@ad3b7fa2f96c2315cb4278f4ead63762988ce53d4932110fee5c5ac07e77d321 [Posted on DevHub](https://near.social/#/devgovgigs.near/widget/Post?id=1625) ## Idea: NEAR-Campus University of Calgary ### Proposal for NEAR Campus Program #### UCalgary Blockchain Club Overview UCalgary Blockchain Society (UCBS), established in May 2022, stands as Alberta's pioneering student-led blockchain initiative at the University of Calgary. Our mission is not only to democratize access to blockchain and web3 knowledge, ensuring it remains both free and accessible, but also to act as the pivotal bridge between students and industry giants, facilitating their journey into rewarding blockchain careers. Our society is backed by a dedicated in-house development, internal, marketing and partnerships team. This team embarks on a diverse range of projects, all with a shared vision: to offer students a platform to hone their skills in the dynamic world of blockchain. At UCBS, we regularly host informative workshops, hackathons, and engaging guest lectures in collaboration with the frontrunners of banking, tech, and blockchain. We aim to empower students with the knowledge they need to start successful careers in the blockchain industry. On the academic front, we are actively aiding the University of Calgary in introducing a comprehensive 2-year credited Decentralized Finance program planned to launch in Fall 2025. Designed in collaboration with the esteemed Haskayne Faculty of Business, this program promises to provide a select cohort of 15-20 students unparalleled opportunities for hands-on blockchain research and invaluable industry exposure and lectures. More details about UCalgary Blockchain Society: [Here](https://ucalgaryblockchainsociety.com/) #### Objectives Our participation in the NEAR Campus Program aligns with the following objectives: - Be a bridge between students of the UCalgary Blockchain club and the NEAR ecosystem - Actively participate in the NEAR ecosystem through Near Campus activities, including educational workshops, hackathons, and guest lectures - Work together in open-source projects - Encourage members to contribute to open-source Web3 projects actively - Foster a collaborative culture. #### Implementation Plan & Activities - **Formation of NEAR Node:** Establish a dedicated NEAR agenda within UCalgary Blockchain Club to coordinate NEAR Campus activities. - **Workshops and Courses:** Host educational workshops covering Web3 basics and explore the possibility of advanced courses tailored to specific Web3 frameworks. - **Bootcamp on Rust and NEAR ecosystem** (Remotely and/or IRL) - **Hackathons and Competitions:** Organize hackathons and development competitions, inviting students from UCalgary. - **Guest Lectures and Discussions:** Lectures and panel discussions with NEAR and other guests. - **Signing up Club members for mentorship** with NEAR specialists and organizing two online 1:1 or group sessions. - **Internship and Placement Programs:** Organize online and/or IRL job fairs where members can learn about internships and/or job placement opportunities. - **Infrastructure Support:** Explore opportunities to set up and launch critical Web3 infrastructure components, with a focus on technical assistance, resources, and guidance. ##### Following up with the activities: - **Progress Feedback:** The club and Near campus team will engage in follow-up calls to monitor progress in achieving the objectives outlined in this proposal. - **Mapping Improvement:** Gather feedback from members and stakeholders to continuously improve our NEAR Campus initiatives. - **Tracking the path:** Generate periodic reports highlighting achievements, successful projects, and lessons learned from participating in NEAR Campus activities. ### 6-Month Plan: UCalgary Blockchain Club's Engagement in NEAR Ecosystem **Start Date:** [Nov/1/2023] **End Date:** [April/30/2024] #### Month 1: Awareness and Education **Activities:** **Summary** ( Cost of Staking & CAD 700 for events.) - Establish the UCalgary NEAR Node as an official NEAR Campus participant. - The Decentralized Finance Lab at the University of Calgary has its Hardware. We would like to explore the opportunity of becoming a validator and receiving monetary support through Staking. The earnings from this will be used to further the Education program & activities for Students. - Host an IRL event on NEAR Protocol for club members and the academic community. (CAD 500) - This event will be for 100 students. The event will introduce the NEAR Protocol to students. This event will kick off our relationship and introductory event for NEAR. Workshop series with NEARFunding would be spent toward food for the students attending. - Kickstart workshops on blockchain fundamentals and NEAR-specific features 2 Online events. (CAD 200 in total) - This workshop series will be hosted as an online workshop. This workshop series aims to prepare students to build on NEAR before a NEAR-focused hackathon and development. The funds for this event will be used as a giveaway to increase engagement with students. - Develop educational materials and resources related to NEAR for distribution. - No Cost associated. Looking for time from Subject Experts from the NEAR Campus. #### Month 2: Research and Development **Summary of costs** ( Student-led Research Grant + $300) **Activities:** - Launch a NEAR-focused research grant program for student-led projects within the UCBS development team, with bounties and grant goals. - Encourage club members to participate in open-source NEAR projects. - Host guest lectures and panel discussions with NEAR industry experts. (CAD 300) - We are currently hosting a virtual speaker series every Monday on campus with in-person to teach students about Decentralized Finance with 50 student attendance. We would like to have an SME from NEAR to come and speak. All the funds for this event will be used towards food and drinks. #### Month 3: New Year & New Semester kick off Community Building and Partnerships **Activities:** **Summary** (Kick-off event CAD 3,000 ) - Host a social event to increase community at the University of Calgary bar to kick off 2024. This event will have 250 students attending, and the specified cost is solely towards food. The event scope is designed to bring awareness to all faculties and students on Campus with NEAR sponsorship #### Month 4: Internship & Career Growth Workshop **Summary of Costs** ( Career Fair Workshop CAD 300) **Activities:** - Host a Career Fair Workshop (CAD 300) - Assistance in Internship advice, networking, and job opportunities within the NEAR ecosystem for students. - Question & panel regarding Career advice for students. - This event can be virtual or hybrid, depending on the team's preference NEAR. All the funds for this event will be used towards food and drinks. #### Month 5: Hackathon **Activities:** **Summary of Costs** (TBD) - Hosting an Alberta-wide Hackathon with multiple business sponsors and multiple communities to encourage Alberta students to get familiar with emerging technologies. The event budgeting to be determined. #### Month 6: Wrapping up year event: **Summary of Costs** (CAD 3,000) - End-of-semester wrap-up event. This would be a multi-sponsor event to bring the community on campus together. It would grow the awareness of blockchain and Protocols on campus. The expected number of students would be 400. This is the final event. We expect the overall cost to be close to CAD 10,000. #### Overall KPIs for 6 Months: - **Community Engagement:** Monitor the level of engagement within the members and NEAR ecosystem (For example, attendance in the NEAR-focused activities). - **Impact:** Measure the percentage of participants who reported an improved understanding of the NEAR ecosystem. (If there is a lack of understanding, we can organize more workshops and online 1:1). - **Project Success:** Evaluate the hackathons’ and student-led projects' success by the number of participants, projects completed, and innovative solutions developed. - **Next Steps:** This partnership will serve as a platform, empowering students to prototype their innovative ideas. By doing so, they can hone their entrepreneurial skills and leverage them in future ventures by applying for developer grants or launching their startups in the NEAR ecosystem. - **A Note on our Projections:** The figures we've provided in this proposal represent our conservative estimates. Given our marketing strategies and outreach initiatives, we are optimistic about achieving even higher participation rates. We're enthusiastic about the potential of establishing a fruitful, long-term relationship with the NEAR Ecosystem. This 6-month plan outlines a structured approach for the UCalgary Blockchain Society / University of Calgary to actively engage with the NEAR ecosystem, fostering education, research, and community growth while contributing to the NEAR Campus initiative. Regular monitoring and reporting will ensure the achievement of set objectives and the overall success of the club's involvement with NEAR. ### Conclusion This 6-month plan outlines a structured approach for the UCalgary Blockchain Society / University of Calgary to actively engage with the NEAR ecosystem, fostering education, research, and community growth while contributing to the NEAR Campus initiative. Regular monitoring and reporting will ensure the achievement of set objectives and the overall success of the club's involvement with NEAR. We eagerly look forward to fostering a long-term, symbiotic relationship with NEAR, making blockchain more accessible and influential on the University of Calgary campus and beyond