@c7231475ec87b9fef12f5a5ea34a282447bab4d1be4eadc4a23e7bbb1533c11c [Posted on DevHub](/devgovgigs.near/widget/Post?id=2160) ## Solution: NEAR Campus Program with Cambridge Blockchain Society ###### Requested amount: 5000 USDT ###### Requested sponsor: @neardevdao.near # Proposal for NEAR Campus Program In collaboration with Cambridge Blockchain Society, at the University of Cambridge. **Cambridge Blockchain Society Overview** The Cambridge Blockchain Society is a dynamic, student-run organization based at the University of Cambridge. It has a diverse community of approximately 2,000 students and alumni. The society is known for its members' track record of success, including victories in prestigious hackathons like ETH Singapore 2023 and EthLondon2023. The core mission of the society is to inspire and enable students to make significant contributions to the Web3 space. To achieve this, they offer various opportunities such as educational events, networking, hackathons, publications, incubation, and implementation opportunities. Through these avenues, the society empowers students to engage with and shape the future of blockchain technology. The society aims to cultivate a vibrant community through connecting students, researchers, academics, investors, and industry stakeholders, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field of Web3. **Objectives** Our participation in the NEAR Campus Program aligns with the following objectives: Be a bridge between students of Cambridge Blockchain Society and the NEAR ecosystem, actively participating in the NEAR ecosystem through NEAR Campus activities, including educational workshops, hackathons, and guest lectures, working together in open-source projects, encouraging members to contribute to open-source Web3 projects actively, fostering a collaborative culture. **Implementation Plan & Activities** Formation of NEAR Node: Establish a dedicated NEAR agenda within Cambridge Blockchain Society to coordinate NEAR Campus activities: * Organise and host “Weekly Brunches” - regular, consistent and inclusive series of weekly events consisting of a brunch, hands on educational technical or entrepreneurial workshop focused on Web3 and mentored student work. The objective is to equip participants with skills needed to take the lead in their own projects and build in the Web3 space, preferably using NEAR capabilities. * Explore the possibility of advanced courses tailored to specific Web3 frameworks. * A demo day or other exposure event where students pitch their projects in front of industry leaders or VC investors. * Organize hackathons and development competitions or send Cambridge students to well reputed hackathons worldwide. * In all events, promote NEAR as a gold sponsor. This covers including NEAR on all social media posts, referring to NEAR on every event and promoting NEAR through the hackathon delegation. * Share NEAR news and updates through Cambridge Blockchain Society newsletter. * Explore organising IRL guest lecture or a panel discussion with NEAR and other guests. * Sign up Club members for mentorship with NEAR specialists and organising online 1:1 group sessions. * 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 Cambridge Blockchain Society and Near campus team will engage in follow up calls to monitor together 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. **3-Month Plan: Cambridge Blockchain Society Engagement in NEAR Ecosystem** Start Date: December 2023 End Date: February 2024 **Month 1: Research and Development** Activities: * Organise three IRL “Weekly Brunches” - consistent and regular events connecting students from diverse backgrounds (STEM, business, legal) and encouraging them to lead and work on their own projects. * Promote NEAR as the golden sponsor of the brunches on all event related channels and materials. * Give NEAR first hand access to students and their projects on demand. * Share NEAR news and updates through Cambridge Blockchain Society newsletter. * Encourage the members to participate in open-source NEAR projects. **Month 2: Ideation and Implementation** Activities: * Organise the last IRL “Weekly Brunch” in the term. * Promote NEAR as the golden sponsor of the brunches on all event related channels and materials. * Explore hosting an introductory webinar on Rust, NEAR protocol and ecosystem for club members and the academic community. * Encourage participants to work on their projects over the term break using NEAR. * Giving NEAR first hand access to students and their projects on demand. * Share NEAR news and updates through Cambridge Blockchain Society newsletter. * Encourage club members to participate in open-source NEAR projects. **Month 3: Community Building and Partnerships** Activities: * Explore organising IRL NEAR themed “Weekly Brunch” with NEAR industry expert. * Develop educational materials and resources related to NEAR for distribution. * Giving NEAR first hand access to students and their projects on demand. * Participate in a hackathon presenting NEAR. Try to initiate partnerships with NEAR related projects or startups for internships. * Share NEAR news and updates through Cambridge Blockchain Society newsletter. * Organise a demo day or other exposure opportunity for participants to showcase their progress to industry leaders or VC investors. * Overall KPIs: * Product development: Monitor the level of engagement and progress on student led projects and use of NEAR enabled or powered solutions. * Promoting NEAR: Monitor the level of engagement within the members and NEAR ecosystem (For ex attendance in the NEAR focused activities). 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). * Hackathon Success: Evaluate the hackathon's success by the number of participants, projects completed, and innovative solutions developed. **This 3-month plan outlines a structured approach for the Cambridge Blockchain Society 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.**