ScholarSecure: Transparent Blockchain-Based Scholarship Management

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Tran Huy Hiep

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

Entity (Not Incorporated)

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

10

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

Yes

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

Aims to revolutionize the management and distribution of scholarship funds. By leveraging the Cardano blockchain, it ensures a transparent, secure, and efficient scholarship management process.

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

No

[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.”

No dependencies.

[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

ScholarSecure will be developed as an open-source project, allowing for transparency, collaboration, and community contributions. All project outputs, including codebase, documentation, and any additional resources, will be publicly accessible and licensed under an open-source license, ensuring that anyone can view, modify, and distribute the software. This open approach encourages innovation, fosters community involvement, and promotes the adoption of transparent scholarship management practices.

[METADATA] SDG rating

ScholarSecure receives a high rating for its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 4: Quality Education - ScholarSecure ensures fair and transparent distribution of scholarship funds, promoting equal access to quality education opportunities. By leveraging blockchain technology, it enhances the efficiency and reliability of scholarship management systems, ultimately improving educational outcomes and lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure - ScholarSecure fosters innovation in education infrastructure by introducing a secure and transparent platform for managing scholarship funds. Through the use of blockchain, it revolutionizes traditional methods of scholarship management, promoting technological advancement and infrastructure development in the education sector.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals - ScholarSecure encourages collaboration among educational institutions, governments, and technology providers. By open-sourcing its platform and facilitating community engagement, it creates a collaborative ecosystem for advancing scholarship management and achieving the SDGs. This partnership approach accelerates progress towards the SDGs by leveraging collective expertise and resources for sustainable development.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

ScholarSecure aims to modernize scholarship management systems using Cardano's blockchain technology. Traditional systems face challenges such as lack of transparency, administrative inefficiencies, and potential fund misuse. To address these issues, ScholarSecure proposes a comprehensive solution:

1. Transparent Ledger on Cardano Blockchain: ScholarSecure will establish a transparent and immutable ledger on the Cardano blockchain. This ledger securely stores scholarship data, including fund allocation, recipient information, and disbursement history. By leveraging blockchain, data integrity is ensured, making it tamper-proof and resistant to fraud.
2. Smart Contract Automation: ScholarSecure will implement smart contracts on the Cardano blockchain to automate scholarship processes. These contracts handle tasks such as eligibility verification, fund distribution, and utilization tracking. By executing predefined rules and conditions, smart contracts eliminate intermediaries, reducing administrative overhead.
3. User-Friendly Interface: ScholarSecure will provide a user-friendly interface for scholarship administrators, applicants, and donors. This interface facilitates seamless scholarship application, review, and management, enhancing overall user experience and accessibility.
4. Real-Time Tracking and Auditing: ScholarSecure enables real-time tracking and auditing of scholarship funds, promoting transparency and accountability. Donors and stakeholders can monitor fund usage and impact, ensuring efficient and ethical allocation.

In summary, ScholarSecure's blockchain-based solution offers several advantages over traditional scholarship management systems. It enhances transparency, accountability, and integrity, reduces administrative burdens, and mitigates the risk of fund mismanagement or fraud. Leveraging Cardano's blockchain technology, ScholarSecure aims to revolutionize scholarship management, fostering trust and equity in education.

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

ScholarSecure will have a positive impact on the wider Cardano community in several ways:

• Enhanced Trust: By implementing transparent and immutable scholarship management on the Cardano blockchain, ScholarSecure enhances trust within the Cardano community. Users can rely on the integrity and security of scholarship processes, fostering trust in blockchain technology.
• Increased Adoption: ScholarSecure showcases the practical applications of Cardano's blockchain beyond financial transactions, encouraging more developers and stakeholders to adopt and contribute to the Cardano ecosystem. This increased adoption strengthens the Cardano community and its ecosystem.
• Technological Innovation: ScholarSecure contributes to technological innovation within the Cardano community by leveraging smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps) to streamline scholarship management. This innovation demonstrates the versatility and capabilities of Cardano's blockchain technology.
• Community Engagement: ScholarSecure engages the Cardano community by providing opportunities for collaboration and participation in scholarship initiatives. Community members can contribute to the development and improvement of ScholarSecure, fostering a sense of ownership and engagement within the Cardano community.
• Positive Reputation: As ScholarSecure promotes transparency, accountability, and fairness in scholarship management, it enhances the reputation of the Cardano community as a leader in ethical and innovative blockchain solutions. This positive reputation attracts more users, developers, and stakeholders to the Cardano ecosystem.

Overall, ScholarSecure's impact on the wider Cardano community extends beyond scholarship management, contributing to trust, adoption, innovation, engagement, and reputation within the Cardano ecosystem.

[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?

Our team comprises two experienced instructors in the Blockchain field, who have successfully raised capital in rounds 10 and 11 of Cardano. We also have three team members with extensive knowledge of Blockchain through various courses and hands-on experience in building Cardano-based systems. Our diverse skillset includes proficiency in programming languages such as Haskell, Python, Java, .Net, React, and expertise in developing a range of applications including web, and mobile games.

With this project, we achieved first prize in the school-level scientific research competition.

Therefore, we understand the business, the technology to develop the website, how the Cardano blockchain works, how to create NFT... as well as the collaboration between the members. The next stage is to develop more features and optimize the website, so we are completely confident that we will bring the project to the goal.

As proof of knowledge and research skills, some of our current proposals funded are attached:

• Proposal funded 1: “Tamper-proof Certificate System”
• Proposal funded 2: "Study guide for Marlow"
• Proposal funded 3:"CareBlock: Empowering secure healthcare transactions by Cardano"
• Article 1: "Hà nội - Cardano Summit 2023"
• Article 2: "Hà nội - Cardano Summit 2022"
• Article 3: "Sinh viên Nghiên cứu khoa học với Blockchain Cardano"

To ensure effective money management, we implement the following strategies:

• Budget planning: We carefully allocate funds to different project areas, considering development, operations, and marketing expenses.
• Transparent expense tracking: We maintain a clear record of all expenditures, promoting accountability and providing visibility into our financial transactions.
• Periodic reports: We generate regular reports to evaluate our financial performance and make informed decisions.

These practices help us maintain financial stability, optimize resource allocation, and enhance overall financial management.

Transparency and communication are key principles of our project. We prioritize open and honest communication with all stakeholders, providing regular updates and fostering a collaborative environment. This ensures that everyone is well-informed and actively engaged in the project's progress and decision-making process.

To validate the feasibility of our method, we will use both quantitative and qualitative measures.

Quantitative validation:

• Number of upgraded and added modules via GitHub.
• Report the number of users on the system.

Identity verification:

• Conduct user satisfaction surveys.
• The level of excitement when introducing the project to users.

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

Milestone 1: Research and Planning (3 months)

Outputs:

• Comprehensive research report on existing scholarship management systems and blockchain integration possibilities.
• Defined project scope, objectives, and requirements document.
• Detailed project plan with timelines, resource allocation, and risk management strategies.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Approval of the research report by project stakeholders.
• Consensus on project scope, objectives, and requirements among the project team.
• Finalized project plan with agreed-upon timelines and resource allocation.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Research report document.
• Project scope, objectives, and requirements document.
• Detailed project plan with timelines and resource allocation.

Milestone 2: Platform Development (3 months)

Outputs:

• Designed architecture and user interface mockups of ScholarSecure.
• Developed smart contracts and backend infrastructure for data management on the Cardano blockchain.
• Implemented key features such as scholarship fund allocation and transparent transaction tracking.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Approval of architecture and user interface mockups by project stakeholders.
• Functional smart contracts and backend infrastructure deployed on the Cardano blockchain.
• Key features of ScholarSecure, including fund allocation and transaction tracking, implemented and tested.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Architecture and user interface mockup designs.
• Deployed smart contracts and backend infrastructure on the Cardano blockchain.
• Demo of ScholarSecure showcasing implemented key features.

Milestone 3: Prototype Testing and Feedback (3 months)

Outputs:

• Built prototypes of ScholarSecure for internal testing and validation.
• Conducted feedback collection sessions with stakeholders to gather input on usability and functionality.
• Iterated on design and features based on user feedback.

Acceptance Criteria:

• Prototypes of ScholarSecure developed and ready for testing.
• Feedback collection sessions conducted with stakeholders, including scholarship providers and applicants.
• Iterations made to design and features based on received feedback.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Functional prototypes of ScholarSecure.
• Summary report of feedback collection sessions.
• Documented iterations and enhancements made based on user feedback.

Final Milestone: Evaluation and Optimization (1 month)

Outputs:

• Evaluated ScholarSecure's performance, scalability, and user satisfaction post-deployment.
• Identified areas for optimization and improvement based on user feedback and emerging trends.
• Developed a roadmap for future enhancements and updates.

Acceptance Criteria:

• ScholarSecure's performance evaluated against predefined metrics.
• Areas for optimization and improvement identified and documented.
• Roadmap for future enhancements and updates finalized and approved.

Evidence of Milestone Completion:

• Evaluation report on ScholarSecure's performance and user satisfaction.
• Documented areas for optimization and improvement.
• Finalized roadmap for future enhancements and updates.

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

Mr. Tran Huy Hiep: Project Manager/Technical lead

Experiences: 

• Software Engineer at Samsung R&D.
• Frontend: HTML, CSS, Javascript, Ajax, ReactJS, Angular.
• Backend: Java Spring Boot.
• DevOps: Aws, Docker, Azure, Nginx
• Blockchain & Sustainability Researcher.
• Two years of building and operating on the Cardano Blockchain platform.

Contact:

Email: tranhuyhiep0710@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tranhhiep

Github: github.com/TranHuyHiep

Mr. Bach Trinh: Full-stack Developer/Blockchain Developer

Experiences: 

• Software Engineer at GrapeCity
• Frontend: ReactJS, VueJS.
• Backend: .NET Core, Dapper, EF Core, SQL, Redis…
• DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, Azure, Nginx…
• Blockchain & Sustainability Researcher.
• Two years of building and operating on the Cardano Blockchain platform.

Contact:

Email: txbach.11@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/trinh-bach

Github: github.com/Bachhsunkid

Mr. Minh Le: Unity Developer/Blockchain Developer

Experiences:

• Frontend: ReactJS, VueJS.
• Game: Unity, Unreal Engine.
• Backend: .NET Core, SQL, Redis…
• DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes.
• Blockchain & Sustainability Researcher.
• Two years of building and operating on the Cardano Blockchain platform.

Contact:

Email: minhld.dev@gmail.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dinhminhle

Github: github.com/dinhminhlh

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

Project details are linked here, and below will be a general description of the budget

Milestone 1: Research and Planning (15,000 ADA)

• Comprehensive research report on existing scholarship management systems and blockchain integration possibilities (5,000 ADA).
• Defined project scope, objectives, and requirements document (4,000 ADA).
• Detailed project plan with timelines, resource allocation, and risk management strategies (6,000 ADA).

Milestone 2: Platform Development (25,000 ADA)

• Design architecture and user interface mockups of ScholarSecure (8,000 ADA).
• Development of smart contracts and backend infrastructure for data management on the Cardano blockchain (10,000 ADA).
• Implementation of key features such as scholarship fund allocation and transparent transaction tracking (7,000 ADA).

Milestone 3: Prototype Testing and Feedback (10,000 ADA)

• Building prototypes of ScholarSecure for internal testing and validation (4,000 ADA).
• Conducting feedback collection sessions with stakeholders to gather input on usability and functionality (4,000 ADA).
• Iterating on design and features based on user feedback (2,000 ADA).

Final Milestone: Integration and Deployment (15,000 ADA)

• Evaluation of ScholarSecure's performance, scalability, and user satisfaction post-deployment (6,000 ADA).
• Identification of areas for optimization and improvement based on user feedback and emerging trends (4,000 ADA).
• Development of a roadmap for future enhancements and updates (5,000 ADA).

Detailed Budget Breakdown:

Research and Planning (15,000 ADA):

• Research Analyst: 8,000 ADA
• Project Manager: 4,000 ADA
• Risk Management Specialist: 3,000 ADA

Platform Development (25,000 ADA):

• Blockchain Developer: 12,000 ADA
• UI/UX Designer: 7,000 ADA
• Software Engineer: 6,000 ADA

Prototype Testing and Feedback (10,000 ADA):

• QA Tester: 5,000 ADA
• User Researcher: 3,000 ADA
• UI/UX Designer: 2,000 ADA

Integration and Deployment (15,000 ADA):

• System Administrator: 7,000 ADA
• Technical Analyst: 5,000 ADA
• Project Manager: 3,000 ADA

This detailed breakdown ensures that each milestone receives adequate funding for its specific activities and goals, facilitating the successful completion of the project within the allocated budget of 65,000 ADA.

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

The cost of the project represents significant value for the Cardano ecosystem in several ways:

1. Innovation and Advancement: By developing ScholarSecure, a blockchain-based scholarship management system, the project pioneers innovative solutions within the Cardano ecosystem, expanding its use cases beyond traditional financial applications.
2. Increased Adoption: ScholarSecure encourages more institutions and individuals to engage with the Cardano blockchain, fostering greater adoption and utilization of the platform's capabilities.
3. Trust and Transparency: The project enhances trust and transparency in scholarship management, showcasing the inherent benefits of blockchain technology in ensuring fairness and accountability.
4. Community Empowerment: ScholarSecure empowers the Cardano community by providing a tangible tool for managing scholarships, enabling stakeholders to actively participate in the education sector's improvement.
5. Long-Term Sustainability: Investing in projects like ScholarSecure strengthens the Cardano ecosystem's long-term sustainability by diversifying its applications and attracting a broader user base, ensuring continued growth and development.

In conclusion, the investment in ScholarSecure not only enhances the value proposition of the Cardano ecosystem but also aligns with its core principles of innovation, transparency, and community empowerment. By fostering trust, promoting adoption, and driving positive social impact, ScholarSecure represents a strategic and valuable addition to the Cardano ecosystem.