YEREVAN, Armenia — The American University of Armenia (AUA)’s Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering (CSE), in collaboration with the PyData Yerevan community, is once again hosting an Open Source Sprint on campus. For the second year in a row, the Sprint will focus on contributing to pandas, a widely used open-source Python library for data analysis and manipulation.
Open Source Sprints are focused sessions that introduce participants to the practical side of open-source development. With guidance from experienced mentors, attendees learn how to set up a development environment, explore the structure and coding standards of an open-source project, and submit their first actual contribution in the form of a Pull Request. The format is beginner-friendly, and the goal is to lower the entry barrier to open-source contribution, particularly for students and early-career developers.
Organizing this Sprint for a second time reflects a growing commitment within AUA’s tech community to provide meaningful, real-world learning opportunities. Habet Madoyan, chair of the Bachelor of Science in Data Science program and co-founder of PyData Yerevan, reflected on how open-source events like this support AUA’s mission and help bridge education with practical skills: “Most of us use open-source tools every day, whether we know it or not. This Sprint is a chance to give back by contributing to one of those tools. You don’t need to be an expert in Python to take part; just a basic understanding and a willingness to learn is enough.”
This year, the Sprint will be facilitated by Suren Poghosyan, software engineer at Picsart and co-organizer of PyData Yerevan. Last year, Poghosyan participated in the Sprint as both a contributor and mentor. This time, he returns to lead the event and share insights from his growing experience in open-source development.
Poghosyan reflected on the personal value of open source and the mindset shift that comes with it: “Contributing to open source made me realize how much of the global tech ecosystem is built by people volunteering their time to solve problems for a shared vision. I have often found value in GitHub discussions around libraries I use, but only recently did I realize that those contributors were people just like me — simply driven by a greater purpose. Now, returning as a facilitator, I am looking forward to helping others feel that same spark. Hence, committing without expecting anything in return leads to a deeper sense of meaning, where the impact you make outweighs any personal reward.”
Joining as a mentor for the first time is Davit Ter-Torosyan (), an AUA student with a strong interest in cybersecurity and Python development. Ter-Torosyan brings hands-on experience with Linux systems, networking, and Git-based workflows and looks forward to helping participants navigate their first contributions. He shared his thoughts about the event: “Mentoring contributors, especially for the first time, is both a responsibility and a privilege for me. Many students do not yet realize how valuable their contributions to open source projects can be. My goal as a mentor is to engage as many enthusiasts as possible by removing the obstacles that have kept them from participating. I want to make their entry into open source smoother, not only to support their career growth, but also to help improve the quality of the tools and software we all depend on. Finally, I believe open source should be truly open — not just in terms of access to code, but in how welcoming and supportive the community is to newcomers.”
The Sprint is open to anyone with a working knowledge of Python and access to a personal laptop with Git, Docker, and a GitHub account. It will take place on August 15, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in Room 416W of the Paramaz Avedisian Building at AUA. The evening will begin with a welcome and introduction to the contribution process, followed by guided work time, during which participants will be supported as they make their first contribution to pandas.
Follow the link and register by August 13, as space is limited. To learn more and for further information about the session agenda, click here.
By continuing to host events like this Sprint, CSE and PyData Yerevan are creating pathways for students and professionals to become part of the global open-source community, one meaningful contribution at a time.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.