How SEF Hosted a Successful Online Session on Google Summer of Code
After completing the Google Summer of Code (GSoC) program with OpenMRS in 2022, I received numerous inquiries through LinkedIn and in person about GSoC. This experience made me realize that there is a need to raise awareness about GSoC in Sri Lanka. That’s when as the Sustainable Education Foundation (SEF), we decided to do a session regarding this. SEF is a volunteer-driven not-for-profit organization focused on improving the Sri Lankan education system.
On the 12th of February 2023, We hosted the online session on GSoC. The session was attended by over 100 participants and featured presentations from various members of the SEF engineering team.
Introduction to GSoC
I started the session by giving an introduction to GSoC including an explanation of the timeline, eligibility requirements, and evaluations which explains how it works. Then I handed it over to Jayasanka.
Overview of the Application Process
When It comes to the application process, There’s no other like Jayasanka Weerasinghe to explain this. He was my mentor for my GSoC 2022 project. Jayasanka covered the various stages involved in applying for GSoC, such as finding and selecting an open-source organization, preparing and submitting a project proposal, and the selection criteria used by organizations to choose students.
Preparing for GSoC
After Jayasanka’s session, Piumal Rathnayake offered tips and best practices for preparing for GSoC, such as identifying areas of interest, gaining relevant skills and experience, and building a strong online profile.
GSoC Best Practices
To explain the GSoC best practices, We invited Grace Potma, Director of Product at OpenMRS. She covered best practices for students to follow during their GSoC projects, such as effective communication with mentors and open-source communities and managing timelines and deadlines.
Opportunities After GSoC
Then we hand over to Dr Akishika Wijesundara to explore the potential opportunities that GSoC can provide for students, such as gaining valuable work experience, building a network of contacts in the software development community, and increasing their chances of landing a great job.
Success Stories of Sri Lankan Students
We wanted to share the success stories of Sri Lankan students who have participated in GSoC in the past. To achieve this we invited Kumuditha Karunarathne, Heshan Andrews and Hasitha Kuashan to share their stories.
These stories highlighted the impact that GSoC could have on students’ careers and personal development and demonstrated the value of participating in this global program.
Q&A and Wrap-up
The session concluded with a Q&A session, where participants were able to ask questions, share their own experiences, and receive feedback from the SEF team. The team summarized the key takeaways from the session and encouraged participants to explore the opportunities that GSoC offers.
Do not worry if you missed the session, You can find the session recording below.
Overall, the SEF’s online session on GSoC was a great success, providing valuable insights and advice for students interested in participating in this program. By promoting programs like GSoC, the SEF is contributing to the Sri Lankas’ sustainable development goal of “Quality Education” and supporting Sri Lankan students in gaining the skills and experiences they need to succeed in the global software development industry.
Special thanks to Desira Wijeysundara for hosting the session.
Finally, I would like to thank the SEF engineering team, speakers and participants for making this successful.
Wanna get connected?
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjula-sack/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anjula.shanaka/
Github: https://github.com/anjula-sack
