How can WordPress bridge the gap between classrooms and real world contribution? How do we move students from just learning about open source to actively building it, contributing to it, and shaping its future? This panel focuses on practical pathways. We will discuss: How academic institutions can collaborate through WP Credits to formalise contribution How Campus Connect initiatives can create real exposure inside colleges How student clubs can become contribution hubs, not just event groups How structured mentorship can help students submit their first PR with confidence The goal is simple. Stop treating open source as a chapter in a syllabus. Start treating it as a career runway. Together with moderator Raitis Sevelis, Anand Upadhyay, Destiny Kanno, and Maciej Pilarski will explore how WordPress is building sustainable learning models that connect classroom education with real hands-on contribution, mentorship, and global collaboration. This is not just about learning WordPress. It is about participating in it. The discussion will cover: Integrating WordPress contributions into academic programs Building global student communities through Campus Connect Creating accessible learning pathways for beginners Supporting educators who want to introduce open source in classrooms The future of education within the WordPress ecosystem Whether you are a student looking to start contributing, an educator planning to introduce open source, or a community organiser building local ecosystems, this panel will give you practical direction and clarity on the next steps. Because the future of WordPress will not be built only by developers. It will be built by students who start early.