April 29, 2026

Following a meeting of representatives from Canada and Norway in March, the two countries have agreed to collaborate on Arctic research, including climate data research and data sharing. The partners say the collaboration will protect this climate data for future generations. “Securing the Arctic is essential to our national interests and those of our allies, and expanding our knowledge of the region is key to unlocking long-term economic opportunity,” explained Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Mélanie Joly. The partners will develop a joint research agenda with a roadmap of research areas of mutual interest, as well as design efforts to increase student mobility and academic cooperation.

HEC Montréal has received a $20M donation focused on supporting entrepreneurship, research, and mental health from the Lise and Giuseppe Racanelli Foundation. The donation will boost initiatives for entrepreneurs, particularly those in Pôle entRepreneuriat HEC Montréal programs; support the school’s research and knowledge-transfer system; and support the wellbeing of students and those training to become entrepreneurs. In honour of the donation, HEC Montréal will rename its Côte–Sainte–Catherine building the Lise-et-Giuseppe-Racanelli Building. “This rare act of generosity will allow us to amplify our mission to train responsible leaders and support cutting-edge research that contributes to the sustainable transformation of organizations and society,” said HEC Montréal Director General Federico Pasin.

In a recent opinion piece for eCampusNews, Steven M Baule (Winona State University) discusses how doctoral programs—particularly EdD programs—must adapt to generative AI in the research environment. Baule explains that since doctoral students now routinely use AI in their work, programs must ensure that student work contributes intellectually to the field. The author calls for five changes to the definition, support, and assessment of doctoral work: EdD programs must reconsider originality, ensure a more visible research process, emphasize primary data collection and analysis, provide explicit AI guidance, and reconsider the dissertation’s structure. “The goal is not to eliminate AI from doctoral work,” writes Baule. “The goal is to ensure that, in a landscape where text can be generated instantly, judgment, interpretation, and context remain unmistakably human.”

Seneca Polytechnic and North York General have signed an MOU to strengthen Ontario’s healthcare workforce. The two partners will explore how they can expand WIL opportunities and strengthen recruitment pathways that will support North York General’s workforce needs. The agreement will equip more students with the practical skills needed to address talent gaps. “By working together, we are opening new pathways for students to learn in real health-care settings, gain practical experience alongside industry professionals and graduate ready to contribute to their communities,” said Seneca President David Agnew.

The College of Arts and Science at the University of Saskatchewan is introducing the Foundational Pathways in Arts and Science certificate to open new opportunities for university students. This 24-credit certificate will include introductory arts and science courses such as writing, Indigenous learning, and quantitative reasoning. Graduates will be prepared for any degree program in USask’s College of Arts and Science. “The certificate recognizes the breadth of Arts and Science courses as a legitimate credential,” explained VP Academic Dr Jennifer Lang. “Whether you go into another program like Nursing or Education, this (certificate) actually encapsulates courses and recognizes them as a legitimate credential.”

Red Deer Polytechnic has announced that it will be expanding its Health Care Aide (HCA) program to Camrose next year. The program will be offered through Campus Alberta Central—a partnership between RDP and Olds College of Agriculture & Technology—and will be supported by the not-for-profit organization The Bethany Group. Students will be able to complete their whole HCA program in Camrose, with online theory courses and in-person labs completed at The Bethany Group’s Heritage Building. CAC will fund lab equipment costs, while The Bethany Group is donating space for the lab. “By expanding to more community sites through Campus Alberta Central, we can educate more healthcare workers who support rural and remote communities,” said RDP School of Health and Wellness Dean Heather Dirks.

Memorial University has addressed the recent controversy over five job postings that prioritize equity. The postings, which are federally funded by the Canada Research Chairs Program, stipulate that candidates for these positions must meet certain requirements, including being a current Memorial employee and a member of an employment equity group, to be considered. Memorial told National Post that “all of the job ads are consistent with federal policy and are a condition of participating in the [Canada Research Chairs] program.”

York University’s Schulich School of Business and CGI, an IT and business consulting firm, have launched a new certificate in enterprise systems development, funded through a $1M investment. The CGI Certificate in Enterprise Systems Development is an eight-month program that will prepare students for careers in business and IT while also addressing skills gaps and the leadership and innovation capacity needed for Canada’s economy. The program offers training in AI-enabled system integration, DevOps, cybersecurity, and enterprise IT operations. Schulich Institute of Digital Business Executive Director Murat Kristal explained that “[i]nitiatives like this ensure that our workforce can design, operate, and lead the digital infrastructures that will power the next generation of innovation and economic growth.”

AI tools are changing how prospective students explore institutional offerings, and this can be problematic for institutions, according to Holly Zanville (George Washington University) and Matthew Arrojas. While traditional research requires that the searcher move through sources like “walking in a well-organized library,” the authors explain that AI chatbots often give direct answers akin to a “vending machine” of information. While these instant results can save time for searchers, using AI in this way can result in smaller niche programs being missed, a loss of narrative control for institutions, and a loss of differentiation for institutions. To combat this, the authors recommend that institutions design their information so that it is easily interpretable by both AI and human searchers.

Cape Breton University is reportedly reducing its workforce and raising out-of-province tuition in response to a loss of revenue of approximately $77M over the past three years. Cape Breton Post states that CBU is eliminating 50 jobs, including 17 layoffs, and implementing tuition increases of 3–5% for students from outside of Nova Scotia. In a news release, CBU said that these measures were necessary due to the school adjusting to a smaller enrolment base. “While these are difficult decisions, our responsibility is to ensure long-term health and sustainability of the university,” said CBU President David Dingwall. “None of these choices were made lightly. Our focus remains on supporting our students, our people and the communities we serve.”