WordPress Campus Connect Inspires 120 Students at Bhandarkars’ College, Kundapura
Kundapura: The WordPress Udupi community conducted a two-day workshop, WordPress Campus Connect, at Bhandarkars’ Arts & Science College, Kundapura, on October 3 and 4, 2025, introducing over 120 Computer Science students to the art of website creation and the power of open-source technology.
Spread across two days, the sessions saw 60 students participate each day in hands-on training on how to build, customize, and publish their own websites using WordPress — one of the most popular content management systems in the world.
The event was inaugurated by Dr. Shubhakarachary, Principal of Bhandarkars’ College, who lit the ceremonial lamp and spoke about the growing importance of digital literacy and open-source collaboration in modern education.
The program was made possible through the support of the Department of Computer Science, led by Mr. Ganesh K (Head of Department), with Mrs. Vijayalaxmi N Shetty, Mr. Ramachandra Achari, and Mrs. Chethana (Program Co-ordinator) playing key roles in organizing the event.
The sessions were led by the WordPress Udupi Organizing Team — Shashikanth Shetty (Founder, SabWeb), K Keerthi Prabhu (Senior Tester, QualityKiosk, Mumbai), and V Gautham Navada (Founder & Director, ForthFocus).
Adding a personal touch to the event, Gautham, Keerthi (Batch of 2015), and Chandana GM (Batch of 2024, Operations Manager at ForthFocus) — all proud alumni of Bhandarkars’ College — returned to their alma mater to mentor the next generation of budding technologists.
The organizing team was ably supported by facilitators Omkar Udupa (CEO, Kotisoft Solutions, Koteshwara), Manjunath M M (Founder, Yuktha Digitals, Thirthahalli), and Ms. Chandana GM (Operations Manager, ForthFocus), who guided students through every stage of the learning process.
“It felt wonderful to return to the same classrooms where our journey began,” said K Keerthi Prabhu, Senior Tester at QualityKiosk, Mumbai. “The students were curious, energetic, and quick to grasp new ideas. Watching them publish their first live websites was incredibly fulfilling.”
Manjunath M M, Founder of Yuktha Digitals, added, “The enthusiasm from students was infectious. Programs like this give them practical exposure and bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world skills.”
The workshop concluded with 120 newly created student websites, marking another milestone in WordPress Udupi’s mission to promote digital empowerment and community-driven learning. The team expressed its gratitude to Bhandarkars’ Arts & Science College for their warm hospitality and commitment to hands-on education.
