Cardano - Open Badges Compatible Education Credential Platform (COECP)

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

John Ndigirigi

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Individual

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

12

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Develop an open-source Cardano platform with tools for mass issuing and managing verifiable education credentials compatible with Open Badges.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

Yes

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

Our project depends on the Identus cloud agent (https://github.com/hyperledger/identus-cloud-agent), which utilizes the Cardano blockchain. We'll contribute to and use core functionalities of this agent for managing decentralized identities and verifiable credentials. This dependency is essential as it provides a Cardano-based foundation for our education credential platform, ensuring robust security and scalability. The Identus cloud agent offers a proven framework for decentralized identity management, which is crucial for the integrity and interoperability of our credential system.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

The project will be fully open-source under the Apache License 2.0, allowing free use, modification, and distribution. All source code will be available on GitHub.

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

 The project addresses the need for a standardized, secure system for managing educational credentials on Cardano. Key features include:

Open Badges compatibility (https://www.imsglobal.org/spec/ob/v3p0/):

• Implement Open Badges 3.0 specification
• Ensure interoperability with existing Open Badges ecosystems

DID management on Cardano:

• Secure creation and management of Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) using Cardano blockchain
• Efficient handling of DID lifecycle (creation, update, deactivation)

Credential issuance and verification:

• Secure issuance of verifiable credentials linked to DIDs
• Efficient verification process for issued credentials

Tooling for credential management and mass issuing:

• User-friendly interface for educational institutions to manage large volumes of credentials
• Batch issuance functionality for efficient processing of multiple credentials
• Automated credential revocation and expiration management

Verification portal for employers:

• Easy-to-use interface for credential verification
• Quick authentication without contacting issuing institutions

User-friendly interfaces:

• Intuitive dashboards for educational institutions
• Mobile-friendly credential management for students

Scalability and performance optimization:

• Designed to handle high volumes of DID and credential transactions
• Efficient data storage and retrieval mechanisms

This solution benefits students, educational institutions, employers, and the Cardano ecosystem by showcasing a real-world blockchain application in education. It addresses the challenges of credential fraud, verification inefficiencies, and lack of standardization in the current education credential landscape.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The Project will impact the Cardano community in several significant ways:

Ecosystem Growth:

• Attracting educational institutions, students, and employers to the Cardano ecosystem
• Increasing the number of real-world transactions on the Cardano blockchain

Demonstrating Cardano's Utility:

• Showcasing Cardano's capability to solve real-world problems in the education sector
• Potentially leading to increased ADA adoption and value

Developer Engagement:

• Providing an open-source project for developers with which they can contribute to and learn
• Stimulating the creation of additional tools and applications built on top of COECP

Interoperability Promotion:

• Demonstrating Cardano's compatibility with established standards (Open Badges, 1EdTech)
• Encouraging the use of Cardano in other sectors requiring credential management

Education and Awareness:

• Increasing understanding of blockchain technology and its applications in education
• Serving as a case study for other industries considering blockchain adoption

Impact will be measured through:

• Volume of credentials issued and verified through the system
• Community contributions to the open-source codebase
• Integration with other Cardano projects and third-party applications
• User satisfaction surveys and testimonials

We aim to create ripple effects that extends beyond just the education sector, demonstrating the power and versatility of the Cardano blockchain to a global audience.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

John Ndigirigi is a dynamic software developer who has worked on several Cardano projects for blocktrust.dev and DirectEd, leveraging Atala PRISM and Open Badges. An Atala PRISM Pioneer and BSc Computer Science graduate, John understands computer science fundamentals, several programming languages, and blockchain technologies. On this project, John will be leading development. His LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndigirigijohn/.

John's relevant experience includes:

• Developing Cardano-based solutions for educational credential management under DirectEd Development
• https://www.directed.dev/ 
• https://x.com/DirectEdDev/status/1716198624671973415 
• Implementing Open Badges standards in blockchain environments
• https://github.com/bsandmann/blocktrust.CredentialBadges 
• Contributing to open-source projects in the Cardano ecosystem
• https://github.com/hyperledger/identus-cloud-agent/issues 
• Working with the Blocktrust team to deliver identity tooling for developers.
• https://blocktrust.dev/
• https://github.com/bsandmann/blocktrust.CredentialWorkflow 

Advisor (unpaid role): Björn Sandmann has declared himself willing to support this project with some architectural and software development advice. He is a senior .NET developer with multiple years of experience in the SSI space. Particularly, he is known in the Cardano / Identus community for infrastructure projects, like the OpenPrismNode or the Blocktrust Analytics platform.

To validate feasibility, we'll develop an MVP within four months, demonstrating core functionalities and conducting rigorous testing. We'll engage early with stakeholders for feedback, ensuring compliance with Open Badges 3.0 and 1EdTech standards. Scalability testing will simulate large-scale operations, while security measures will include third-party audits and data protection best practices. We'll collaborate with the Identus cloud agent team for seamless integration and test compatibility with various wallet providers, iterating based on real-world results throughout the process.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Project Architecture and Design

Deliverables:

• System architecture documentation
• UI/UX mock-ups for key interfaces
• Technical specification for Identus cloud agent integration
• Open Badges and 1EdTech standards implementation plan

Acceptance Criteria:

• Detailed system architecture diagrams covering all major components
• High-fidelity UI/UX wireframes for primary user interfaces
• Complete technical specification for Identus integration
• Thorough mapping of Open Badges and 1EdTech standards to system components

Core Development and Integration 

Deliverables:

• Functional MVP with Identus cloud agent integration
• Basic implementation of Open Badges specification
• Initial user interfaces for institutions and credential holders

Acceptance Criteria:

• Working integration with Identus cloud agent on Cardano testnet
• Successful issuance and verification of test credentials
• Functional user interfaces matching approved wireframes

 Feature Enhancement and Testing

Deliverables:

• Advanced credential management tools
• Full Open Badges and 1EdTech standards compatibility
• Comprehensive security and performance testing results

Acceptance Criteria:

• Successful implementation of mass credential issuance
• Compliance with Open Badges and 1EdTech standards
• Performance test results meeting defined scalability targets

Mainnet Deployment and Project Handover

 Deliverables:

• Mainnet-deployed COECP platform
• Comprehensive project documentation
• Close out video and report

Acceptance Criteria:

• Functional credential issuance and verification on Cardano mainnet
• Complete user and developer documentation

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

1. John Ndigirigi - Lead Developer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndigirigijohn/ Role: John will lead the development of the education credential platform. He has extensive experience in Cardano development, Atala PRISM, and Open Badges implementation. John has previously worked on blockchain-based educational projects and has a deep understanding of decentralized identity systems.
2. John's relevant experience includes:
3. Developing Cardano-based solutions for educational credential management under DirectEd Development
4. https://www.directed.dev/ 
5. https://x.com/DirectEdDev/status/1716198624671973415 
6. Implementing Open Badges standards in blockchain environments
7. https://github.com/bsandmann/blocktrust.CredentialBadges 
8. Contributing to open-source projects in the Cardano ecosystem
9. https://github.com/hyperledger/identus-cloud-agent/issues 
10. Working with the Blocktrust team to deliver identity tooling for developers.
11. https://blocktrust.dev/
12. UI/UX Expert (To be outsourced) Role: Responsible for designing the user interface and experience for the education credential platform. We will seek an expert with prior experience in EdTech platforms and a portfolio demonstrating user-centric design for complex systems.
13. Advisor (unpaid role): Björn Sandmann has declared himself willing to support this project with some architectural and software development advice. He is a senior .NET developer with multiple years of experience in the SSI space. Particularly, he is known in the Cardano / Identus community for infrastructure projects, like the OpenPrismNode or the Blocktrust Analytics platform.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Total Budget: ₳75,000

Project Architecture and Design: 150 hours (₳15,000)

• System architecture design and documentation: 70 hours
• UI/UX mock-ups and wireframing: 50 hours
• Technical specification and standards mapping: 30 hours

Core Development and Integration: 330 hours (₳33,000)

• Identus cloud agent integration: 140 hours
• Open Badges and 1EdTech implementation: 110 hours
• User interface development: 80 hours

Feature Enhancement and Testing: 170 hours (₳17,000)

• Advanced feature development: 90 hours
• Security and performance testing: 80 hours

Deployment and Documentation: 40 hours (₳4,000)

Deployment and Hosting Costs: (₳3,500)

Contingency for currency fluctuation and Other expenses: ₳2,500

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The COECP offers exceptional value for ₳75,000 by:

Expanding Cardano's Use Case:

• Creating an Open Badges compatible platform, significantly expanding Cardano's use in the education sector
• Attracting institutions under 1EdTech to the Cardano ecosystem, potentially bringing millions of users

Cost-Effective Development:

• Delivering comparable functionality to more expensive solutions (₳500,000+) at a fraction of the cost
• Leveraging existing open-source tools and the Identus cloud agent to minimize redundant development

Long-Term Ecosystem Growth:

• Providing a reusable, open-source solution for credential management that can be adapted for other sectors
• Fostering a new developer community around educational technology on Cardano

Real-World Utility Demonstration:

• Showcasing Cardano's capability to solve critical problems in a major global sector
• Potentially attracting more developers, users, and institutional interest to the ecosystem

Innovation Catalyst:

• Encouraging further development and innovation in the Cardano ecosystem
• Demonstrating Cardano's compatibility with established standards, potentially leading to more integrations

Social Impact:

• Addressing the global issue of credential fraud and verification inefficiency
• Aligning with Cardano's mission of creating positive global change through blockchain technology

Community Empowerment:

• Providing a platform for community contributions and open-source collaboration
• Creating opportunities for Cardano community members to engage with and improve the education sector

The project's open-source nature and focus on standards compatibility ensure long-term value and adoption potential for the Cardano ecosystem. By creating a bridge between Cardano and the established education technology sector, COECP has the potential to drive significant ecosystem growth and showcase Cardano's capabilities to a global audience, far exceeding the initial investment of ₳75,000.