GSoC is a great way to attract new contributors, and we encourage everyone to get involved.
Please feel free to share your ideas at any time, but don’t forget the deadline. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Priya Sharma <[email protected]> Date: Thu, Jan 22, 2026 at 5:12 PM Subject: Re: GSoC 2026 is coming To: mentors <[email protected]> Cc: Maxim Solodovnik <[email protected]>, Swapnil M Mane < [email protected]>, Sanyam Goel <[email protected]> Hello Mentors, The deadline to apply as a mentoring organization is from January 19, 2026 to February 03, 2026. We need to prepare the ideas list before Feb 3. ** As per the latest update project idea descriptions can be concise (3-6 sentences) ** Please start adding your ideas. Feel free to reachout to us in case of any queries or concerns. On Tue, 20 Jan 2026 at 01:19, Priya Sharma <[email protected]> wrote: > > Great suggestion Jarek, i will take care of it. > > Best Regards, > Priya > > On Mon, 19 Jan, 2026, 8:05 pm Jarek Potiuk, <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Thanks!. Yeah, indeed both satisfactory and scary >> >> Suggestion: Maybe a good idea is to mention in the ASF-wide mail that there are unethical attempts to game the system and - focusing more on the positive than negative side of it - explain that we in ASF are committed to participate GSoC in ethical and transparent way, and we ask all mentor to contact the organizers if they see some of those unethical behaviours? >> >> Not sure how to formulate it, but I think we should be clear to our people that we are watching and we are there to help in those kinds of situations ? >> >> J. >> >> >> On Mon, Jan 19, 2026 at 9:01 AM Priya Sharma <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Jarek, >>> The GSoC team is aware of these incidents and here is the response from them: >>> >>> ''We plan to make it clear to organizations that they are responsible >>> for selecting their mentors and the mentors represent the >>> organizations. There will be consequences for everyone involved if a >>> mentor is caught doing this - mentor removed from GSoC, contributor >>> removed and organization will lose the org stipend and likely the >>> invitation to any Mentor Summit in 2026 plus risking not being >>> accepted into GSoC in the future. People have always tried to find >>> ways to manipulate the system, that is nothing new unfortunately." >>> >>> This sounds both satisfactory and scary to me as we manage a large >>> number of mentors every year and its really difficult to know about >>> the intentions of each and everyone. But yeah lets hope for the best. >>> >>> Thanks once again for the early heads up. >>> >>> On Fri, 16 Jan 2026 at 19:33, Jarek Potiuk <[email protected]> wrote: >>> > >>> > Cool. Let me know if you hear anything from them - i found it both amusing and worrying seeing those messages - and more than one at that. >>> > >>> > On Fri, Jan 16, 2026 at 9:45 AM Priya Sharma < [email protected]> wrote: >>> >> >>> >> Thanks a lot Jarek for sharing this. >>> >> We do not entertain these kinds of practices in any manner at the ASF. >>> >> Our process for student selection is not solely dependent on the mentors, to ensure that we have a multi criteria mandate to rate the proposals based on factors including engagement with the community and a good proposal. >>> >> >>> >> Going forward we will be even more vigilant in this regard. >>> >> >>> >> I will further raise the issue with the GSoC organisers, just if they haven't already come across it. >>> >> Hopefully they will take necessary actions if needed. >>> >> >>> >> On Fri, 16 Jan 2026 at 04:42, Melissa Logan <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> Noted, Jarek - thanks for bringing to attention. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Jan 14, 2026 at 11:07 AM Jarek Potiuk <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> >>> >>>> Just one watch out here. >>> >>>> >>> >>>> Recently I saw LinkedIn posts [1] and [2] complaining on how GSoC has been >>> >>>> abused by some dubious quality universities and edtech. Those entities are >>> >>>> trying to artificially boost their reputation by offering mentors money >>> >>>> (substantial) to accept their students who otherwise would not qualify. >>> >>>> Presumably in an attempt to increase the influx of the students who pay the >>> >>>> university/edtech fees based on (X number of students of ours got accepted >>> >>>> to GSoC). Which is obviously very unethical and >>> >>>> anti-everything-we-believe-in if proven true. >>> >>>> >>> >>>> I am not sure how much truth there is to it, so I did not spread it. It >>> >>>> could be some anecdotal evidence mentioned and it does not have to be a >>> >>>> widespread campaign. But also I do not see what people talking about it >>> >>>> could gain by raising their concerns - so I think it's worth checking >>> >>>> (maybe get an official response to those allegations from GSoC organizers) >>> >>>> before we start engaging our PMCs from the ASF perspective. And if those >>> >>>> allegations and "spread" of it is confirmed, we should possibly at the very >>> >>>> least warn our mentors-to-be that this is happening and explain that those >>> >>>> are unethical practices and that ASF does not want this to happen when we >>> >>>> engage in GSoC activities. >>> >>>> >>> >>>> I do not expect that has anything to do with GSoC organizers - it's >>> >>>> unlikely the organizers would endorse such behaviours, maybe they are not >>> >>>> even aware of those posts and those alleged practices (but I doubt - those >>> >>>> posts got quite a significant reach and I am quite sure there were others). >>> >>>> Those posts mention Indian universities and Edtech, but I also doubt is >>> >>>> limited to India (though by sheer number of universities/people it might >>> >>>> seem like this is only from there). So I think it would also be great if >>> >>>> GSoC could share their understanding of the problem (and whether there is a >>> >>>> problem at all) with us - even under some confidentiality clauses, as this >>> >>>> might be a highly sensitive subject. >>> >>>> >>> >>>> J. >>> >>>> >>> >>>> [1] >>> >>>> https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kartiksapra_indian-edtech-and-private-universities-are-activity-7408022935979864064-06bU >>> >>>> [2] >>> >>>> https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mdxabu_google-summer-of-code-has-been-hijacked-by-activity-7408070628592750593-r9af >>> >>>> >>> >>>> On Wed, Jan 14, 2026 at 7:33 PM Melissa Logan < [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> >>> >>>> > Fantastic! Looks great. A few suggestions inline. >>> >>>> > >>> >>>> > Let us know when those have been reviewed, and we'll get this in the >>> >>>> > publishing queue. >>> >>>> > >>> >>>> > On Wed, Jan 14, 2026 at 4:42 AM Priya Sharma < [email protected]> >>> >>>> > wrote: >>> >>>> > >>> >>>> > > Hi Melissa, >>> >>>> > > Thank you for the suggestion. We appreciate the offer to publish and >>> >>>> > > promote a blog post—this sounds like a great way to share the message >>> >>>> > more >>> >>>> > > broadly. >>> >>>> > > >>> >>>> > > Please find the content in the attached document. >>> >>>> > > >>> >>>> > > >>> >>>> > https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kSeq3SFR4GT0Y26N0aOQG0JMlULEPaKTv13bBo5Osvc/edit?usp=sharing >>> >>>> > > >>> >>>> > > On Thu, 11 Dec 2025 at 03:03, Melissa Logan < [email protected]> >>> >>>> > wrote: >>> >>>> > > >>> >>>> > >> Hi Maxim, we understand at this point it's more of an "internal" ask to >>> >>>> > >> ASF projects, but if you folks want to write a blog, we're happy to >>> >>>> > publish >>> >>>> > >> it and promote it on social channels and the newsletter - just let us >>> >>>> > know. >>> >>>> > >> >>> >>>> > >> As Brian alluded to, reaching all projects at once is tough. The best >>> >>>> > >> list is probably the ComDev ML. >>> >>>> > >> >>> >>>> > >> >>> >>>> > >> On Fri, Dec 5, 2025 at 8:19 PM Maxim Solodovnik < [email protected]> >>> >>>> > >> wrote: >>> >>>> > >> >>> >>>> > >>> Hello Brian, >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> On Sat, 6 Dec 2025 at 04:26, Brian Proffitt <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> > >>> > >>> >>>> > >>> > M&P can pitch in and help if needed, but I really see internal >>> >>>> > >>> > communications as more in Comdev's lane. >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> I'm afraid I'm not experienced enough to create ANN email and send it >>> >>>> > >>> to all dev@ lists in foundation >>> >>>> > >>> Can someone please help with construction of such email? >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> Maybe you can suggest who in ComDev can help with touching all >>> >>>> > >>> projects at ones? :)) >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> > >>> >>>> > >>> > BKP >>> >>>> > >>> > >>> >>>> > >>> > >>> >>>> > >>> > Brian Proffitt >>> >>>> > >>> > VP, Marketing & Publicity >>> >>>> > >>> > VP, Conferences >>> >>>> > >>> > >>> >>>> > >>> > On Fri, Dec 5, 2025 at 1:44 AM Maxim Solodovnik < >>> >>>> > [email protected]> >>> >>>> > >>> wrote: >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > (+ [email protected]) >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > Can we arrange ASF-wide email (I believe dev@ list of all ASF >>> >>>> > >>> project >>> >>>> > >>> > > need to be included) >>> >>>> > >>> > > With the information regarding upcoming GSoC? >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > To participate ASF need to have "Ideas page" >>> >>>> > >>> > > This page is created semi-automatically based on JIRA issues >>> >>>> > labeled >>> >>>> > >>> `gsoc2026` >>> >>>> > >>> > > (The process is described here: >>> >>>> > >>> > > https://community.apache.org/gsoc/guide-to-being-a-mentor.html >>> >>>> > with >>> >>>> > >>> > > the exception of JIRA label should be `gsoc2026`) >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > Ideally we need all ideas collected before "Monday, January 19" >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > I would appreciate help with wording and contacting projects :)) >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > On Thu, 4 Dec 2025 at 14:20, Priya Sharma < >>> >>>> > >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> > >>> > > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > > Thanks for the update Maxim. >>> >>>> > >>> > > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > > It would be amazing if we can notify and encourage other projects >>> >>>> > >>> as well to participate (more projects, better ideas). >>> >>>> > >>> > > > Sending an ASF wide announcement would be great. >>> >>>> > >>> > > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > > On Thu, 4 Dec 2025 at 08:15, Maxim Solodovnik < >>> >>>> > >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> We are thrilled to announce that Google Summer of Code (GSoC) >>> >>>> > >>> will be >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> back in 2026 for its 22nd year! >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> Mentoring organizations interested in participating in GSoC 2026 >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> should prepare for the application window, which opens soon. The >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> application period for organizations will run from Monday, >>> >>>> > >>> January 19, >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> to Tuesday, February 3, 2026. >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> On Wed, 3 Dec 2025 at 15:24, Maxim Solodovnik < >>> >>>> > >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > Hello All, >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > I believe its time to start collecting ideas :) >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > Shall we contact [email protected] to send ASF wide announce? >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > from mobile (sorry for typos ;) >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> > >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> -- >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> Best regards, >>> >>>> > >>> > > >> Maxim >>> >>>> > >>> > > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > > -- >>> >>>> > >>> > > > Best Regards, >>> >>>> > >>> > > > Priya >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> > > -- >>> >>>> > >>> > > Best regards, >>> >>>> > >>> > > Maxim >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> -- >>> >>>> > >>> Best regards, >>> >>>> > >>> Maxim >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>>> > >>> To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] >>> >>>> > >>> For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected] >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > >>> >>> >>>> > > >>> >>>> > > -- >>> >>>> > > Best Regards, >>> >>>> > > Priya >>> >>>> > > >>> >>>> > >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> -- >>> >> Best Regards, >>> >> Priya >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Best Regards, >>> Priya -- Best Regards, Priya -- Best wishes！ CalvinKirs
