August 1, 2025

Nova Scotia Community College has officially opened a 200-bed student housing facility, which will welcome students this Fall. This waterfront residence includes a mix of one-bedroom units—including accessible options—as well as shared three- and four-bedroom suites, each outfitted with full bathrooms, kitchen amenities, furnishings laundry facilities, and communal living spaces. NSCC President Don Bureaux told Global News that the new facility would help alleviate pressure on the region’s already strained housing market. This project was funded by a $58.6M grant from the Government of Nova Scotia.

The Autorité des marchés publics (AMP)—an independent body in Québec that monitors public procurement—has found that Université de Sherbrooke has contravened regulations related to contracts and procurement. The organization found that the university failed to conduct an adequate needs assessment and invoked an unjustified exception when using private contracts. USherbrooke’s leadership has received two recommendations: First, to carry out a rigorous needs assessment and acquisition process in accordance with the regulations it is subject to and, second, to ensure staff members receive training in related areas.

The Government of Canada’s Canadian Institutes of Health Research and its partners have invested a total of $44.8M into projects that will support healthy brain aging. The majority of this funding will support the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging’s Operations Centre and 16 new Canadian research teams focused on dementia. These include researchers from Concordia University, McGill University, McMaster University, Trent University, Université Laval, Université de Montréal, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and Western University. The investment will also support the Brain Health Care Training platform and the Brain Health Resources and Integrated Diversity Hub.

Huntington University’s Canadian Institute for Human Rights and Global Health (CIHRGH) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the French human rights organization the René Cassin Foundation – International Institute of Human Rights. Under the MOU, the two parties will develop a collaborative partnership focused on promoting human rights. CIHRGH Distinguished Chair Awalou Ouedraogo explained that the René Cassin Foundation is well known for its expertise in human rights education and research, which makes it a “remarkable ally” for the newly-established institute.

International students are increasingly choosing Asian destinations for business studies over options like Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia, according to a new survey of business schools in 27 countries. The study found that 67% of the surveyed business schools were affected by legal or policy changes related to international students, with those institutions anticipating an average enrolment drop of 16% in the upcoming year. However, countries such as South Korea, India, and Malaysia are gaining students through initiatives like streamlining visas, expanding English-taught programs, and offering scholarships—highlighting what the report describes as the rise of the “Asian decade” in global higher education.

Fanshawe College has reaffirmed its commitment to its downtown London campus despite declining enrolment and recent program suspensions, reports CBC. “We are a part of downtown,” said Fanshawe Dean of the Faculty of Business and Hospitality Silvana Macdonald. “Fanshawe College made a commitment to our downtown community, and we are not going anywhere.” CBC reports that the campus is anticipating a decline to its Fall enrolment and has suspended three hospitality programs; however, Macdonald stated that enrolment is expected to be at “still a good, healthy number” and shared that a new program for students looking to enter the music industry will be coming to the downtown campus in September.

The Centre for Nuclear Research (CNER) at the University of New Brunswick has officially opened its Advanced Nuclear Reactors Laboratory. The laboratory will grow research and development in strategic areas and support workforce development and technical support. This laboratory will broaden CNER’s collaborations, which will support the advancement of nuclear technologies. “With this new facility, CNER is equipped to drive cutting-edge research, foster industry collaboration and prepare the skilled workforce that will help make Canada an energy superpower,” said UNB President Dr Paul J Mazerolle.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has shared updates on the bargaining process with Alberta University of the Arts, Olds College, and Red Deer Polytechnic. At both AU Arts and RDP, AUPE has proposed a combined wage increase of 26% over three years to account for the impact of inflation over time; AU Arts has responded with a 7.5% increase over four years, while RDP has offered a 10% adjustment over four years. Meanwhile, at Olds College, AUPE says that it wants “a serious monetary proposal consistent with proposals tabled by other postsecondary institutions.” The union also indicated that it does not see value “in returning to the bargaining table” and shared that it will consider informal mediation.

A team from McGill University’s School of Continuing Studies (SCS) recently shared insights with The evoLLLution about its SEED (SCS Experiential Empowerment & Development) initiative, which aims to reduce barriers to career mobility for adult learners and underserved communities. Derek Tannis, Inna Popova-Roche, and Carola Weil explained that SEED integrates skills training, mentorship, and local partnerships to support participants who face systemic bias, underemployment, and financial pressures. As McGill prepares to scale the initiative nationally, the team emphasized the importance of hybrid delivery models that combine online learning with community-based supports to ensure accessible, personalized, and context-sensitive professional development.

Sheridan College is enhancing its campus transportation infrastructure to encourage active transportation. As part of this $600K project, the college will widen 180 metres of sidewalk, create a bicycle path that will be separate from road and bus routes, and install new lighting and benches. Sheridan will also install three outdoor bike shelters for commuters who want to store their bikes on campus. “We want our students, staff, and visitors to feel confident choosing sustainable ways to travel, whether they walk, bike, or use accessible transportation,” said Sheridan Interim President Rajan Sandhu.