IXP Fellowship Graduates from Initiative to Functional Drupal Program

The IXP Fellowship has officially graduated from a community initiative to a functional program that companies can use immediately, marking a significant milestone in Drupal's effort to bring new talent into the ecosystem.

The initiative was first launched at DrupalCon Lille in 2023 along with Mike Anello and Ana Laura Coto. The program creates structured pathways for companies to hire and mentor developers who have Drupal knowledge but lack professional experience. In return, companies receive substantial contribution credits through Drupal's contribution recognition system.

We have been working on this program for over a year, and we are thrilled to see it become a reality. I first raised the issue at DrupalCon Pittsburgh before formalizing the initiative in Lille. This is a direct response to the challenge of helping newcomers gain that critical first experience in Drupal.

Companies that successfully complete an IXP engagement will receive 250 contribution credits (with a limit of four per year). With bronze-level Drupal Certified Partners needing 150 credits, just one successful IXP engagement puts a company well on their way to bronze certification.

The inaugural wave of participating companies includes Seed EM (Colombia), Bluefly (US), Digital Projex (Uruguay), and Digital Polygon (US), demonstrating the program's global appeal.

The strength of this program is that it addresses multiple challenges at once. It helps new developers gain experience, rewards companies for their investment in training, and strengthens the entire Drupal ecosystem.

Companies wishing to participate can register on the IXP site at https://drupal-ixp.site, which is now ready for registrations and engagements. The program provides detailed guidelines for companies on how to hire and mentor inexperienced developers, ensuring a consistent and beneficial experience for all participants.

Looking ahead, while the program has started with developers, it can expand to include site builders as well, particularly with Drupal CMS on the horizon. Agencies might want to consider adding introductory-level site builder positions to prepare for the new market that Drupal CMS will bring.

For more details on the IXP Program's journey and implementation, visit my full blog post on A Drupal Couple.