November 5, 2024

Universities Canada has announced $13.3M in funding for 25 new scholarship projects through the Canadian International Development Scholarships (BCDI 2030) program. These projects will enable 500 individuals, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, to study at Canadian postsecondary institutions and gain skills that they can use in their home countries. The program aims to promote social and economic development through inclusive, quality, and accessible education. Nineteen projects are based at Canadian universities, six are based at colleges, and eight involve collaborative consortia among Canadian institutions

The Government of Québec recently made two funding announcements. A $7.8M investment into 14 projects will support the development of research platforms and facilities that promote access to infrastructure for businesses and stakeholders across the province. Recipients include Cégep de Shawinigan, McGill University, Polytechnique Montréal, Université de Montréal, and Université Laval. QC has also announced more than $5.8M in support for youth initiatives at 19 non-profit organizations for 2024-25 and 2025-26. The funding will support services that contribute to young peoples’ personal, academic, and professional development.

University of Calgary student Jason Ngu–also known as “The Duck Guy”–has led the launch of a two-week mental health initiative called “UFlourish.” Last winter, Ngu created snow ducks to cheer up students who might have been discouraged or experiencing seasonal depression. This fall, Ngu built on this effort by working with the university to develop a two-week mental health event, which features workshops and talks on the topic of individual mental health. As part of the initiative, the UCalgary bookstore and Ngu will also sell merchandise featuring the snow ducks, with proceeds going to support UCalgary’s Students’ Greatest Needs fund.

In a recent article for University Affairs, Association of Atlantic Universities Executive Director Peter Halpin discusses Atlantic Canada’s reliance on international students. Halpin writes that Atlantic Canada has historically been attractive to international students because of factors such as cost of living, tuition fees, and academic reputation, but federal policy changes have negatively impacted Canada’s international reputation and have affected student choices. Halpin states that Atlantic universities are more dependent on international students than institutions located elsewhere in Canada, with international enrolment at 30% in the region. He warns that the decline in international students will negatively impact the region’s revenue, population growth, and community organizations. Halpin calls on the federal government to “urgently rebuild Canada’s hard-earned reputation as a welcoming country for international students” to support Atlantic Canada’s continued growth and prosperity.

The Université du Québec à Montréal has approved a new faculty of health sciences, adopted by unanimous resolution at the UQAM Board of Directors meeting in late October. The Faculté des sciences de la santé will bring together the university’s existing health programming, research, and expertise and invest in new fields of study and research with a particular focus on global approaches to health sciences and preventive health. As the next step in the faculty’s creation, UQAM’s leadership will submit a proposal to the Board of Directors to specify the configuration of the new faculty and its transitional operating arrangements.

Humber Polytechnic and the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a pathway for students aspiring to study law in the UK. This agreement allows Humber students to complete a two-year pre-law foundation program at the polytechnic before embarking on three years of studies at Leicester’s Law School. With this MOU, Humber seeks to redefine international recruitment and foster transformative global learning experiences. “By forging a deep partnership with the University of Leicester, we are creating better pathways, opportunities and outcomes for our students to be able to achieve their dreams and contribute as global citizens,” said Humber President Ann Marie Vaughan.

Starting in Fall 2025, Cégep Sorel-Tracy will offer a new administration and management program. Students in this three-year program will spend their first year completing a core curriculum before branching into one of three specializations: accounting and financial strategies, digital marketing and business intelligence, or entrepreneurship and business decisions. Each specialization option allows students to customize their learning experience with 330 hours of coursework and 240 hours of internships. This program is designed to prepare students for careers in accounting, administration, marketing, and management.

Several institutions have provided updates on labour negotiations. At McGill University, two faculty associations–representing the Faculty of Arts professors and the Faculty of Education professors–are seeking accreditation from the Tribunal administratif du travail. Trent University has reached a tentative agreement with CUPE Local 3908 Unit 2 which would be retroactive to September 1, 2024. The University of Guelph has forged a collective agreement with the University of Guelph Faculty Association, which addresses workload and compensation. The Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa plans to hold a strike vote meeting next week if conciliation efforts with the University of Ottawa remain unresolved.

Cégep Drummond recently introduced “Dialogue,” an integrated health platform that provides employees with virtual access to a wide range of health and wellness services. Through “Dialogue,” Drummond employees and their immediate families can access 24/7 care and treatment for various medical issues from anywhere in Canada. Drummond directrice des ressources humaines et des affaires corporatives Katia Froidevaux emphasized the importance of offering this telemedicine service, especially as access to a family doctor in the region has become increasingly challenging.

In an article for The Varsity, University of St Michael’s College student Shontia Sanders argues that the overall experience of going to university has been harmed by the emphasis on transactional connection-building. Instead of forming genuine connections and authentically engaging in activities on campus, Sanders writes that students join clubs, attend office hours, or participate in networking nights for the sole purpose of professional advancement. This in turn leads them to try to develop and brand themselves by saying what those around them want to hear. Sanders encourages students to take a step back and delink impersonal professionalism from academic advancement.