# NEAR Research Collective DAO | XVII council report | Feb 2024 Dear members of the NEAR Research Collective community, I am pleased to present the activities and achievements I have made in February 2024 as a council member of the NRC. It has been a productive month filled with notable developments and progress towards our collective goals. 1. **Updates to NEAR Certified Researcher Course Page:** - One of our primary objectives was to enhance the accessibility and functionality of the NEAR Certified Researcher course page. I have successfully updated the [course page](https://near.social/research-collective.near/widget/NCR.v1) with several improvements. These include: - Integration of links to the new syllabus and lesson plans. - Updated registration link to streamline the enrollment process. - Additional information to provide clarity and enhance user experience. 2. **Expansion of DAO Groups:** - I have expanded our DAO groups to accommodate the growing needs of our community, and have introduced two new groups, namely "alumni" and "facilitator," each tailored to meet the specific needs and responsibilities of its members. 3. **Drafting of March Funding Proposal & Budget:** - Planning and financial transparency are crucial components of our operational strategy. As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure sustainable growth and development, I have meticulously drafted our March funding proposal and budget. This document serves as a roadmap for allocating resources effectively and maximizing the impact of our initiatives. 4. **Community Engagement Initiatives:** - Throughout February, we remained committed to fostering a vibrant and engaged community. I hosted our weekly insight forum community calls every Friday on Telegram, providing a platform for members to exchange ideas, share insights, and collaborate on projects. Additionally, I hosted [pre-course Twitter / X space event](https://twitter.com/ResearchWG/status/1761044194578108435) where we addressed questions from the community regarding the course, featuring discussions with the Lead-Facilitator, @chloe.near. 5. **Clarification on KYC Process and Guest Lecturer Remuneration:** - In our efforts to ensure compliance and transparency, I initiated discussions with the NDC compliance manager to seek clarification on the KYC process for guest lecturers and alumni. Additionally, I reached out to our guest lecturers to inform them about the KYC process, ensuring that they can be remunerated for their valuable contributions to cohort 1. This step was essential to ensure that all participants in our programs adhere to regulatory requirements while facilitating smooth collaboration and knowledge exchange. We are committed to maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability within our community. 6. **Student Earning and Asset Collection:** - After many attempts to purchase cohort 1 students final project NFT's directly from the DAO and reaching out to Mintbase Devs for help with the process, it turns out it was not possible to do this with USDC. So I had to manually purchase the NFT's this time and next time ask students to list them in NEAR instead. Although purchasing directly from the DAO was unsuccessful, I still learned a lot while trying to figure it out. In conclusion, I am thrilled by the successful launch of the [NEAR Certified Researcher course](https://marmaj.org/NCR/) cohort 2 and the continued growth of our community. The enthusiasm and dedication displayed by our members reaffirm our collective vision for a vibrant and thriving research ecosystem within the NEAR community. Thank you for your continued support and dedication. Warm regards, XVII Council Member, NEAR Research Collective DAO