The WordPress Foundation is excited to introduce WordPress Credits, an internship program focused on contributions, aimed at integrating university students into the core of the WordPress open source project. While WordPress benefits from a global volunteer community, students and newcomers often encounter entry barriers, such as the absence of structured guidance or practical experience in open source projects. This program aims to close that gap, fostering future contributors and ensuring WordPress remains innovative, inclusive, and sustainable for the future.
The pilot program, developed with the University of Pisa, was announced at WordCamp Europe 2025 by Matt Mullenweg and Mary Hubbard. It has since garnered interest from students in various disciplines, including humanities, computer science, and communication. Companies in the WordPress ecosystem have also shown support and interest in contributing. In light of the growing interest from community members and academic institutions, more universities are invited to join the initiative.
Open to students from all fields, the program combines structured onboarding with a personalized contribution project. Activities are tailored to each student’s degree program and familiarity with WordPress, focusing on developing transferable skills, academic-related competencies, and active participation in the WordPress community. Internship durations can vary, aligning with academic semesters (typically 3–4 months) or allowing year-round sign-ups with a required number of contribution hours (e.g., 150 hours) like at the University of Pisa. Flexible arrangements can be discussed to meet specific institutional requirements.
Foundational Training includes:
- An introduction to open source principles and the WordPress Foundation
- Familiarization with community tools (Slack, Make blogs, Learn platform, GitHub)
- Setting up a personal WordPress site and publishing content
Students select a contribution area and design their personal project within that area. Possible projects include:
- Translating interfaces or documentation
- Creating multilingual subtitles for educational videos
- Contributing code or performing testing
- Supporting product development or design
- Writing or editing content
- Assisting with community event organization
- Developing training materials for Learn WordPress
- Creating open source tools
- And much more…
Interns are guided by an experienced mentor specific to their chosen area and supported by a dedicated WordPress Foundation contact throughout the program. All student contributions, whether code, translations, documentation, or educational materials, will be publicly visible and integrated into official WordPress projects and resources, benefiting the wider community.
Interested universities and educational institutions can participate by filling out the interest form.
Companies in the WordPress ecosystem are also invited to support this initiative by sponsoring mentors, providing tools, and resources to help students succeed in their contribution journey.
If your company is interested in getting involved, please visit the Company Guide to learn more and fill out the form to join the program.
By welcoming students, mentors, sponsors, and volunteers, we are building a stronger and more connected WordPress community. Each participant, whether guiding a student, sharing experiences, providing sponsorship, or spreading the word, helps ensure that open source remains vibrant and accessible for all. Together, we are not just supporting individual contributors; we are shaping the future of WordPress and open source itself.
