**Problem: **There are not enough resources available to developers wanting a more hands-on approach to learning Substrate. In order to see a vibrant Polkadot ecosystem, we must first address education so that developers have the tools to build.
**Goal: **Create a hands-on and affordable educational environment where developers can learn first hand from existing developers in the Polkadot ecosystem. We want to give developers the tools (education and mentorship) to build the next great DApp or Parachain on Polkadot. While Acala has created the educational framework, we need help ensuring that any qualified developer who cannot afford the Academy will have access to it through a scholarship.
**How we’ll get there… **
The Substrate Blockchain Developer Academy brings together the best in industry expertise, interactive learning, and a recognized certification program to help developers learn to program and build on Substrate and Polkadot in just 6 weeks. Here’s what developers can expect:
Hands-on Start a Project from Scratch
Understand the Polkadot ecosystem and Substrate codebase. Use Substrate to develop a product-ready blockchain project.
Code & Launch Your First Blockchain & DApp
Learn blockchain design principles. Learn Polkadot.js SDK. Launch your first blockchain, and build a web3 front-end DApp.
Connect with Global Polkadot/Substrate Developers
Connect with the most passionate, accomplished developers in the Polkadot and Substrate ecosystem, and have access to resources and opportunities from ecosystem projects.
Mentors/Instructors:
Bryan Chen -- Co-Founder of Acala and CTO of Laminar
Joe Petrowski - Technical Integrations at Parity Technologies
Ricardo Ruis - Runtime Engineer at Parity Technologies
**Course Details: **
6 weeks of online, video-based content + 4 weeks of project-based internship
The course is $492 -- this fee covers costs and ensures active participation from students. Crypto is accepted as a method of payment.
Lecture 0 Preparation
Lecture 1 Introduction to Polkadot/Substrate
Lecture 2 Substrate Basics
Lecture 3 Writing Substrate Pallets
Lecture 4 Onchain Upgrade
Lecture 5 Data Structures, Testing & Debugging
Lecture 6 Install & Integrate with Pallets
Lecture 7 Advanced Topics
Lecture 8 Production Ready, Cross-chain, Parachain
For more information on the program, visit: https://www.industryconnect.org/substrate-runtime-developer-academy/
Substrate Developer Scholarships:
There are developers interested in attending who require financial aid in order to participate. We would like for the Polkadot Treasury to provide scholarships to students so that they can learn the skills it takes to build the next great application or parachain on Polkadot.
**Financial Commitment: **
643 DOTs
Your commitment provides:
Full sponsorship of 6 students into the Substrate Developer Academy
Scholarship Evaluation Process:
The Acala team will act as a stand in for evaluating scholarship applicants for this Substrate Developer Academy course and will work with other organizations in the ecosystem to identify developers who are in need of financial support.
**Criteria for scholarship will be based on: **
Applicant has mastered at least 1 programming language
Applicant has a minimum of one year professional coding experience
Applicant has demonstrated financial need.
Payment Conditions:
A one-time payment of 643 DOTs (monthly average of $4.36 per DOT)
Should there be any funds that are unused, Acala will roll them over into the next Developer Academy for scholarship purposes. At the request of Council, Acala will return any remaining funds to the treasury.
**Measuring Success: **
At the end of the program, Acala will report back on the amount of participating developers, graduation rate, projects started/completed, and other unforeseen success metrics (e.g., hires into the Polkadot ecosystem, etc). It is our goal to give developers the tools to build -- and then help them integrate into the ecosystem for collaboration and funding opportunities.
Future Plans:
Acala intends to continue refining and improving upon the Substrate Developer Academy. In 2021, we plan to roll out an updated version of the Substrate Developer Academy -- students will be able to apply for a scholarship directly via a Substrate Academy Bounty Program.