Carlos Ospina Proposes Drupal Certification Framework to Strengthen Ecosystem

Carlos Ospina has outlined a comprehensive set of proposals to revitalise Drupal’s economic structure, following discussions at a Birds of a Feather session during DrupalCon Atlanta. In a detailed blog post, Carlos emphasised the need for the Drupal community to transition from merely identifying challenges to implementing systemic solutions that enhance sustainability. Central to his proposal is a standards-based certification framework designed to define and validate key professional competencies within the Drupal ecosystem.

The certification initiative is envisioned as a grassroots, community-driven effort that sets clear benchmarks for skills such as content modelling, frontend development, and secure user management. Unlike earlier training initiatives that struggled with scalability and maintenance, this framework would be developed independently of the Drupal Association, enabling innovation without overextending existing resources. Carlos sees the certification as a dual-purpose tool, helping agencies and clients identify qualified developers while providing contributors with recognition and career advancement.

In addition to the certification system, Carlos advocates for regionalised DrupalCons better to reflect the economic diversity of the Drupal user base. He argues that localised events can connect service providers and clients more effectively than a singular global model, fostering more inclusive participation and stimulating localised business development. This approach is intended to align better with the financial and logistical realities of Drupal contributors worldwide.

Another significant proposal involves enhancing Drupal.org as the primary platform for talent sourcing, agency discovery, and contribution tracking. Carlos suggests centralising these functions on Drupal’s own infrastructure, thereby increasing the value of existing programs like the Certified Partner initiative. Collectively, these proposals signal a shift toward a more decentralised, community-validated path for Drupal’s economic and organisational evolution.

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