Importance of open source contributions within the educational process

Contributions to Open Source projects make an important difference in the educational process. By studying the underlying architecture of an Open Source application, students can significantly improve their technical knowledge and, also, contribute to the evolution of the project. Our research relies on an extra-curricular course that aims to speed up the process of the first upstream contribution. In this paper we highlight the impact of the course on the professional background and career path of admitted students.