WordPress Credits
Guiding the next generation of contributors through hands-on learning.
About the program
WordPress Credits is a contribution-based program by the WordPress Foundation. The program connects higher education students with the global open source community. It offers real-world experience with mentorship to help students fulfill academic requirements while contributing directly to WordPress.
Launched with the University of Pisa and announced at WordCamp Europe 2025, the program continues to grow, fostering collaboration between students, universities, and companies across the WordPress ecosystem.
The program is designed so that the time and work students dedicate can be formally recognized by their institution — as academic credits, internship hours, or project work.
How it works
The program typically runs for an academic semester and follows three main phases:
- Onboarding
- Project Work (contributions)
- Wrap-Up
Through the program, students collaborate with volunteers and professionals from companies in the WordPress ecosystem.
The program typically runs for an academic semester and is offered in two formats (50 hours and 150+ hours) to fit different academic needs. It follows three main phases: Onboarding, Project, and Wrap-Up.
Onboarding
Students receive training on WordPress tools, community culture, and open source collaboration while connecting with mentors and local teams.
Project Work
Students develop a personal contribution project in their area of interest, such as translation, content creation, event organization, development, or design.
Wrap-Up
Students present their work, share reflections, and help improve the program for future participants.
Two tracks to fit your program
WordPress Credits is offered in two formats, so institutions can match the program to their academic requirements and the time students have available.
WordPress Credits — 50 hours. A condensed track built around a single guided contribution project. A good fit for shorter modules, electives, or a first introduction to open source.
WordPress Credits — 150+ hours. The full program. It starts at a minimum of 150 hours and can be extended to fit an institution’s needs (so far we’ve run it up to 400 hours). It includes everything in the condensed track plus extra onboarding courses, building a personal website with regular progress updates, mid-course feedback, and active participation in the global WordPress community and events. A good fit for internships, capstone projects, or a full-semester course.
Both tracks finish the same way: students present their work, complete a feedback form, and receive a certificate.
Why participate in WordPress Credits
For Students
- Build real WordPress projects and develop practical skills
- Learn from experienced mentors
- Gain confidence through hands-on experience
- Connect with a global open source community
For Mentors
- Bring meaningful learning experiences to students
- Share knowledge while strengthening your own leadership skills
- Connect your institution or community with the global WordPress ecosystem
For Institutions
Flexible ways to integrate WordPress Credits
Each institution decides how the program fits its academic structure. The most common approaches are:
- As an internship — students complete supervised hours that count toward an internship or work-placement requirement.
- As an embedded module — integrate the program, or selected courses from it, into an existing subject.
- As a pre-graduation project — use it as the practical or capstone project students complete before finishing their studies.
- As an elective or extracurricular credit — offer it as a standalone elective.
These are the most common models, not the only ones. We're happy to discuss any arrangement that works for your institution — our goal is for the time and work students invest to be formally recognized by their school or university.
For Companies
- Increased visibility as a company that supports open source education and emerging WordPress professionals
- Direct connection with motivated students gaining real experience through guided projects
- Strengthened reputation in the WordPress ecosystem as a supporter of impactful community initiatives
- Opportunities to collaborate with mentors, institutions, and contributors for long term mutual benefit
What Your Institution Gains
- Access to a complete, ready-to-implement educational program at no cost
- Ability to integrate real-world open source experience directly into the curriculum
- Increased student engagement through practical project work
- Opportunity for teachers to be trained as future mentors, strengthening internal capabilities
- An official partnership with the WordPress Foundation, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to high-quality digital education and global open source collaboration
Success stories
“My experience within the WordPress Credits project has been truly enriching. From the very beginning, I have felt supported and motivated to learn more each day. On a personal level, my supervisor has been exceptional, always attentive to my questions, responding quickly, and showing a strong willingness to help.“
Nazareth
Universidad Fidélitas
“I consider this project interesting and useful for my academic path. I had the opportunity to develop digital skills and put my communication abilities into practice. Moreover, I had the chance to participate in an active, dynamic, and highly collaborative community, with in-person meetings that were helpful in improving my journey.“
Leonardo
Università di Pisa
“This project felt like being part of a big creative community, always ready to help each other to create something that matters, something ever changing and ever evolving. Thanks to this program I had the opportunity to contribute in a tangible way to a much bigger project to help other students like me to participate as well.“
Arianna
Università di Pisa
“This project gave me a truly positive experience: I felt supported throughout the journey, and I had the opportunity to grow, develop my skills, and learn things I didn’t know before. If you’re looking for a place where you’ll be welcomed with open arms, this is it. “
Giulia
Università di Pisa
Participating institutions
Check the institutions currently participating in WordPress Credits. Together, they’re advancing open source education by connecting students, educators, and contributors around the world.
If your institution would like to join this growing network, please register your interest so we can connect and explore the next steps together.
Universidad Fidélitas
San José, Costa Rica
Riga Nordic University
Riga, Latvia
Universidad Privada Franz Tamayo
Santa Cruz & Cochabamba, Bolivia
Università di Pisa
Pisa, Italy
Ahmad's Education
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Krakow University of Economics
Krakow, Poland
Cracow University of Technology
Krakow, Poland
IES Azarquiel
Toledo, Spain
Creative Campus – Universidad Europea
Madrid, Spain
Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, USA
Drew University
Madison, USA
Escuela de Arte Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Escuela de Arte de Huesca
Huesca, Spain
ERAP Research and Learning LLP
Kolkata, India
Juraj Dobrila University of Pula
Pula, Croatia
Escuela de Arte de Zaragoza
Zaragoza, Spain
IES Venancio Blanco
Salamanca, Spain
Zaragoza Dinámica
Zaragoza, Spain
Meet our mentors and admins
Our mentors and program administrators form the backbone of WordPress Credits. Mentors guide students through their first steps in open source contribution, helping them define meaningful projects, build confidence, and develop real-world skills through hands-on collaboration with WordPress teams. Program admins ensure that every step of the student journey runs smoothly, from onboarding and project coordination to academic partnerships and community integration. Together, they create a supportive learning environment that empowers students to contribute with purpose, unlock new opportunities, and become active participants in the global WordPress ecosystem.
Our sponsors
WordPress.com offers domain plus 1 year of free hosting plus 50% off renewal
Weglot offers one year of Weglot’s Business Plan for free to translate your website
How to get involved
Join as a student
Gain real-world experience, collaborate with mentors, contribute to WordPress projects, and build skills that can boost your future career as part of a global open source community.
Become a Mentor
Share your experience and help guide students through real-world open source projects, offering feedback, support, and direction as they learn and grow.
Become a Partner Institution
Become a partner and offer students a meaningful way to gain real experience while contributing to a global open source project. Joining the program allows you to bring innovative and practice based learning opportunities directly into your curriculum
Contribute as a Company
Strengthen the open source community by supporting students through mentor sponsorships, useful tools and resources, or other contributions that enhance the program experience.
Join the community
Join the #wpcredits Slack channel to share ideas, collaborate, and stay connected with other organizers.
If you still have questions or want more details, you can find everything in this handbook.