1. What is the WGU School of Technology x Riipen Software Engineering program?
This initiative connects employers with WGU Software Engineering learners for short-term, real-world project experiences conducted remotely through the Riipen platform.
Projects are co-curricular (outside of academic credit) and designed to help learners apply their skills while contributing to meaningful software development challenges.
About the Learners
Learners in this program:
Are enrolled in WGU’s B.S. in Software Engineering program
Have completed core and intermediate coursework in programming, software design, and development
Have experience with object-oriented programming (Java or C#) and modern development tools
Understand the software development lifecycle (SDLC), including Agile methodologies
Have experience with version control (Git/GitHub), testing, debugging, and system integration
Hold industry-recognized certifications such as AWS Cloud Practitioner, CompTIA Project+, and ITIL® Foundation
Have been pre-screened by WGU Career Services for readiness and professionalism
They are prepared to contribute to real-world software projects while continuing to develop professionally.
Project Details
Duration: June 22 – August 14, 2026
Time commitment (learners): 40–60 hours total
Timeline: ~6–8 weeks
Team structure: Up to 5 learners per project
Format: Remote, project-based, independent work
Scope: Beginner to intermediate software engineering projects
2. What types of projects can I post?
Strong projects are clearly scoped, practical, and aligned with real development needs.
Examples include:
Application Development
Build a web application prototype or internal tool
Develop or enhance features for an existing system
Create CRUD-based applications for managing data
Web Development
Design or improve front-end interfaces
Enhance website performance, accessibility, or UX
Build dashboards or interactive components
API & Backend Development
Design and implement RESTful APIs
Integrate third-party services into existing systems
Build backend services or data-processing functionality
Software Testing & QA
Develop test cases and testing strategies
Perform debugging and issue tracking
Create automated or manual testing scripts
System Design & Documentation
Create system architecture diagrams
Document codebases or workflows
Recommend improvements for scalability and maintainability
Projects should be achievable within 4–8 weeks while delivering meaningful value.
3. What is the time commitment for employers?
Employers should plan for approximately 5 hours total across the project.
This includes:
Project kickoff meeting
Reviewing progress updates
Providing feedback at key milestones
Reviewing final deliverables
Communication is lightweight but important for guiding outcomes.
4. Are there any costs associated with participating?
No. Participation in the WGU + Riipen program is completely free for employers.
5. What kinds of deliverables will learners produce?
Learners produce practical, real-world software outputs, such as:
Functional applications, features, or prototypes
Source code repositories (e.g., GitHub)
API implementations or integrations
Testing scripts and QA reports
Technical documentation and architecture diagrams
System improvements or feature enhancements
Deliverables are designed to be usable, reviewable, and extendable by your team.
6. What are learners capable of?
By the time they begin their projects, learners can:
Write and maintain code using languages such as Java or C#
Build front-end and back-end application components
Work with APIs and system integrations
Apply software development lifecycle practices (Agile, testing, iteration)
Use version control systems (Git/GitHub)
Perform debugging, testing, and quality assurance
Develop well-structured, documented, maintainable code
They are well-suited for structured development tasks and benefit from employer guidance to align with business needs.
7. How are learners assigned to projects?
Learners are assigned to projects by the program team — there is no application or self-selection process.
Once assigned:
Learners gain access to your project and begin communication via Riipen
You’ll be able to engage directly and guide their work
(Program team support is available if needed.)
8. What support should I provide to learners?
Employers play a key role in shaping the experience. You will:
Provide project context, requirements, and goals
Offer guidance and feedback at key milestones
Be available to answer questions and clarify expectations
Learners are expected to work independently, but your input ensures relevance and quality.
9. What milestones are included in the project?
All projects follow a light milestone structure:
Week 1: Project kickoff / onboarding meeting
Week 2: Progress check-in
Midpoint: Progress update + feedback
End of project: Final deliverables + evaluation
This helps ensure projects stay on track.
10. What if a learner is not meeting expectations?
This is a learning-focused experience, so outcomes may vary.
However:
Learners are expected to communicate and stay engaged
Lack of participation may impact their completion status
Riipen support is available if issues arise
11. Can I modify my project after it starts?
Project scope can be refined before learners are assigned.
After projects begin, major scope changes are not recommended, but minor adjustments can be supported with guidance from the Riipen team.
12. How does this differ from a traditional internship?
These experiences are:
Short-term (6–8 weeks)
Project-based (not employment)
Remote and flexible
Learners focus on specific deliverables, rather than ongoing responsibilities.
13. Will I need to evaluate learners?
Yes. At the end of the project, employers are expected to:
Review final deliverables
Provide structured feedback on performance
Complete a short evaluation (technical skills, communication, etc.)
This supports learner development and program quality.
14. Why should I participate?
By participating, you can:
Build or improve real software solutions
Extend your team’s development capacity
Connect with emerging software engineering talent
Contribute to training the next generation of developers
15. How do I get started?
To participate:
2. Visit the WGU portal and request portal access.
3. Browse open portal programs and hit “request match” for the Software Engineering program.
4. You will be directed to our 3rd party identification provider, Persona, to complete a 5 step identity and verification process
5. Submit the match request. Hit “view request” to sign the program agreements and confirm the match.