Organising My First AWS Student Community Meetup in Singapore
I organised my first AWS Student Community Meetup as an AWS Student Builder Group Leader at SIT, bringing students and builders together to learn about cloud, AI, developer communities, and the changing role of developers.
Series: Community Events (4 articles)
- …
- 3Organising My First AWS Student Community Meetup in Singapore This article
Organising My First AWS Student Community Meetup in Singapore
Starting a new community initiative can feel both exciting and challenging. As part of the AWS Student Builder Groups at the Singapore Institute of Technology, I had the opportunity to organise and host my first AWS Student Community Meetup.
The goal was simple: create a welcoming space where students could learn from experienced technology leaders, meet other builders, ask questions, and discover how they could become more involved in the AWS student community.
Bringing Students and Builders Together
The meetup brought together students and builders who were interested in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, startups, software development, and developer communities.
I opened the event by introducing the AWS Student Builder Groups, sharing what the programme does and explaining how students can participate in future activities.
For some attendees, this was their first AWS community event. I wanted to ensure that the meetup was accessible to everyone, regardless of whether they were already experienced with AWS or were just beginning their cloud journey.
It was encouraging to see students from different backgrounds speaking with one another, sharing what they were building, and forming new connections.
Learning About Developer Experience
We were grateful to have Shafraz Rahim introduce the audience to Developer Experience, commonly known as DevEx.
Developer experience is not only about the tools developers use. It also includes the processes, documentation, platforms, and communities that help developers build and learn more effectively.
This introduction gave students a better understanding of how organisations can support developers throughout their journey and why creating a positive developer experience is increasingly important.
The Agentic Shift
The main sharing was delivered by Praful Bagai, Head of Developer Relations for India and South Asia at AWS.
His session, “The Agentic Shift: From Writing Code to Learning Systems,” explored how the role of developers is changing with the growth of generative AI and agentic development tools.
Instead of only writing every line of code manually, developers are increasingly responsible for guiding AI systems, defining requirements, reviewing outputs, designing workflows, and continuously improving the systems they build.
The session also covered topics such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, startups, careers, and building developer communities.
Students had the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from someone with extensive experience supporting builders and technology communities across the region.
More Than Just a Technical Session
One of the most valuable parts of the meetup was the networking session after the talks.
Students were able to speak directly with the speakers, meet other attendees, exchange ideas, and learn about projects and opportunities within the community.
Events like this are valuable because learning does not only happen during presentations. It also happens through conversations with people who may be working on similar challenges or following similar career paths.
These connections can lead to collaborations, friendships, future projects, and new opportunities.
What I Learned as an Organiser
Organising this meetup taught me that a successful community event requires more than securing a venue and inviting speakers.
It also requires:
- Understanding what the audience wants to learn
- Coordinating with speakers and supporting teams
- Communicating clearly with attendees
- Creating opportunities for meaningful interaction
- Collecting feedback and using it to improve future events
Most importantly, I learned that students are willing to participate when they feel welcomed and are given opportunities to ask questions, contribute, and connect with others.
Thank You to the Community
A huge thank you to Praful Bagai for sharing his experience and insights with the students.
I would also like to thank Shafraz Rahim and Lyn Teoh for supporting me throughout the event and helping everything run smoothly.
Finally, thank you to every student and community member who attended, asked questions, shared feedback, and connected with others during the meetup.
This was only the beginning. We hope to continue organising more workshops, technical sessions, community meetups, and hands-on building opportunities for students.
Students who are interested in AWS, cloud computing, AI, or developer communities are always welcome to reach out and get involved.
Let us continue to connect, learn, and build together.
Series: Community Events (4 articles)
- …
- 3Organising My First AWS Student Community Meetup in Singapore This article
Enjoyed reading this content? Let the author know!
Your likes, comments, shares, and saves help creators reach more builders.
Loading recommendations
Loading article