Just a few months ago, students at CIFP Santa Catalina in Aranda de Duero (Spain) knew little to nothing about WordPress. Yet, this vocational school became the stage for the very first WordPress Campus Connect held in Spain, a pioneering project designed to transform the way students and teachers engage with the web, open source, and digital entrepreneurship.

Last August, Javier and Andrés — two of those students — traveled on scholarships to WordCamp US in Portland, where they took the stage as speakers in a panel discussion, sharing their journey with the world.

What exactly is WordPress Campus Connect?

WordPress Campus Connect is an international program for students that brings web development, open-source software, and digital entrepreneurship into the classroom. Through hands-on mentorship and professional resources, participants learn how to build and manage websites with WordPress, developing key skills that will shape their professional future.

But WPCC goes beyond teaching a tool. Its mission is to shape a new generation of digital creators who understand the importance of freedom on the internet, digital privacy, the value of open source, and the right of every individual to own their own content.

The First Campus in Spain, in Ribera del Duero

The WordPress.com team fell in love with this initiative and decided to support the very first edition of WordPress Campus Connect in Aranda de Duero.

Over the course of four weeks, 30 students took part in both in-person and virtual workshops, developed their own web projects, and worked in a collaborative environment where they shared ideas, solved challenges, and supported one another throughout the process.

This edition happened thanks to a partnership between the Centro Integrado de Formación Profesional Santa Catalina, whose faculty trusted the project from the very beginning, and the rural coworking space Ribering, which generously hosted the workshops.

Beyond technical training, WordPress.com provided free hosting for the students, along with close mentorship throughout the program. Watching their progress was truly rewarding — many started with no prior knowledge and finished by publishing functional, creative websites full of personality.

From Aranda to Portland

To recognize that effort, WordPress.com awarded the two most outstanding projects with a trip to WordCamp US 2025 in Portland, Oregon, where their creators took the stage as guest speakers and shared their experience in a panel discussion with the international community.