Building Software Engineering Capacity through a University Open Source Program Office

TL;DR

This paper presents a university-based open source program office designed to train future software engineers, highlighting its costs, benefits, and strategies for sustainability and cost reduction.

Contribution

It introduces an innovative university program for software engineering training, including cost management strategies and evidence of its educational and societal benefits.

Findings

Program cost was $551,420 over two years

The program provides educational, research, and societal benefits

Strategies for reducing costs and ensuring sustainability are proposed

Abstract

This work introduces an innovative program for training the next generation of software engineers within university settings, addressing the limitations of traditional software engineering courses. Initial program costs were significant, totaling $551,420 in direct expenditures to pay for program staff salaries and benefits over two years. We present a strategy for reducing overall costs and establishing sustainable funding sources to perpetuate the program, which has yielded educational, research, professional, and societal benefits.