Last updated 2 weeks ago
Over 90% of Cardano’s infrastructure is in Haskell. The Cardano Foundation’s 2024 developer survey reveals a great need to train future developers in Haskell/Plinth. Haskell are in short supply.
In 2025, Coxygen Global enrolled over 500 tertiary students in Haskell and Plutus at 40+ universities and aims to add 8 more, reaching 300 additional students.
Please provide your proposal title
Train 8 New Universities Students Plinth(Hakell Plutus)
Enter the amount of funding you are requesting in ADA
60000
Please specify how many months you expect your project to last
10
Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated
No
Original Language
en
What is the problem you want to solve?
Over 90% of Cardano’s infrastructure is in Haskell. The Cardano Foundation’s 2024 developer survey reveals a great need to train future developers in Haskell/Plinth. Haskell are in short supply.
Supporting links
Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?
Yes
Describe any dependencies or write 'No dependencies'
Europen Business Institute of Luxemburg does the 13 week certification of qualifying students in Plutus/Haskell. Coxygen Global does Haskell training with onchain credentials. This has added quality to this training programme.
Will your project's outputs be fully open source?
Yes
Please provide details on the intellectual property (IP) status of your project outputs, including whether they will be released as open source or retained under another licence.
MIT Licence
Please choose the most relevant theme and tag related to the outcomes of your proposal
Training
Who you’re targeting, how you’ll reach them, and why this matters for Cardano?
Target Audience: IT Universities/Colleges Students(https://coxygen.co/universities/enrolled-students.php))
This proposal targets IT tertiary students developers. These are the future developers who will innovate and grow Cardano infrastructure including Smart Contract development.
Strategy: 24/7 Trainig in 3 timezones(https://github.com/wimsio/universities/wiki))
Simple awareness and easy onboarding activities on Haskell/Plinth(Plutus) are not enough. Coxygen Global has proved that a strong will, consistency and commitment, targeting IT tertiary students or graduates helps improve their web 2 development skills, understanding of functional programming principles and demystifies haskell. This will be an improvement on virtual classes currently being run actively on 7 countries with over 20 Haskell Plutus guiders/facilitators.
European Business Institute Certification(Luxemburg)
EBU partnered with Coxygen Global(https://ebulux.lu/partnerships/)) improvig the training programme: Students train and complete Plinth Onchain progress credentials and EBU offers them CP108 Plutus/Haskell 13 week certification course. This has been a big driving motivation for students to put more effort.
Why this matters for Cardano?
Cardano Infrastructure Tools and services are in Haskell(https://github.com/orgs/IntersectMBO/repositories))
The need for many Haskell/Plinth developers is big. This will improve on Cardano legacy tried and tested solutions, innovate on current scalability solutions such as Hydra and others.
Onchain Progress Activities(https://coxygen.co/universities/reports.php)) (https://github.com/wimsio/universities/blob/main/reports-classes-attendance/october%202025/68%20Students%20Milestone%202%20Total%20Progress%20Tokens%20837%20Nov%203%202025.pdf))
Despite the fact that students have homeworks, assignments, write examinations and attend to their students needs Coxygen Global IOG based trainings materials coupled with Coxygen onchain progress activities have seen over 2100 transactions by students minting each of their chapter progress NFTs with evidence of progress metadata.
Student Jobs
This has also created important studet jobs to facilitate/guide juniors, further improving their mastery of Haskell. Students have been receiving Ada stipends and this also made them grow and like
Cardano Haskell.
Real World Application Development and Cardano Legacy code maintenance is now the focus
Coxygen Global began in January 2025 with many tertiary students who never knew Cardano and some who were not functional programmers but now the survey done in October 2025(https://github.com/wimsio/universities/blob/main/README.md)) shows tremendous Haskell/Plinth(Plutus) progress.
Provide a list of key activities of your project:
Key Activities
What are your success metrics?
Success Metrics : Coxygen Global tremendous growth
Please describe your proposed solution and how it addresses the problem
Problem Statement
Most onboarding activities such as hackathons and one-day workshops are short-lived, lasting between one and three days. This limited time is not sufficient for new participants to properly understand Cardano smart contract development
Proposal
I propose training tertiary students in Plutus and the eUTXO model, upgrading their Web2 skills to Web3 and strengthening their coding capabilities through Haskell/Plutus, a functional programming language.
Why do it this way?
Since 2022, I have used Cardano smart contracts to upskill Richfield students. This training has enabled many of them to secure employment quickly and continue working on Cardano smart contract development. This method has proven to be an effective qualitative approach for onboarding new Cardano users.
With proper funding, we can significantly increase the number of student developers globally who are actively learning and building with Plutus and the eUTXO model.
Who will the project engage?
The project will target IT and Computer Science students across multiple universities. Our current target is NEW 8 universities/colleges and 300 students, as more students are joining after witnessing the success of their peers.
**Check these surveys October 2025: **
Evidence of Impact
Achievement will be demonstrated through recorded sessions, the number of university students working on smart contracts, source code on GitHub, and a dedicated website showcasing participation across universities.
Smart Contract Productivity
I have build a Plinth/Plutus builder studion which will make Smart Contract Development easy and quick: https://coxygen.co/universities/coxy-plutus/index.html
Self Reliance
This initiative builds a pool of highly skilled future developers and opens opportunities for income-generating activities such as establishing a smart contract developer job portal.
Summary:
This is a highly effective, mutually beneficial onboarding strategy that prioritises quality over quantity. It will drive global growth of Cardano through real world use cases. Students are future innovators and leaders, equipping them with Plutus and eUTXO skills is one of the most impactful ways to grow the Cardano ecosystem.
Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community
This proposal will have these positive impact on communities and Cardano
Promote Cardano in Universities and Colleges
This proposal introduces Cardano, its products, Smart Contract Development tools and its services to tertiary students, who are tomorrow’s industry leaders and developers. This is giving Cardano a good foundation of growth.
Partner with Tertiary Institutions
It enables tertiary institutions to collaborate with the Cardano Education ecosystem, paving the way for Cardano to become a mainstream blockchain in universities/colleges. Students will transition from Web2 to Web3 using the Cardano blockchain. Already, these institutions have partnered with Coxygen Global : Richfield Graduate Institute, European Business Institute of Luxemburg and these next have shown interest but the deal has not been made: We Think Code, Limkokwing Universities(Eswatini and Botswana campases) and University of Johannesburg. Nzedaz Crypto Hub Academy of Johannesburg has just sent us 4 Trainers: These are training on Plinth/Plutus and if successful they promised to roll this out to their global over 4 000 students.
You need to understand that this success comes at great cost, trust, hardwork that benefits both sides(institutions and Cardano). We have crossed 500 and now we are heading towards 1000 in enrollment. Lastly, we are now one of the 14 council members of Africa Asia Cardano Coalition(https://aacc.network/)) and this opens up Asian universities and colleges interested in effective Smart Contract development.
Cardano Communities Collaborations
This effort will help build a future market for Cardano’s technologies, fostering collaboration across international and continental Cardano communities
Increase Cardano Developer base
The initiative will grow Cardano’s community of developers, marketers, and operational talent. It also contributes to reducing unemployment in developing countries, further enhancing Cardano’s reputation
Pilot and Promote other Cardano technologies(midnight, hydra, etc)
Consistent engagement generates long-term results and expands real-world use cases. Additionally, it will promote CIP-1694, Midnight and Hydra layer 2 solutions, as students will be introduced to these Cardano innovations.
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?
Incorporated and Compliant Companies
WIMS–Cardano activities are successful because they operate under reputable and compliant national entities:
We have run Cardano Summits and events using our own financial resources. Our long-term commitment to Cardano community growth demonstrates our reliability. We have been very efficient and productive with the previously funded Catalyst projects: 1) The 2022 youth onboarding of South African tertiary was ment to be one day event, but it is still running today due to partnership with Richfield College because I made it sure that the students benefit from Cardano. Check these reports : https://coxygen.co/universities/reports.php Richfield students are the majority. 2) The funded Catalyst Cardano Live Technical support services(https://coxygen.co/)) gave birth to Coxygen Global company and now has 7 active countries. 3). The Cardano Property Solutions gave birth to the effective Coxylib.js and is one of our first Real World Application on Cardano testnet(https://cardanopropertysolutions.co/)) and 4) The funded 16 Universities project which will soon be closed has grown tertiary students coding and learning on Cardano to over 500.
Therefore this is proof Coxygen Global (Pty) Ltd, is not only capable of implementing this proposal but is also committed to growing Cardano and make it one of the most loved blockchain in universities and colleges world wide.
Other Past Strength
Approximately 90% of the financial operations at the Cardano Centre Johannesburg; rentals, equipment, event costs (including Cardano Summit 2023), and student stipends are paid by Tobb Technologies Pty Ltd and Women In Move Solutions Pty Ltd. Catalyst support will strengthen these ongoing efforts and enable the onboarding of more individuals in South Africa.
Our approach has already been proven effective on a small scale over a 12-month period.
From 2015 to 2023, we have dedicated ourselves to developing and operating web applications for government and municipalities, including systems for water and electricity meter reading, disconnections/reconnections, pre-termination notices, and meter verification. These applications have been commercially successful and used nationwide and we have successfully assisted graduates with employment.
Through Tobb Technologies Pty Ltd, an IT software development company, we have successfully produced and implemented web applications. These systems have been thoroughly tested across more than 20 districts, generating over R5 million in revenue. We also have reputation to keep with high schools and tertiary institutions we have partnered with, such as Richfield, Phoenix College, Forest High School, and Hope School, and we have mastered various programming languages.
The team is composed of full-time and part-time qualified and experienced individuals, working with over 15 different programming languages.
We have been trained in Various Cardano skills
Our team took part in Plutus Pioneer Program (with Dr. Lars), received training from Gimbalabs, Haskell certification from the University of Luxembourg and completed a course on Atala Prism 1 and 2.
We have successfully hosted events including:
We continue to invest our own finances and resources into building our Cardano communities because we genuinely believe in Cardano has the best future in crypto communities
Milestone Title
First 100 New Students Trained Plutus/Plinth Haskell
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
3
Cost
20000
Progress
30 %
Milestone Title
Second batch of 100 new students trained in Plinth/Plutus Haskell
Milestone Outputs
This second milestone will see a second batch of new students trained target is similar to first milestone 1000
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
6
Cost
20000
Progress
60 %
Milestone Title
Third and final batch of 100 new students trained in Plinth/Plutus Haskell
Milestone Outputs
This third milestone will see 100 new students trained
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
9
Cost
15000
Progress
90 %
Milestone Title
Final Milestone: Closeout Reports and Video
Milestone Outputs
Acceptance Criteria
Evidence of Completion
Delivery Month
10
Cost
5000
Progress
100 %
Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources
BUDGET BREAKDOWN – TOTAL REQUESTED 60 000 ADA
Milestone 1-100 new students: Milestone Funding Amount 20 000 ADA
Targeting 2 New Universities/Colleges
TOTAL: 20 000 ADA
Milestone 2 Targeting 2 New Universities and 100 new students : Milestone Funding Amount 20 000 ADA
Targeting 2 universities
TOTAL: 20 000 ADA
Milestone 3 targeting 100 new students : Milestone Funding Amount 15 000 ADA
Targeting 3 universities
TOTAL: 15 000 ADA
Milestone 4 (Final): Milestone Funding Amount 5 000 ADA
TOTAL: 5 000 ADA
GRAND TOTAL: 20 000 + 20 000 + 15 000 + 5 000 = 60 000 ADA
How does the cost of the project represent value for the Cardano ecosystem?
1. Value for Money: Budget and Direct Outcomes
With a 60,000 ADA budget, Cardano benefits by enabling over 300 tertiary students to be equipped with Haskell/Plutus skills—the key infrastructure development language used in Plutus/Plinth, Hydra, consensus, the node, and other core components of the ecosystem. Haskell is a purely functional programming language and is central to secure, reliable Cardano development.
Getting students certified by the European Business Institute (EBU) ensures that they are further motivated to learn more and build for Cardano. With this proposal, we will shift more focus to on-chain transacting applications, at least on pre-production, and towards real-world applications that demonstrate concrete Cardano utility.
2. Proof of Delivery and Track Record
Proof that we mean what we say:
In the 16 universities we engaged, we undertook to onboard a minimum of 60 students per milestone × 4 = 120 students, but we currently have:
540 students enrolled
15+ facilitators
3 active EBU certification groups
Phase 1: 41
Phase 2: 47
Phase 3: 46 applications (current)
This demonstrates our ability to over-deliver on commitments and scale impact beyond initial targets.
3. Future Focus and Real-World Applications
Our future focus is to:
Maintain and improve on these achievements
Extend the program with end-to-end Plinth/Haskell real-world applications
Contribute effectively to Cardano Intersect Haskell-based projects
This ensures that trained students do not only complete courses but also deploy practical solutions that add lasting value to the Cardano ecosystem.
4. Strategic Benefits for the Cardano Ecosystem
4.1 Full-Time Team and Grassroots Innovation
Having a full-time team working daily to train new students on eUTXO and Plutus creates a boiling pot of innovation within the decentralized Cardano community. The Voltaire era becomes entrenched in grassroots communities driven by motivated, innovative students.
As blockchain and AI grow in popularity, this represents a qualitative and effective growth strategy for Cardano.
4.2 Promotion of Cardano Among Future Leaders
This initiative promotes Cardano, its products, and services among tertiary students, positioning them as future leaders, builders, and advocates of Cardano-based blockchain solutions.
4.3 Partnerships with Tertiary Institutions
By fostering partnerships between tertiary institutions and the Cardano education ecosystem, the program helps:
Integrate Cardano into mainstream academic and technical training
Position Cardano as a default choice for blockchain solutions in universities
4.4 Enabling the Transition from Web2 to Web3
The program encourages students to transition from Web2 to Web3 using the Cardano blockchain. This creates:
A future market for current and upcoming Cardano products and services
A pipeline of developers familiar with Cardano-native tooling and concepts
4.5 International and Continental Collaboration
The initiative supports collaboration between international and continental Cardano communities, expanding:
The developer base
The marketer and content-creator base
Other key roles required for a thriving ecosystem
4.6 Contribution to National Unemployment Solutions
By providing training, internships, and pathways to employment:
The program contributes to national unemployment reduction efforts
Cardano gains recognition as a leading technology platform that delivers tangible social and economic benefits
4.7 Long-Term Sustainable Impact
This type of engagement creates long-term, sustainable results, including:
Increased number and quality of use cases built on Cardano
A growing number of locally embedded Cardano champions in universities and communities
4.8 Promotion of Core Cardano Innovations
The initiative promotes awareness and adoption of key Cardano innovations such as:
CIP-1694
Midnight
Hydra
This further establishes Cardano’s presence in the blockchain space and aligns student developers with the latest ecosystem directions and standards. This is great value for money for Cardano.
I confirm that the proposal is a non-technical initiative, with ≤20% of the budget for tech support.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal provides verifiable evidence (portfolio, links, reports) of the team's ability to deliver the project.
Yes
I confirm that the proposer and all team members are in good standing with prior Catalyst projects.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal includes clear objectives with both Output Metrics (what proposal did) and Adoption-Focused Metrics (what effect proposal had).
Yes
I confirm that the proposal clearly explains the user journey and provides a credible plan for how the project will equip and motivate users for future on-chain activity.
Yes
I confirm that the initiative clearly demonstrates how it will grow the Cardano ecosystem or onboard users.
Yes
I confirm that the project plan and timeline (≤ 12 months) are realistic and well-defined.
Yes
I confirm that the proposal commits to public outputs and justifies any exceptions.
Yes
I confirm that the budget adheres to all policies: it is for future work, follows the merchandise rule, and excludes establishing local treasuries, incentives/giveaways, re-grants.
Yes
I Agree
Yes
Incorporated Company Team
Coxygen Global (Pty) Ltd
There are no fixed or permanent roles. Students assume facilitator/guide roles and development roles based on their capabilities and productivity. The marketing department also recruits members based on productivity.
In short, members and roles vary among university and college students. When students graduate from their colleges and universities and leave, we replace them as needed. As of now, we do not have any students funded by or benefiting from other Catalyst projects that we are aware of.
Profile and Role of Project Manager
Bernard Sibanda
(Founder, CTO, Fullstack developer, Plutus Pioneer Student, EBU Certified Plutus/Haskell (CP108), Catalyst Project Manager)
We have Developers Students, and facilitating over 15. We hire services developers, facilitators, marketers as per need in 7 countries over 30 colleges and universities
Address:
Verification Links
Catalyst Profile and Good Standing
Funded 4 times by Catalyst and have successful delivered quality projects and only now closing the 16 Universities Project:
[https://coxygen.co/universities/reports.php](https://coxygen.co/universities/reports.php)
Professional Summary
Experienced IT professional with over 15 years of expertise in developing and implementing innovative solutions in the IT industry. Founder of Tobb Technologies, a successful consulting company specializing in credit control web solutions. Proven track record of generating revenue exceeding 6 million rands across 20 districts. Demonstrated leadership in backend, database, and frontend platform development. Actively involved in educational programs and dedicated to fostering growth within the Cardano community.
Current Roles and Professional Profile
Bernard Sibanda is a global Technology Entrepreneur, Cardano Community Builder, Cardano Developer since 2021, Intersect Developer Advocate #Cohort 1, Cardano Foundation Ambassador, recently voted into Open Source Committee 2025-2026.
He is a Software Consultant with a deep focus on Cardano Blockchain and Community building (WIMS-Cardano Global). He is:
Founder & CTO: WIMS Cardano Global ([https://wims.io/](https://wims.io/)),,) Coxygen Global ([https://coxygen.co/universities](https://coxygen.co/universities)),,) Satoshi Africa (satoshi.africa) and Tobb Technologies ([https://tobb.co.za/](https://tobb.co.za/)))
Professional Experience
Founder, Tobb Technologies Pty Ltd, Women In Move Pty Ltd (Year Started – Present), Cofounder of Cardano Africa Live
Established and led Tobb Technologies, a consulting company specializing in credit control web solutions.
Successfully implemented solutions across 20 districts, resulting in revenue exceeding 6 million rands.
Provided valuable consultancy services in backend, databases, and frontend platforms, ensuring client satisfaction and project success.
IT Consultant (2007 – Present)
Contributed over 15 years of expertise to the IT industry, delivering impactful consultancy services.
Developed innovative solutions for backend, databases, and frontend platforms, achieving project success and client satisfaction.
Education
Plutus Core Program, University of Luxembourg
Completed and graduated from the Plutus Core program with distinction.
Plutus Pionneer student for cohot 1, 2,3,4
Plutus Pioneers Program
Actively participated as one of the first Plutus Pioneers, collaborating with Dr. Lars on cutting-edge developments.
Project-Based Learning, Gimbalabs
Engaged in project-based learning at Gimbalabs, gaining hands-on experience in the latest technologies.
Initiatives and Community Involvement
Internship Opportunities for Graduates
Spearheading a project at Tobb Technologies to offer internship opportunities to graduate students.
Currently planning to hire two IT graduates from the Cardano community for a six-month internship program.
Aiming to tackle unemployment by providing job opportunities and training in Cardano development.
Educational Programs and Language Engagement
Actively engaged in educational programs, including Mesh, Lucid, Haskell, and Helios Cardano languages.
Continuously contributing to the growth of the Cardano community through active participation in various initiatives.
Skills and roles
Official Links
Social Links