Madan Bhandari Open Source: UbuCon Asia Kathmandu Student Interactions
2nd June 2025, Kathmandu
Energy and enthusiasm filled Madan Bhandari Memorial College as students gathered for a special interaction session organized by the team behind UbuCon Asia 2025. The event aimed to raise awareness about open source and empower youth to contribute to global technology projects.
Madan Bhandari Open Source
Engaging Nepal’s Next Generation
The interaction focused on students, bringing the open-source movement closer to young minds. With technology playing a bigger role in education and careers, students were encouraged to explore new opportunities beyond textbooks.
Roshan Pandey, Secretary of UbuCon Asia 2025, and Rupesh Nepal, Operations Lead, led the session. Both have long been involved in promoting open-source development in the region. They shared personal stories and explained how the community thrives through shared values and contributions.
Understanding The Power Of Open Source
Open source means more than just free software. It allows users to view, modify, and improve source code. This builds transparency, trust, and innovation. More importantly, it fosters global collaboration.
Speakers highlighted how students in Nepal can contribute to international projects from their classrooms. Tools like GitHub and platforms such as Ubuntu and GNOME were introduced as gateways into the open-source world.
Roshan emphasized that open source isn’t just for coders. Designers, writers, translators, and event organizers also have roles in building inclusive communities.
A Global Community With Local Roots
The speakers introduced UbuCon Asia as a community event that connects developers, designers, educators, and users across Asia. Through sessions like this one in Kathmandu, the organizers want to involve students from all backgrounds.
According to Rupesh, the strength of open source lies in its diversity. Contributions from different cultures bring fresh ideas and solutions. He encouraged students to form local open-source clubs and continue learning together.
He also shared how open-source events have changed the lives of youth in other countries, giving them access to mentors, internships, and career paths.
Student Benefits And Career Opportunities
The event was packed with practical advice. Students were eager to learn how open source could help them grow. The organizers shared four key benefits:
Skill Development
By contributing to real-world projects, students can gain hands-on experience. From troubleshooting issues to writing code and documentation, open source provides learning-by-doing.
Networking
Through open-source communities, students can meet peers, professionals, and mentors from across the globe. These connections often lead to internships, collaborations, and job offers.
Visibility
Every contribution to open source is recorded and visible. This helps students build a portfolio that employers trust. It also shows dedication, consistency, and initiative.
Confidence
Getting your first pull request accepted, seeing your code live in action, or helping solve a bug builds confidence. Students feel empowered when they know they’ve made a difference.
Backing from The Tech Community
The session was made possible with support from key organizations in Nepal’s tech ecosystem. ICT FRAME joined as the Cybersecurity Media Partner, promoting awareness and covering the event across its platforms.
ONE COVER, serving as the Cybersecurity Partner, contributed expertise in secure development and ethical hacking. Their presence added value to the event by reminding students that security and ethics matter just as much as innovation.
This support from cybersecurity-focused organizations shows that the open-source movement in Nepal is evolving with responsibility.
Why Students Should Join?
Roshan and Rupesh ended the session with a clear message: “Join now. Don’t wait.” They urged students not to see open source as something foreign or complicated. Instead, they asked students to begin small—fix a typo, translate a README, or attend a community event.
They shared that open-source contributors from Nepal have gone on to speak at conferences, work with global tech firms, and lead community initiatives. “It all starts with one contribution,” said Rupesh.
Students responded with enthusiasm, asking questions about where to begin and how to stay active. The speakers provided resources, such as community forums, contribution guidelines, and learning platforms.
More Than A Conference
Although the larger event later this year will host hundreds of participants and speakers, today’s session was about building grassroots interest. It served as a reminder that the open-source journey often begins in classrooms and campus halls.
By focusing on students and creating a supportive environment, the organizers aim to shape Nepal’s next generation of tech leaders.
Roshan concluded, “Open source is not just a trend. It’s a culture of learning, sharing, and building together.”
Conclusion: Nepal’s Role In The Open Source Future
UbuCon Asia’s student interaction in Kathmandu wasn’t just about promoting an event. It was about planting seeds. Seeds of collaboration, curiosity, and global engagement. Students left the session not only informed but also inspired.
As Nepal continues to strengthen its presence in the global tech landscape, youth participation in open source will play a crucial role. With platforms like UbuCon Asia and the dedication of leaders like Roshan Pandey and Rupesh Nepal, the future of open source in Nepal looks bright and promising.
For more: Madan Bhandari Open Source
