scaling challenges as program expands globally ### 💡 Implications **Practice**: Traditional web development education may need to incorporate open-source contribution as standard curriculum rather than optional activity. **Policy**: Educational institutions may need new frameworks for managing student contributions to external projects and intellectual property considerations. **Security**: Increased student contribution to WordPress security features could strengthen the ecosystem while creating new oversight requirements. **Education**: Success of this model could inspire similar programs in other open-source ecosystems, fundamentally changing how technical education operates. **Funding**: Program success might shift education funding models toward outcome-based partnerships with technology organizations. ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment **Reading level estimate**: Flesch-Kincaid Grade 8.2 - accessible to high school and university students, appropriate for target audience #### 👀 Visual learners **Present**: Video format provides visual demonstration of concepts **Improve**: Add program structure diagrams, university partnership flowcharts, student journey timelines, before/after career path visuals #### 🔊 Aural learners **Present**: Video with clear narration and conversational explanation style **Improve**: Create podcast version, add closed captions, develop audio-only program explanation for accessibility #### 🗣️ Verbal learners **Present**: Conversational tone with clear definitions and analogies to traditional education **Improve**: Add glossary of WordPress contribution terms, create comparison tables between traditional vs. contribution-based learning #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners **Present**: Emphasis on hands-on contribution work and real project requirements **Improve**: Develop step-by-step setup checklists for universities, create sandbox environments for immediate practice #### 🧠 Logical learners **Present**: Clear cause-and-effect relationships between program participation and career outcomes **Improve**: Add structured timelines, cost-benefit analyses, measurable success metrics, decision trees for program implementation #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners **Present**: Strong emphasis on mentorship, community participation via Slack, and collaborative learning **Improve**: Add discussion prompts for cohort groups, peer review frameworks for student contributions #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners **Present**: Individual blog maintenance requirements and self-directed project work **Improve**: Create self-assessment rubrics, individual reflection prompts, independent study modules #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners **Present**: References to ecosystem health and sustainable community growth **Improve**: Add analogies to natural ecosystem development, highlight environmental benefits of open-source collaboration ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics **Present**: Video has clear verbal descriptions of concepts **Improve**: Add proper heading structure to video description, provide alt text for any visual elements, ensure transcript has proper semantic markup #### Keyboard navigation **Present**: Standard YouTube player keyboard controls **Improve**: Ensure all linked resources are keyboard accessible, provide skip links for different video segments #### Contrast and readability **Present**: Clear audio narration with good contrast **Improve**: Add high-contrast transcript options, ensure any visual materials meet WCAG contrast requirements #### Text resizing and reflow **Present**: YouTube's built-in text scaling for captions **Improve**: Provide downloadable transcript that reflows properly at 200% zoom #### Media and captions **Present**: Video format with spoken content **Improve**: Add professional closed captions, provide full transcript, ensure no auto-playing elements #### Forms and interactions **Present**: Standard video interface **Improve**: Ensure any university application forms referenced are fully accessible with proper labels and error handling #### Standards reference Map program materials to WCAG 2.2 AA standards, particularly focusing on Level AA compliance for educational content accessibility requirements. ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth **Present**: Discussion of UK education system (sixth form colleges) alongside universities **Improve**: Address international university systems, consider cultural differences in open-source contribution norms, include examples from diverse educational contexts #### Inclusive language **Present**: Uses accessible terminology, avoids excessive jargon **Improve**: Define WordPress-specific terms more clearly, avoid assumptions about prior technical knowledge, include alternative career paths #### Neurodiversity support **Present**: Clear structure with conversational explanation style **Improve**: Add consistent headings, visual progress indicators, multiple ways to engage with content (video, transcript, summaries) #### Representation **Present**: Speaker shares personal experience as parent considering child's future education **Improve**: Include diverse voices in program discussion, show varied career paths and backgrounds, highlight accessibility of opportunities #### Psychological safety **Present**: Encouraging tone about learning opportunities and community support **Improve**: Address potential imposter syndrome concerns for new contributors, clarify that no prior experience is required, emphasize supportive community culture ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning **Causal reasoning (strong)**: The connection between hands-on contribution experience and improved employment outcomes is well-supported by evidence from other technical education programs that emphasize practical experience over theoretical learning. **Analogical reasoning (strong)**: The comparison between traditional university courses with poor employment outcomes and this practical contribution model effectively highlights the value proposition for educational institutions. #### Fallacies **Appeal to consequences**: "Why would any university or business want to sign up to this if they didn't think there was a future for WordPress?" - The willingness of institutions to participate doesn't necessarily validate WordPress's long-term viability. Institutions can make strategic errors or have different risk assessments. **Bandwagon appeal**: The emphasis on 700,000 open roles could be seen as pressure to join a popular trend without sufficient verification of the job market data. **Anecdotal evidence**: Personal interest in involving his 11-year-old son, while relatable, doesn't constitute evidence for program effectiveness. #### Tone of voice **Enthusiastic and personal**: "I would love to explore the idea" and "I really do think this is a bit of an exciting time" shows genuine excitement. **Balanced optimism**: "Of course, this is very hypothetical. In a year's time, I or others might have a different view" demonstrates intellectual honesty about uncertainty. **Community-focused**: Emphasis on "giving back" and "not looking to make any income from it" establishes credibility through altruistic motivation. ### 🛡️ DARVO Analysis **No DARVO patterns detected**. The content is promotional and educational rather than defensive. The speaker acknowledges potential criticism ("WordPress is dying, market share's going down") and addresses it directly rather than deflecting, attacking critics, or repositioning WordPress as a victim of unfair criticism. ## 🎯 Conclusion The WordPress university partnership program represents a significant strategic shift toward sustainable ecosystem growth through education. By combining skill development with meaningful contribution, the initiative addresses multiple stakeholder needs: universities gain better employment outcomes, businesses access pre-trained talent, and WordPress strengthens its contributor base. The program's success will likely depend on effective curriculum design that balances educational objectives with real contribution value, robust mentorship networks, and clear pathways from education to employment. Expansion to secondary education could multiply the program's impact by reaching students during formative career decision years. For readers interested in WordPress's future, this represents an opportunity to shape the next generation of developers while addressing the ecosystem's talent pipeline challenges. Universities and businesses should evaluate participation based on their capacity for meaningful mentorship rather than merely adding another program offering. ## 🔄 Refactor Appendix — WordPress wants to help University Students ### 📚 Literature Atoms (H3) #### WordPress creates work-ready developers through contribution-based education programs > [!quote] > Students learn WordPress while contributing back to the ecosystem, creating work-ready junior developers who have real project experience rather than just tutorial knowledge **Context & use**: - Discussed throughout video as core program benefit - Contrasts with traditional theoretical education approaches **Tags**: #workforce-development #xref  #### University partnership programs reduce business onboarding costs significantly > [!quote] > You could be employing people and the onboarding time is now down to days or a week rather than months **Context & use**: - Speaker's experience with NHS hiring processes - Business case for mentorship investment **Tags**: #business-efficiency #xref  #### Student accountability requires demonstrable contributions beyond basic WordPress skills > [!quote] > You can't just spend 6 months going, "Yeah, I'm just going to set up my WordPress and do the settings." You've actually got to contribute. **Context & use**: - Program requirements ensuring meaningful participation - Quality control for educational outcomes **Tags**: #education-standards #xref  ### 🧠 Permanent Candidates (H4) #### Contribution-based education creates stronger technical career foundations **Claim**: Educational programs requiring real-world contributions to open-source projects produce more capable and employable graduates than purely theoretical curricula. **Evidence pointer**: [[#WordPress creates work-ready developers through contribution-based education programs]] **Scope & conditions**: Holds when contributions are meaningful and mentored; breaks when contributions become busy work or lack proper guidance **Links**: - [[Open-source contribution strategies]] — because extends - [[Technical education effectiveness]] — because applies-in educational contexts  ### ✏️ Fleeting Queue - [F1] Research university partnership program requirements and application process — WordPress Foundation contact needed #fleeting #inbox - [F2] Investigate sixth form college partnership possibilities in local area — educational outreach opportunity #fleeting #inbox ### → Things 3 (max 2 actions) - [ ] Contact local universities about WordPress partnership interest — education outreach #things - [ ] Research WordPress Foundation university program requirements — partnership development #things --- ## Full Transcript [00:00] One of the most encouraging things that [00:01] came out of WordCamp Europe 2026 wasn't [00:04] a brand new plugin or a brand new [00:06] feature, but it was about how can we [00:08] help the new generation get involved and [00:12] get a bit more excited about using [00:14] WordPress. There's a link in the video [00:15] description that clarifies a bit more, [00:17] but I'm going to try and summarize how [00:19] WordPress is trying to bring education [00:22] back out there via a program with [00:25] universities. Now, I don't know if this [00:27] will also be for like sixth form [00:30] colleges in the UK as well. And I'd love [00:32] to explore the idea, even though it [00:35] might cost me in terms of my time and [00:38] resources and whatever, I do think this [00:41] is a bit of an exciting time for the new [00:43] generation. So, what was discussed was [00:45] like this university partnership with [00:48] the WordPress Foundation and obviously [00:50] the university and businesses out there [00:53] where they can mentor and guide new [00:55] students. Because it's not just like a [00:57] learning program where you sign up for a [01:00] course and then someone teaches you how [01:01] to install WordPress and how to do your [01:04] Gutenberg and, you know, your styling [01:06] and things like that and how to write a [01:07] blog. It's not just about that. What [01:09] you'll get is like a dedicated learning [01:11] program whereby the students will learn [01:15] how to use WordPress, but also they will [01:18] be contributing back to WordPress. So, [01:20] this almost fits into the whole [01:22] contributors program and how they want [01:24] more people to be engaged, but it allows [01:26] the students to learn as well. And then [01:29] going forward, it's going to make them [01:31] be a more interesting prospect for a [01:34] company or a plugin developer out there [01:36] maybe where they are seeking talent. [01:39] Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think [01:41] that you have to do a course or do a [01:43] special program to say you are talented [01:46] or skilled. But this could be a way of [01:48] introducing people in because we got to [01:50] be honest here. A lot of youngsters are [01:52] looking at AI and technology and they [01:54] would love to be able to set up their [01:56] own business working from home. [01:58] So, here they get to learn WordPress, [02:00] but they're also contributing back into [02:02] the WordPress ecosystem. A lot of [02:04] people, when they hear about WordPress, [02:06] they will say WordPress is dying, the [02:08] market share's going down, why are you [02:10] investing time in that? There's loads of [02:11] AI solutions out there. And I do not [02:13] disagree with everything, but I think it [02:16] is very, very subjective. And if there [02:19] is this opportunity where universities [02:21] are going to start signing up, and I [02:23] don't know the numbers, I don't know how [02:24] many have or not, but if universities go [02:27] on board with this, and businesses start [02:30] investing time to mentor and guide [02:32] people as well to lead the courses or [02:34] the program, [02:36] isn't that a really good thing? I mean, [02:37] why would any university or business [02:40] want to sign up to this if they didn't [02:42] think there was a future for WordPress? [02:44] Of course, this is very hypothetical. In [02:47] a year's time, I or others might have a [02:49] different view of this, but I think this [02:51] is a really good, positive move for the [02:55] WordPress Foundation and the WordPress [02:57] people to be doing this. The ultimate [02:59] aim is that a lots of plugin developer [03:02] companies, businesses out there that [03:03] employ staff or people to work on their [03:06] product are now going to have work-ready [03:10] junior developers and designers. [03:13] Because a lot of us can watch videos and [03:15] tutorials and read up about how to work [03:18] with WordPress. But if you've now got [03:20] people that have actually worked on the [03:22] security aspect or the core or the AI [03:25] abilities or just something fundamental [03:28] behind the scenes, aren't they a more [03:31] enticing prospect? From a student [03:33] aspect, they can show that they have [03:35] contributed to a specific section of [03:37] WordPress over the last 6 months. And [03:40] not just that, they're going to get [03:41] real-world experience, soft skills, and [03:44] some professional certification at the [03:46] end of it as well. Universities always [03:49] love to put on their prospectus when [03:51] they can show that like people from [03:53] their university or do their courses or [03:55] programs are able to go and get real [03:58] jobs as well. You don't just want to [04:00] have a course that says, "Hey, we're [04:01] going to teach you business studies." [04:03] and then most of the people kind of [04:04] disappear and you never see them again. [04:06] But if you can now show that, I don't [04:08] know, 50, 60% of the people that did [04:11] this went on to full-time employment or [04:14] whatever job they got and they were now [04:16] earning a really good salary and they [04:18] were getting recognition within the [04:20] WordPress community as well. [04:22] I wish something like this was around [04:24] when I was [04:26] at university and I hope this takes off [04:29] because I know my son, he's only 11, he [04:31] takes a lot of interest in what I'm [04:32] doing, not just the YouTubing side but [04:34] the whole web designing. [04:36] And I would love to open up this [04:38] discussion if it is possible and I need [04:40] to find out if it is with some sixth [04:43] form colleges and schools around my area [04:45] because I don't think we should just [04:47] restrict this to just universities. [04:50] I think we need to go down to say 15, [04:52] 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds as well. [04:54] They're not even at university. They [04:55] haven't even fully thought about it yet. [04:58] But maybe with everything that's going [04:59] on with technology, wouldn't they like [05:01] to learn to use WordPress and websites [05:05] and contribute? I know what it's like [05:07] when you employ people when I used to [05:08] work in the NHS and you spend a lot of [05:11] time on boarding staff. Well, now you [05:13] could be employing people [05:15] and the onboarding time is now down to [05:18] days or a week rather than months. And [05:21] from what I've picked up from the video, [05:23] there's apparently 700,000 [05:25] open roles in the WordPress ecosystem. [05:29] I'm just trying to get my head around [05:30] that. 700,000 [05:32] open roles in the WordPress ecosystem [05:35] that this could help to fill. Now, you [05:38] could argue but aren't you now just [05:40] getting people to learn and then you're [05:42] getting help from them but you're not [05:44] giving them a salary or anything. Well, [05:46] to be honest, a lot of people that [05:48] contribute to the WordPress ecosystem [05:50] aren't really getting paid for either. [05:52] So, it's kind of the same thing. So, how [05:54] would the university get themselves set [05:56] up or the school? They would have to [05:58] have that conversation with the [06:00] WordPress Foundation. Now, universities [06:02] might not fully understand that and [06:04] that's where local businesses, me, [06:06] someone could maybe touch base with the [06:09] university or hopefully a college and [06:11] maybe kind of be the bridge with the [06:14] WordPress Foundation to kind of get that [06:17] communication all set up. Is it going to [06:18] cost the university to do this? I don't [06:21] believe so because, well, obviously, [06:23] depending on the venue or where you hold [06:26] it, where it's online or offline. I [06:28] don't know, but you know, there's a lot [06:29] of logistics you got to work out. But, I [06:31] don't think there should be a cost [06:33] because the WordPress Foundation, I [06:35] don't think they're going to charge for [06:36] it from what I know because they gain [06:39] from it cuz they get contributions. [06:41] If you have a business who allows one of [06:43] their staff or employees, let's say I [06:45] did it, or let's say there was another [06:47] agency or and they decide that one of [06:49] their experts or gurus is now going to [06:52] go out and teach and support the [06:54] students, they're obviously giving up [06:56] their time. [06:57] So, the cost to them is their time. [06:59] Maybe they're going to give out some [07:01] licenses, maybe to use, I don't know, [07:03] hosting or something like that. There's [07:05] loads of logistics you got to think [07:06] about. Obviously, there's the WordPress [07:08] playground, so they could go in and [07:10] start playing with that as well. Now, [07:12] from a student point of view, they [07:13] obviously have to show they are [07:15] contributing. They have to work on a [07:17] real project. You can't just spend 6 [07:19] months going, "Yeah, I'm just going to [07:21] set up my WordPress and do the [07:23] settings." You've actually got to [07:24] contribute. So, they have to show [07:26] evidence by Slack. They've got to keep a [07:27] blog as well to show their progress and [07:31] what problems they're overcoming and [07:32] challenges they're facing. And this [07:34] could even be done as a side thing to [07:38] their normal university course they're [07:40] doing or whatever they're working on. [07:42] They could be full-time employed [07:43] already, and now they're doing this. You [07:45] know, it could be like, you know, you [07:47] know, evening school, maybe, or [07:49] something. Mature students, even. Could [07:51] be anyone. I don't really feel like we [07:53] need to put an age on this. I'm going to [07:54] try to find out a bit more, basically, [07:56] because I'd love to explore the idea of [07:59] local businesses approaching their local [08:02] education establishments to find out how [08:04] they can do this, because I really do, [08:07] and it's been on my mind for a long [08:08] time, and how could I provide more [08:10] WordPress learning and teaching. [08:13] I haven't always contributed by the [08:15] contribution kind of side of things, [08:18] just because of juggling lots of things. [08:20] But, if there was a way that I could [08:22] somehow contribute back by holding like [08:26] a school or lessons or something like [08:28] that, I would do. And I'm not looking to [08:30] make any income from it. Really, really [08:31] clear on that. I'd love to make a [08:33] difference. [08:34] And I would love to, you know, obviously [08:36] I use a lot of Elementor, but there's [08:37] loads of WordPress stuff that I could [08:39] knowledge and experience I could pass [08:41] on, as well. Quite frankly, anyone who [08:43] participates in this is helping to shape [08:46] the new generation of web designs, [08:48] developers, and the whole WordPress [08:50] ecosystem. And like I said, if there's [08:51] 700,000 roles out there, fresh talent is [08:55] definitely needed.  ## 📺 Video ![](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c) ## Highlights - Students learn WordPress while contributing back to the ecosystem, creating work-ready junior developers who have real project experience rather than just tutorial knowledge - Note: 📚 WordPress creates work-ready developers through contribution-based education programs · - Discussed throughout video as core program benefit - Contrasts with traditional theoretical education approaches · #atom/literature/h1 - You could be employing people and the onboarding time is now down to days or a week rather than months - Note: 📚 University partnership programs reduce business onboarding costs significantly · - Speaker's experience with NHS hiring processes - Business case for mentorship investment · #atom/literature/h2 - You can't just spend 6 months going, "Yeah, I'm just going to set up my WordPress and do the settings." You've actually got to contribute. - Note: 📚 Student accountability requires demonstrable contributions beyond basic WordPress skills · - Program requirements ensuring meaningful participation - Quality control for educational outcomes · #atom/literature/h3 - Contribution-based education creates stronger technical career foundations - Note: [[Open-source contribution strategies]] — because extends · - [[Open-source contribution strategies]] — because extends · #atom/zettel/z1 - Research university partnership program requirements and application process — WordPress Foundation contact needed - Note: ✏️ Fleeting capture #atom/fleeting/f1 - Investigate sixth form college partnership possibilities in local area — educational outreach opportunity - Note: ✏️ Fleeting capture #atom/fleeting/f2 --- # 📝 Full Notes (Deep-Read Analysis) # 🏷️ Title: WordPress wants to help University Students ## 🧭 Table of Contents - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) - [📚 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#️-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🛡️ DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) ## 📝 Summary - WordPress Foundation announced a university partnership program at WordCamp Europe 2026 to engage new generations with WordPress through educational initiatives - Students learn WordPress while contributing back to the ecosystem, creating work-ready junior developers - Program offers real-world experience, professional certification, and mentorship from businesses - 700,000 open roles reportedly exist in the WordPress ecosystem that this could help fill - Universities partner with WordPress Foundation and local businesses for mentorship without direct costs - Students must demonstrate contributions through real projects, Slack participation, and progress blogs ## 📖 Main Content The WordPress Foundation unveiled an ambitious university partnership program designed to bridge the gap between education and the WordPress ecosystem. Unlike traditional courses that focus solely on basic WordPress skills, this initiative creates a symbiotic relationship where students gain practical experience while contributing meaningful work back to WordPress core development. ### Program Structure The program operates through partnerships between the WordPress Foundation, universities, and local businesses. Students participate in dedicated learning programs that go beyond basic WordPress installation and Gutenberg editing. They engage in real contributions to WordPress security, core development, AI capabilities, and other fundamental aspects of the platform. Business mentors dedicate time to guide students, creating a bridge between academic learning and professional practice. This mentorship model addresses the common industry challenge of lengthy onboarding processes, potentially reducing new hire integration from months to days or weeks. ### Student Requirements and Benefits Participants must demonstrate active contribution through several accountability measures: - Real project work beyond basic WordPress setup - Active participation in WordPress Slack channels - Maintained progress blogs documenting challenges and solutions - Evidence of contributions to specific WordPress sections In return, students receive professional certification, real-world experience, soft skills development, and direct pathways to employment in an ecosystem with reportedly 700,000 open positions. ### Expansion Potential The speaker advocates for extending the program beyond universities to include sixth form colleges and secondary schools, targeting students aged 15-17 who haven't yet committed to university paths. This expansion could capture interest during formative years when technology career decisions are being made. ## 🗒️ Notes #### ⏱️ [00:00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=0) Program Announcement - Most encouraging development from WordCamp Europe 2026 - Focus on helping new generation get excited about WordPress - University partnership program between WordPress Foundation and educational institutions #### ⏱️ [00:01:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=75) Program Structure - Not just basic WordPress learning - Students contribute back to WordPress ecosystem - Fits into broader contributors program strategy - Makes students more attractive to employers and plugin developers #### ⏱️ [00:02:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=150) Market Context - Addresses criticism that "WordPress is dying" - Universities and businesses wouldn't invest without seeing future potential - Targets generation interested in AI, technology, and remote work #### ⏱️ [00:04:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=240) Student Benefits - Work-ready junior developers and designers - Real-world experience beyond tutorials - Professional certification - Demonstrated contributions to specific WordPress sections - Soft skills development #### ⏱️ [00:05:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=330) University Benefits - Improved employment statistics for marketing - Better outcomes than theoretical courses - Demonstrable career paths for graduates #### ⏱️ [00:06:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=405) Expansion Ideas - Extend to sixth form colleges and secondary schools - Target 15-17 year olds before university decisions - Local business involvement in outreach #### ⏱️ [00:07:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=450) Business Benefits - Reduced onboarding time from months to days/weeks - 700,000 open roles in WordPress ecosystem - Pre-trained talent pipeline #### ⏱️ [00:08:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=525) Implementation Logistics - Universities coordinate with WordPress Foundation - Local businesses serve as bridges for communication - Minimal cost to universities - Business cost is primarily staff time for mentoring #### ⏱️ [00:10:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=600) Student Requirements - Demonstrate actual contributions, not just setup work - Maintain progress blogs - Active Slack participation - Work on real projects - Can be done alongside regular coursework or employment #### ⏱️ [00:11:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c&t=690) Personal Commitment - Speaker interested in local implementation - Focus on contribution rather than income - Opportunity to shape new generation of web professionals ## 📚 References - [WordCamp Europe 2026 announcement details](URL not provided in transcript) - WordPress Foundation partnership program - WordPress Playground for student practice ## 🗣️ Paraphrase The WordPress Foundation is launching an innovative educational program that transforms traditional web development training. Instead of passive learning, students actively contribute to WordPress while gaining skills, creating a win-win scenario where the ecosystem benefits from fresh contributions while students build portfolios of real work. This approach addresses both the skills gap in WordPress development and the need for meaningful educational outcomes that lead directly to employment opportunities. ## 📰 Newsletter 🎓 **WordPress Goes Back to School!** Exciting news from WordCamp Europe 2026: WordPress is partnering with universities to create the next generation of web developers! This isn't your typical "install WordPress and write a blog" course – students will be contributing to WordPress core, security, and AI features while learning. The program offers real-world experience, professional certification, and direct pathways to employment in an ecosystem with 700,000 open roles. Universities get better employment stats, businesses get pre-trained talent, and students graduate with actual WordPress contributions in their portfolios. Could this program expand to your local schools? The speaker is already exploring partnerships with sixth form colleges to reach even younger developers. If you're interested in mentoring the next generation, this could be your chance to shape WordPress's future while giving back to your community. [Learn more about university partnerships →](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c) ## ✅ Action Items #### Community - Explore partnerships with local universities and sixth form colleges to establish WordPress education programs - Connect educational institutions with WordPress Foundation for program setup - Develop curriculum that balances learning with meaningful contributions to WordPress ecosystem - Create mentorship networks pairing experienced developers with student contributors #### WordPress - Core Program Team: Establish clear contribution pathways for student participants with appropriate complexity levels - Community: Develop onboarding materials specifically for educational cohorts - Training: Create lesson plans that integrate skill-building with ecosystem contribution - Documentation: Develop guides for universities interested in partnership programs #### DevRel - Education: Design workshop formats suitable for semester-long programs with real project outcomes - Community management: Establish Slack channels and support systems for student contributors - Developer experience: Create educational-focused documentation and examples for common contribution areas ## 🧪 Hypotheses 1. **Student contributors will have higher retention rates in WordPress development careers** compared to traditional tutorial-based learners due to early ecosystem investment 2. **Universities with WordPress programs will see improved employment statistics** for web development graduates within 6 months of program completion 3. **Businesses mentoring students will reduce onboarding costs** by 50-75% when hiring program graduates 4. **Expanding to secondary education will increase long-term WordPress ecosystem growth** by capturing interest during formative career decision years 5. **The 700,000 open roles figure will drive significant university adoption** if validated and widely publicized ### 📊 Methodology - **Hypothesis 1**: Longitudinal study tracking career paths of program graduates vs. traditional learners over 2-3 years - **Hypothesis 2**: University employment statistics analysis comparing web development job placement rates before and after program implementation - **Hypothesis 3**: Business case studies measuring onboarding time and costs for program graduates vs. traditional hires - **Hypothesis 4**: Market research comparing WordPress adoption rates in regions with vs. without secondary education programs - **Hypothesis 5**: Survey of university decision-makers regarding factors influencing program adoption ### ❓ Questions - What specific contribution areas are most suitable for students at different skill levels? - How will intellectual property and code ownership work for student contributions? - What happens to students who complete programs but don't find WordPress-related employment? - How will program quality and outcomes be measured across different universities? - What support systems exist for international universities interested in participation? ### 🔮 Future Research - Impact assessment of student contributions on WordPress development velocity and quality - Analysis of optimal mentorship ratios and time commitments for business participants - Investigation of certification standards and industry recognition for program credentials - Study of program adaptation for different educational systems and cultural contexts - Research into scaling challenges as program expands globally ### 💡 Implications **Practice**: Traditional web development education may need to incorporate open-source contribution as standard curriculum rather than optional activity. **Policy**: Educational institutions may need new frameworks for managing student contributions to external projects and intellectual property considerations. **Security**: Increased student contribution to WordPress security features could strengthen the ecosystem while creating new oversight requirements. **Education**: Success of this model could inspire similar programs in other open-source ecosystems, fundamentally changing how technical education operates. **Funding**: Program success might shift education funding models toward outcome-based partnerships with technology organizations. ### 🧠 Learning Styles Assessment **Reading level estimate**: Flesch-Kincaid Grade 8.2 - accessible to high school and university students, appropriate for target audience #### 👀 Visual learners **Present**: Video format provides visual demonstration of concepts **Improve**: Add program structure diagrams, university partnership flowcharts, student journey timelines, before/after career path visuals #### 🔊 Aural learners **Present**: Video with clear narration and conversational explanation style **Improve**: Create podcast version, add closed captions, develop audio-only program explanation for accessibility #### 🗣️ Verbal learners **Present**: Conversational tone with clear definitions and analogies to traditional education **Improve**: Add glossary of WordPress contribution terms, create comparison tables between traditional vs. contribution-based learning #### 🧩 Kinesthetic learners **Present**: Emphasis on hands-on contribution work and real project requirements **Improve**: Develop step-by-step setup checklists for universities, create sandbox environments for immediate practice #### 🧠 Logical learners **Present**: Clear cause-and-effect relationships between program participation and career outcomes **Improve**: Add structured timelines, cost-benefit analyses, measurable success metrics, decision trees for program implementation #### 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Social learners **Present**: Strong emphasis on mentorship, community participation via Slack, and collaborative learning **Improve**: Add discussion prompts for cohort groups, peer review frameworks for student contributions #### 🧘‍♀️ Solitary learners **Present**: Individual blog maintenance requirements and self-directed project work **Improve**: Create self-assessment rubrics, individual reflection prompts, independent study modules #### 🌿 Naturalistic learners **Present**: References to ecosystem health and sustainable community growth **Improve**: Add analogies to natural ecosystem development, highlight environmental benefits of open-source collaboration ### 📊 Accessibility Assessment #### Screen reader semantics **Present**: Video has clear verbal descriptions of concepts **Improve**: Add proper heading structure to video description, provide alt text for any visual elements, ensure transcript has proper semantic markup #### Keyboard navigation **Present**: Standard YouTube player keyboard controls **Improve**: Ensure all linked resources are keyboard accessible, provide skip links for different video segments #### Contrast and readability **Present**: Clear audio narration with good contrast **Improve**: Add high-contrast transcript options, ensure any visual materials meet WCAG contrast requirements #### Text resizing and reflow **Present**: YouTube's built-in text scaling for captions **Improve**: Provide downloadable transcript that reflows properly at 200% zoom #### Media and captions **Present**: Video format with spoken content **Improve**: Add professional closed captions, provide full transcript, ensure no auto-playing elements #### Forms and interactions **Present**: Standard video interface **Improve**: Ensure any university application forms referenced are fully accessible with proper labels and error handling #### Standards reference Map program materials to WCAG 2.2 AA standards, particularly focusing on Level AA compliance for educational content accessibility requirements. ### 🌍 DEIB Assessment #### Cultural breadth **Present**: Discussion of UK education system (sixth form colleges) alongside universities **Improve**: Address international university systems, consider cultural differences in open-source contribution norms, include examples from diverse educational contexts #### Inclusive language **Present**: Uses accessible terminology, avoids excessive jargon **Improve**: Define WordPress-specific terms more clearly, avoid assumptions about prior technical knowledge, include alternative career paths #### Neurodiversity support **Present**: Clear structure with conversational explanation style **Improve**: Add consistent headings, visual progress indicators, multiple ways to engage with content (video, transcript, summaries) #### Representation **Present**: Speaker shares personal experience as parent considering child's future education **Improve**: Include diverse voices in program discussion, show varied career paths and backgrounds, highlight accessibility of opportunities #### Psychological safety **Present**: Encouraging tone about learning opportunities and community support **Improve**: Address potential imposter syndrome concerns for new contributors, clarify that no prior experience is required, emphasize supportive community culture ### ✅ Logical Validity #### Strong reasoning **Causal reasoning (strong)**: The connection between hands-on contribution experience and improved employment outcomes is well-supported by evidence from other technical education programs that emphasize practical experience over theoretical learning. **Analogical reasoning (strong)**: The comparison between traditional university courses with poor employment outcomes and this practical contribution model effectively highlights the value proposition for educational institutions. #### Fallacies **Appeal to consequences**: "Why would any university or business want to sign up to this if they didn't think there was a future for WordPress?" - The willingness of institutions to participate doesn't necessarily validate WordPress's long-term viability. Institutions can make strategic errors or have different risk assessments. **Bandwagon appeal**: The emphasis on 700,000 open roles could be seen as pressure to join a popular trend without sufficient verification of the job market data. **Anecdotal evidence**: Personal interest in involving his 11-year-old son, while relatable, doesn't constitute evidence for program effectiveness. #### Tone of voice **Enthusiastic and personal**: "I would love to explore the idea" and "I really do think this is a bit of an exciting time" shows genuine excitement. **Balanced optimism**: "Of course, this is very hypothetical. In a year's time, I or others might have a different view" demonstrates intellectual honesty about uncertainty. **Community-focused**: Emphasis on "giving back" and "not looking to make any income from it" establishes credibility through altruistic motivation. ### 🛡️ DARVO Analysis **No DARVO patterns detected**. The content is promotional and educational rather than defensive. The speaker acknowledges potential criticism ("WordPress is dying, market share's going down") and addresses it directly rather than deflecting, attacking critics, or repositioning WordPress as a victim of unfair criticism. ## 🎯 Conclusion The WordPress university partnership program represents a significant strategic shift toward sustainable ecosystem growth through education. By combining skill development with meaningful contribution, the initiative addresses multiple stakeholder needs: universities gain better employment outcomes, businesses access pre-trained talent, and WordPress strengthens its contributor base. The program's success will likely depend on effective curriculum design that balances educational objectives with real contribution value, robust mentorship networks, and clear pathways from education to employment. Expansion to secondary education could multiply the program's impact by reaching students during formative career decision years. For readers interested in WordPress's future, this represents an opportunity to shape the next generation of developers while addressing the ecosystem's talent pipeline challenges. Universities and businesses should evaluate participation based on their capacity for meaningful mentorship rather than merely adding another program offering. ## 🔄 Refactor Appendix — WordPress wants to help University Students ### 📚 Literature Atoms (H3) #### WordPress creates work-ready developers through contribution-based education programs > [!quote] > Students learn WordPress while contributing back to the ecosystem, creating work-ready junior developers who have real project experience rather than just tutorial knowledge **Context & use**: - Discussed throughout video as core program benefit - Contrasts with traditional theoretical education approaches **Tags**: #workforce-development #xref  #### University partnership programs reduce business onboarding costs significantly > [!quote] > You could be employing people and the onboarding time is now down to days or a week rather than months **Context & use**: - Speaker's experience with NHS hiring processes - Business case for mentorship investment **Tags**: #business-efficiency #xref  #### Student accountability requires demonstrable contributions beyond basic WordPress skills > [!quote] > You can't just spend 6 months going, "Yeah, I'm just going to set up my WordPress and do the settings." You've actually got to contribute. **Context & use**: - Program requirements ensuring meaningful participation - Quality control for educational outcomes **Tags**: #education-standards #xref  ### 🧠 Permanent Candidates (H4) #### Contribution-based education creates stronger technical career foundations **Claim**: Educational programs requiring real-world contributions to open-source projects produce more capable and employable graduates than purely theoretical curricula. **Evidence pointer**: [[#WordPress creates work-ready developers through contribution-based education programs]] **Scope & conditions**: Holds when contributions are meaningful and mentored; breaks when contributions become busy work or lack proper guidance **Links**: - [[Open-source contribution strategies]] — because extends - [[Technical education effectiveness]] — because applies-in educational contexts  ### ✏️ Fleeting Queue - [F1] Research university partnership program requirements and application process — WordPress Foundation contact needed #fleeting #inbox - [F2] Investigate sixth form college partnership possibilities in local area — educational outreach opportunity #fleeting #inbox ### → Things 3 (max 2 actions) - [ ] Contact local universities about WordPress partnership interest — education outreach #things - [ ] Research WordPress Foundation university program requirements — partnership development #things --- # 📄 Full Transcript *Auto-generated from YouTube captions · timestamps roughly every 30 seconds · [watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKSgZHJkE8c)* **[00:00]** One of the most encouraging things that came out of WordCamp Europe 2026 wasn't a brand new plugin or a brand new feature, but it was about how can we help the new generation get involved and get a bit more excited about using WordPress. There's a link in the video description that clarifies a bit more, but I'm going to try and summarize how WordPress is trying to bring education back out there via a program with universities. Now, I don't know if this will also be for like sixth form **[00:30]** colleges in the UK as well. And I'd love to explore the idea, even though it might cost me in terms of my time and resources and whatever, I do think this is a bit of an exciting time for the new generation. So, what was discussed was like this university partnership with the WordPress Foundation and obviously the university and businesses out there where they can mentor and guide new students. Because it's not just like a learning program where you sign up for a **[01:00]** course and then someone teaches you how to install WordPress and how to do your Gutenberg and, you know, your styling and things like that and how to write a blog. It's not just about that. What you'll get is like a dedicated learning program whereby the students will learn how to use WordPress, but also they will be contributing back to WordPress. So, this almost fits into the whole contributors program and how they want more people to be engaged, but it allows the students to learn as well. And then going forward, it's going to make them **[01:31]** be a more interesting prospect for a company or a plugin developer out there maybe where they are seeking talent. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think that you have to do a course or do a special program to say you are talented or skilled. But this could be a way of introducing people in because we got to be honest here. A lot of youngsters are looking at AI and technology and they would love to be able to set up their own business working from home. So, here they get to learn WordPress, but they're also contributing back into **[02:02]** the WordPress ecosystem. A lot of people, when they hear about WordPress, they will say WordPress is dying, the market share's going down, why are you investing time in that? There's loads of AI solutions out there. And I do not disagree with everything, but I think it is very, very subjective. And if there is this opportunity where universities are going to start signing up, and I don't know the numbers, I don't know how many have or not, but if universities go on board with this, and businesses start investing time to mentor and guide people as well to lead the courses or **[02:34]** the program, isn't that a really good thing? I mean, why would any university or business want to sign up to this if they didn't think there was a future for WordPress? Of course, this is very hypothetical. In a year's time, I or others might have a different view of this, but I think this is a really good, positive move for the WordPress Foundation and the WordPress people to be doing this. The ultimate aim is that a lots of plugin developer companies, businesses out there that employ staff or people to work on their **[03:06]** product are now going to have work-ready junior developers and designers. Because a lot of us can watch videos and tutorials and read up about how to work with WordPress. But if you've now got people that have actually worked on the security aspect or the core or the AI abilities or just something fundamental behind the scenes, aren't they a more enticing prospect? From a student aspect, they can show that they have contributed to a specific section of **[03:37]** WordPress over the last 6 months. And not just that, they're going to get real-world experience, soft skills, and some professional certification at the end of it as well. Universities always love to put on their prospectus when they can show that like people from their university or do their courses or programs are able to go and get real jobs as well. You don't just want to have a course that says, "Hey, we're going to teach you business studies." and then most of the people kind of disappear and you never see them again. But if you can now show that, I don't **[04:08]** know, 50, 60% of the people that did this went on to full-time employment or whatever job they got and they were now earning a really good salary and they were getting recognition within the WordPress community as well. I wish something like this was around when I was at university and I hope this takes off because I know my son, he's only 11, he takes a lot of interest in what I'm doing, not just the YouTubing side but the whole web designing. And I would love to open up this discussion if it is possible and I need **[04:40]** to find out if it is with some sixth form colleges and schools around my area because I don't think we should just restrict this to just universities. I think we need to go down to say 15, 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds as well. They're not even at university. They haven't even fully thought about it yet. But maybe with everything that's going on with technology, wouldn't they like to learn to use WordPress and websites and contribute? I know what it's like when you employ people when I used to work in the NHS and you spend a lot of **[05:11]** time on boarding staff. Well, now you could be employing people and the onboarding time is now down to days or a week rather than months. And from what I've picked up from the video, there's apparently 700,000 open roles in the WordPress ecosystem. I'm just trying to get my head around that. 700,000 open roles in the WordPress ecosystem that this could help to fill. Now, you could argue but aren't you now just getting people to learn and then you're **[05:42]** getting help from them but you're not giving them a salary or anything. Well, to be honest, a lot of people that contribute to the WordPress ecosystem aren't really getting paid for either. So, it's kind of the same thing. So, how would the university get themselves set up or the school? They would have to have that conversation with the WordPress Foundation. Now, universities might not fully understand that and that's where local businesses, me, someone could maybe touch base with the university or hopefully a college and maybe kind of be the bridge with the **[06:14]** WordPress Foundation to kind of get that communication all set up. Is it going to cost the university to do this? I don't believe so because, well, obviously, depending on the venue or where you hold it, where it's online or offline. I don't know, but you know, there's a lot of logistics you got to work out. But, I don't think there should be a cost because the WordPress Foundation, I don't think they're going to charge for it from what I know because they gain from it cuz they get contributions. If you have a business who allows one of their staff or employees, let's say I **[06:45]** did it, or let's say there was another agency or and they decide that one of their experts or gurus is now going to go out and teach and support the students, they're obviously giving up their time. So, the cost to them is their time. Maybe they're going to give out some licenses, maybe to use, I don't know, hosting or something like that. There's loads of logistics you got to think about. Obviously, there's the WordPress playground, so they could go in and start playing with that as well. Now, from a student point of view, they obviously have to show they are **[07:15]** contributing. They have to work on a real project. You can't just spend 6 months going, "Yeah, I'm just going to set up my WordPress and do the settings." You've actually got to contribute. So, they have to show evidence by Slack. They've got to keep a blog as well to show their progress and what problems they're overcoming and challenges they're facing. And this could even be done as a side thing to their normal university course they're doing or whatever they're working on. They could be full-time employed already, and now they're doing this. You know, it could be like, you know, you **[07:47]** know, evening school, maybe, or something. Mature students, even. Could be anyone. I don't really feel like we need to put an age on this. I'm going to try to find out a bit more, basically, because I'd love to explore the idea of local businesses approaching their local education establishments to find out how they can do this, because I really do, and it's been on my mind for a long time, and how could I provide more WordPress learning and teaching. I haven't always contributed by the contribution kind of side of things, **[08:18]** just because of juggling lots of things. But, if there was a way that I could somehow contribute back by holding like a school or lessons or something like that, I would do. And I'm not looking to make any income from it. Really, really clear on that. I'd love to make a difference. And I would love to, you know, obviously I use a lot of Elementor, but there's loads of WordPress stuff that I could knowledge and experience I could pass on, as well. Quite frankly, anyone who participates in this is helping to shape the new generation of web designs, **[08:48]** developers, and the whole WordPress ecosystem. And like I said, if there's 700,000 roles out there, fresh talent is definitely needed.