Software Engineering Networking Experience.

This report summarizes the results of an international workshop, held on October 11th in Joensuu, Finland. The objectives were to foster the exchange of experience with regard to set up and operation of networking activities in the area of software engineering. A special focus was on experience regarding measures that have been implemented in order to foster the exchange in the very networks and to assure sustainability .Reports on lessons learned comprised also quantitative as well as qualitative indicators that have been observed in order to assess success. The workshop aimed a comprehensive list of successful as well as less successful implementations of the various measures, either on technical, social, or process level.
Four networks are presented and discussed in detail. Results comprise lessons learned with respect to organization and operation of networking activities and insights into motivation of different parties involved.
All networks conclude that networking of researchers and professionals for software engineering if benificial for all participants involved. However, the benefits of networking are difficult to measure and thus unclear to potential sponsors with the consequence that they are mostly organized through voluntary work without substancial resources.