October 7, 2026

The University of Calgary recently launched its new Electricity Centre, a multidisciplinary hub that will investigate the production and use of electricity in the modern age. “The world is changing and electricity is poised to play an even larger role, in our energy systems, in our economies, and in our daily lives,” explained UCalgary Electricity Centre Co-leader Dr Sara Hastings-Simon. At the launch, the centre unveiled both its Fellows Program, which will support three graduate students and postdoctoral fellows yearly in advancing electricity research, and its Event Support Program, which will provide funding for electricity-focused events.

More Cégep de Jonquière students will be able to take advantage of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi’s research network following the formalization of a research-study pathway between the institutions. The pathway allows students to discover UQAC’s laboratories, meet researchers, and participate in observational internships among other initiatives. UQAC Vice-recteur à la recherche, à la création et à l’innovation Luigi Bouchard explained that the pathway will act as a seed for aspiring scientists in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, better preparing the region to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The free pathway is accessible to all Cégep de Jonquière students and follows a flexible extracurricular format to encourage participation.

Red River College Polytechnic has introduced two new degree programs: Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics. These programs use a flexible 2+1 degree completion model, which enables students with prior technical training to earn their bachelor’s degree in as little as one year. Students have the option of completing the programs in a full- or part-time format so that they can work while they study. “Diversifying our program offerings with these new degrees provides options for existing students, graduates, and mid-career professionals to access the applied and experiential learning that are sought after by industry and hallmarks of a polytechnic education,” said RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

The National Post reports that rallies and protests will be occurring on several campuses in Canada today, which it notes is the third anniversary of the Hamas October 7 attack on Israel. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs released a statement calling on university administrators to “safeguard their students and staff by preventing any protests inciting violence and taking immediate action to enforce their own rules of conduct when violations occur.” At McGill University, a rally is expected to occur at the institution’s gates this afternoon, while the University of British Columbia stated that it was aware of a “range of activities on the Vancouver campus,” none of which are official institutional events. The University of Toronto has informed student groups that an event intended to “honour martyrs” will not be permitted to proceed on campus “because of significant safety and operational concerns.”

While some students see unpaid internships or practicums as “working for free,” they must also consider other important benefits that they are receiving, argues Ashley Maler (Los Angeles Valley College). Maler points out that employers look for candidates with experience, and internships demonstrate this experience on a résumé. Maler suggests that students reframe these experiences as opportunities—chances to earn course credits, build confidence, and gain real-world experience—rather than requirements. Doing so, Maler says, can reflect the fact that while there is no monetary reimbursement, the benefits “can often be priceless.”

The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have invested $51.2M over seven years into initiatives that will improve access to quality health care. On the front of training and professional development, the investment will support NWT’s collaborative health services human resource plan in growing the territory’s health workforce. NWT will use part of the investment to support the Family Medicine Residency Program—a two-year program with two training slots for Canadian Medical Graduates each year—and specialized training in cultural safety and anti-Indigenous racism.

The University of British Columbia has installed a new indoor growing pod that provides learning and research opportunities and fresh produce for UBC’s dining hall. The pod is capable of year-round production, reducing the need to transport fresh produce to the dining hall. It offers students the opportunity to learn about the growing system and researchers the opportunity to compare the food produced with similar products from grocery stores. “What we learn through this project could help inform future decisions,” said UBC Food Services staff project lead and executive chef and culinary director David Speight, who said the university may install more pods.

The University of Windsor and the Town of Tecumseh have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding to strengthen collaboration between the university and the town. The agreement creates opportunities for faculty, researchers, and students to work on projects relevant to the town. In addition to creating co-op opportunities for UWindsor students, the agreement also opens the Leddy Library’s onsite collections to adult Tecumseh residents at no cost. “By connecting our community with the knowledge and expertise of university faculty and students, we can explore new approaches to service delivery, advance environmental stewardship, and embrace emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence in a responsible way,” said Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara.

Université Laval and Sorbonne Université have renewed a strategic partnership focused on education and research on both sides of the Atlantic. In past years, this partnership has included research projects; student, staff, and administrative personnel exchanges; and other collaborative activities such as summer schools, joint PhD supervisions, and scientific events. With the renewal, three joint research chairs have been created: a chair in knowledge, power, and scientific diplomacy; a chair in geomatics, ecology and acoustics of marine and coastal environments; and a chair focused on metabolomics and proteomics. The partners hope that these chairs will strengthen transatlantic collaboration and bring scientific communities together.

In an article for Inside Higher Ed, Moira Lynch (University of Wisconsin–River Falls) discusses how students benefitted from a classroom phone and laptop ban she has implemented in her classes since 2024. Through student surveys, the author found that students viewed the ban positively: About two-thirds were “very satisfied” or “satisfied,” and felt that the policy “significantly improved” or “improved” their focus. The majority (85%) said they would be open to taking another course with a device ban. Their written feedback showed that students supported the device ban because it increased engagement on both an individual and collective level, gave them a break from distractions, and improved their focus and learning. “As instructors, we can help students by creating lower-distraction learning environments,” concludes Lynch.