Hello, Polkadot ecosystem. I am Irving Cancino, I coordinate the activities of Open Web Academy, a virtual community that carries out activities for LATAM related to blockchain software development. It is through the Polkadot Mexico community that we get to know the ecosystem and this has encouraged us to make this proposal. We will be delighted to receive feedback from the entire Polkadot community.

📌 As this is my first time posting on the forum, the system did not allow me to post more than 2 links and only 1 multimedia content. If you wish to read the full proposal, please click on this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14jndMCQxEJ2lm2BbfdmElvtcU8BNtpMCr8kTG9sPHk4/edit?usp=sharing

📌This post was also published on the Polkadot forum for greater visibility: 

https://forum.polkadot.network/t/treasury-proposal-polkadot-education-path-by-open-web-academy/11209

Treasury Proposal: Polkadot Education Path by Open Web Academy

Context of the proposal

The Open Web Academy organization has carried out educational activities focused on the creation of new blockchain solutions that allow the ecosystem to grow.

Throughout the life of the organization, it has been noted for carrying out offline and in-person activities to increase blockchain software developers, through workshops, courses, hackathons and educational content. Open Web Academy has managed to incorporate more than 3K participants.

Open Web Academy is characterized by being a chain-agonistic organization, which has led us to experiment with protocols such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, ICP, Optimism, Arbitrum and Vara Network, as well as NEAR Protocol where we have had our greatest impact, generating educational plans directly for the NEAR foundation and the "NEAR Dev Hub" developer circle. Some of the most relevant activities that validate our methods are:

📌Learn about our experience by visiting the links to the full document mentioned at the beginning of the post.

Our team sees Polkadot as the ideal platform to develop our blockchain solutions. We are attracted by its interoperability, scalability, and the flexibility that Substrate offers to create custom blockchains tailored to our needs. We also value its inclusive approach, which makes the process easier for us thanks to pre-configured tools, accessible documentation, and an active community willing to collaborate. With the support of initiatives such as Web3 Foundation Grants and the educational resources available, we feel that Polkadot allows us to innovate and develop projects at a lower cost and with greater efficiency. At Open Web Academy, we are proud to have Mexican Collective (@ PolkadotMexico_ in Twitter) , Community on Polkadot, as a key ally. Together, we work to promote blockchain education and innovation, focusing on empowering individuals and organizations to leverage the potential of Polkadot's ecosystem.

Our team includes:

• Eric Estrada: Project manager, 15 years of experience in leading big tech projects and education lead in Open Web Academy.
• Zaida Nieto: engineer in business management, web3 enthusiast, social media manager, and communications lead in Open Web Academy.
• Alan Estrada: Business developer and co-founder of web 3.0 projects at NEAR, Ethereum, BNB Chain and Vara network.
• Irving Cancino: IT engineer,Technology teacher, Google Lv2 Professor and technological project coordinator at Open Web Academy
• Yair Nava: Backend developer with experience in RUST and Solidity, mentor of technical workshops
• Luis Daniel Mendez: Front end developer, expert in Blockchain Operating System, developer using Vara Network and technical content creator about web3

📌Check out the Linkedin and Twitter (X) profiles in the document at the beginning of the post.

Problem statement

The complex and ever-evolving nature of blockchains, particularly Polkadot, coupled with the lack of a standardized educational offering, makes it difficult for individuals to acquire an adequate level of competence in implementing and developing blockchain-based solutions.

This can lead to a gap between the growing demand for skilled professionals and the availability of qualified talent to meet this demand. This challenge is particularly acute in regions such as Latin America and Africa, where less than 30% of the population has access to advanced educational technologies or knowledge about technological development. The disparity in access exacerbates the digital divide, limiting the opportunities for people in these regions to engage in emerging fields such as blockchain.

Furthermore, according to GitHub, the global shortage of blockchain developers highlights the scale of the problem, with only 25,000 active monthly developers working on blockchain technologies by 2024. These barriers emphasize the urgency of creating accessible and standardized educational programs to empower people around the world to contribute to and benefit from the blockchain revolution.

Proposal objective(s) or solution(s)

Proposal

Design and execute a three-course certified training program for Polkadot beginners, enthusiasts, and experts focused on a Spanish-speaking audience and based on the Developer Journey Map.

Activities of proposal

• Curricular and pedagogical development of the Polkadot Elementals (PEC) Bootcamp with experts in education and technical experts
• Curricular and pedagogical development of the Polkadot Developer (PDC) Bootcamp with experts in education and technical experts
• Curricular and pedagogical development of the Polkadot Architect (PAC) Bootcamp with experts in education and technical experts
• Creation of a playbook about PEC,PDC and PAC to replicate the learning model in other regions of the world.
• Promotional activities and engagement with those interested in the program
• Delivery of the 2 x Polkadot Certified Elementals (PEC) bootcamp.
• Delivery of the 2 x Polkadot Certified Developer (PDC) bootcamp
• Delivery of the 2 x Polkadot Certified Architect (PAC) Bootcamp
• Partnerships with regional educational authorities to teach certifications with professors and university students.
• Evaluation of deliverables and give feedback to the participants
• 20 x Office Hours sessions to ensure learning and 1:1 support with technical questions
• Polkadot Meetup in Guadalajara Mexico to inaugurate the start of virtual activities.
• Report about the Polkadot Education Path program.

Target Audience

The target audience we seek to help with the development of this proposal is the Latin American and Spanish-speaking developer community, among which we have identified a series of important groups that are part of the Polkadot community.

• New developers: Facilitates learning basic concepts and using the Substrate SDK, attracting technical talent to the ecosystem.
• Experienced developers: Standardizes knowledge and practices, improving the quality and security of the projects they develop.
• Entrepreneurs and startups: Provides tools and knowledge to diversify use cases and create innovative solutions within the ecosystem.

About Certifications

Polkadot Elementals Certified (PEC)

The Polkadot Elementals certification represents an introductory level qualification covering fundamental blockchain concepts, use cases, and the foundational theory of Polkadot. Its purpose is to expand the protocol's user base by providing accessible knowledge. This certification targets individuals already engaged or interested in Web 3.0, including developers, architects, technology specialists, and operations personnel. Additionally, it serves as a valuable resource for students, entrepreneurs, project initiators, project managers, and early adopters seeking a foundational understanding of Web 3.0 software and Polkadot.

Polkadot Certified Developer (PCD)

Polkadot Certified Developer (PCD), is a 5-day virtual educational program that teaches internal and external developers in the Polkadot ecosystem how to develop smart contracts for a Polkadot parachain.

Each developer who completes the PCD has the ability to develop and deploy high-quality smart contracts, adhering to good programming practices and respecting Polkadot contract standards.

Polkadot Certified Architect (PCA)

PolkadotCertified Architect (PCA) is an intensive 5-day virtual educational program tailored to empower both internal and external developers within the Polkadot ecosystem. This program not only covers the technical skills required to develop high-performance parachains but also emphasizes industry best practices, real-world applications, and hands-on experience.

Participants will gain a deep understanding of Polkadot’s architecture, Substrate SDK, Rollups, and how to optimize their projects for scalability and interoperability.

Milestones

Milestones	Tasks	Deliverables
Curricular and pedagogical development of the Polkadot Elementals (PEC) Bootcamp	- Meetings with technical experts from Polkadot and Polkadot Blockchain Academy - Instructional design for course development - Creation of syllabus - Design of course activities and examples - Design of evaluation guide - Design of resources for evaluation - Uploading content to Learning Management System	- 1x Course Syllabus - 5x Slides per course unit- 1x Assessment Rubric - 1x Exam or Assessment Tool - 5x Content Development per course
Curricular and pedagogical development of the Polkadot Developer (PDC) Bootcamp	- Meetings with technical experts from Polkadot and Polkadot Blockchain Academy - Instructional design for course development - Creation of syllabus - Design of course activities and examples - Design of evaluation guide - Design of resources for evaluation - Uploading content to Learning Management System	- 1x Course Syllabus - 5x Slides per course unit- 1x Assessment Rubric - 1x Exam or Assessment Tool - 5x Content Development per course - 5x Code Examples
Curricular and pedagogical development of the Polkadot Architect (PAC) Bootcamp	- Meetings with technical experts from Polkadot and Polkadot Blockchain Academy - Instructional design for course development - Creation of syllabus - Design of course activities and examples - Design of evaluation guide - Design of resources for evaluation - Uploading content to Learning Management System	- 1x Course Syllabus - 5x Slides per course unit- 1x Assessment Rubric - 1x Exam or Assessment Tool - 5x Content Development per course - 5x Code Examples
Creation of a playbook about PEC,PDC and PAC	- Create a master document that brings together all the documentation for the courses designed - Create a teaching guide and tips for carrying out courses - Create an operating manual to execute the series of certifications	- 1x Master playbook on Slides
Delivery of the 2 x Polkadot Certified Elementals (PEC) bootcamp.	- Marketing campaign for promotion - Partnerships with communities and universities to increase participants - Instructor support for 7 days - Course facilitator support for 7 days - Office hours to resolve participant questions - Evaluation of participant deliverables - Issuance of completion certificates *All activities are per course	- 10x Post on Social Media for each course - 1x Gallery of images from the course - Delivery of projects created by participants - Delivery of certificates on the chain for approved participants
Delivery of the 2 x Polkadot Certified Developer (PDC) bootcamp	- Marketing campaign for promotion - Partnerships with communities and universities to increase participants - Instructor support for 7 days - Course facilitator support for 7 days - Office hours to resolve participant questions - Evaluation of participant deliverables - Issuance of completion certificates *All activities are per course	- 10x Post on Social Media for each course - 1x Gallery of images from the course - Delivery of projects created by participants - Delivery of certificates on the chain for approved participants
Delivery of the 2 x Polkadot Certified Architect (PAC) Bootcamp	- Marketing campaign for promotion - Partnerships with communities and universities to increase participants - Instructor support for 7 days - Course facilitator support for 7 days - Office hours to resolve participant questions - Evaluation of participant deliverables - Issuance of completion certificates *All activities are per course	- 10x Post on Social Media for each course - 1x Gallery of images from the course - Delivery of projects created by participants - Delivery of certificates on the chain for approved participants
Polkadot Meetup in Guadalajara Mexico to inaugurate the start of virtual activities.	-Event logistics: location, date, food and drink - Gather special speakers for the meetup - Graphic design of the event. - Marketing campaign for promotion. - Attention at the venue during the event	-1x Photo Gallery -40x meetup participants - 1x social media dynamics to give Polkadot presence

Budget and time Timeline

For a better visualization visit this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kBW2cbdjfRtnaCqOAb5_nsCrspntwkzNN0XrGVfDXVw/edit?usp=sharing

If you got this far, leave a comment :) see you soon