VALS Project & Semester of Code
Juan Cruz-Benito
GRIAL Research Group
University of Salamanca
juancb@usal.es
@_juancb
TEEM’14 Conference, October 2, 2014
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

Outline
1. Introduction
2. Previous projects
3. VALS Project
4. VALS path
5. Semester of Code
6. Win-win solutions
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

Introduction
Virtual Alliances for Learning Society
(VALS) - European Project
Virtual placements for informatics students
Semester of Code initiative
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

We expect to achieve success!
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

Previous projects
Google Summer of Code
https://developers.google.com/open-source/soc/
Undergraduate Capstone Open Source
Projects (UCOSP)
http://ucosp.ca/
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

VALS Project
Consortium:
• Universities (University of Salamanca, University
of Bolton, University of Cyprus, University of
Udine, OSS Watch – Oxford University)
• SMEs (Raycom BV, Open Directive Ltd,
Mindshock)
European funded project: 533.337€ - 2 years
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

VALS Project
Goal:
• Build partnerships between HE & Business
• Create virtual placements: Students solving
real problems from Business through Open
Innovation & Open Source (FOSS / OSS)
Target of the project:
• Students, Universities (European scope)
• Enterprises / foundations (World scope)
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

VALS path
• Begins: October 2013
• Ends: September 2015
• Semester of Code pilots:
• September 2014 – January 2015
• February 2015 – July 2015
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

Semester of Code
• VALS initiative for virtual placements
• Pilot phase in 2014-2015
• Several universities engaged apart of those
present in the Consortium (University of León,
UPC Barcelona, Paris 8, etc.)
• First pilot: September 2014 - January 2015
• 228 projects engaged
• We are engaging students at this moment
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

Win-win solutions
• The VALS project and Semester of Code approach is to
provide win-win solutions for all stakeholders.
• Win-win solutions:
• Students get academic rewards and some professional
experience before leave their degrees related to CS,
informatics, etc.
• Universities solve the problem of placements (mandatory in
some of educational systems) through offering virtual
placements for their students.
• Companies receive students from all HE levels that solve real
problems from their business, and finding talent by this way if
they want.
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

Find us!
http://virtualalliances.eu
http://semesterofcode.com
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA

VALS Project & Semester of Code
Juan Cruz-Benito
GRIAL Research Group
University of Salamanca
juancb@usal.es
@_juancb
TEEM’14 Conference, October 2, 2014
540054-LLP-L-2013-1-ES-ERASMUS-EKA