August 15, 2024

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada have announced that the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot program will launch later this month. Under this program, the IRCC and designated French-language and bilingual postsecondary institutions will work together to help attract and retain French-speaking international students in Canada’s Francophone minority communities. Under this program, eligible students and their families will be exempt from having to demonstrate that they will leave Canada at the end of their stay, eligible for an adjusted required financial threshold, and able to access a direct pathway to permanent status after graduation.

The Government of Canada is investing $3.1M into two data-related marine research projects at COVE, the marine technology innovation hub of which Dalhousie University is a member. $2.6M will contribute to the launch of a two-year vessel tracking challenge, which will give small- and medium-sized businesses access to Defence Research and Development Canada’s underwater acoustic sensors in the Halifax Harbour to develop solutions to detect, classify, and track vessels. The remaining $586K of this funding will be devoted to the second phase of COVE’s Digital Harbour Initiative, which uses sensors to collect and analyze marine data to inform real-time decision-making.

Saint Paul University has signed a partnership agreement with Université Catholique de l’Ouest (UCO) in France to advance collaboration efforts in education and research. Under this agreement, SPU and UCO will offer a joint diploma program in which learners can attain both a diploma in global diplomacy from UCO and an MA in Conflict Studies from SPU. This program will provide eligible students with opportunities to study abroad and learn from experts at both institutions. The joint program will officially launch in the 2024-2025 academic year. The partnership agreement will also facilitate enhanced research collaboration between SPU’s Conflict Research Centre and UCO’s Stratégie, État et Recherche de la paix research group.

In a recent piece for The Walrus, Simon Lewsen (University of Toronto) argues that instructors and students are being left to “fend for themselves” on the front of academic accommodations. Lewsen discusses how an increasing number of accommodation requests and the fear of accidentally discriminating against students has overwhelmed instructors who are often already underpaid and overworked. The author highlights the need for a balance between “dizzying campus bureaucracy” and “a generalized culture of leniency” in order to encourage real learning without making the classroom restrictive. He also touches on issues such as a lack of resources for accessibility services and instructors’ lack of agency in conversations about accessibility.

Institut national de la recherche scientifique Professor Jonathan Roberge and Université du Québec à Montréal Professor Destiny Tchéhouali are the co-holders of a new Québec Research Chair in Francophone Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Technology. Supported by a research team from Concordia University, INRS, Université Laval, and UQÀM, this Chair aims to leverage AI to diversify and enrich access to Francophone media content on digital platforms. The researchers will focus on three priority areas: the techno-scientific ecosystem of AI in Québec; the discoverability of French-speaking cultural content; and the governance, regulation, and future of public policies relating to the development of AI and digital technology in French. The Fonds du recherche du Québec has provided $1.8M to support this chair.

Okanagan College’s School of Business recently earned a 10-year re-accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). This re-accreditation signals that Okanagan’s business programs meet rigorous standards in leadership support, strategic planning, community engagement, continuous improvement, faculty excellence, responsiveness, and educational support. “This achievement highlights the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, and students, and I am immensely proud of their collective efforts,” said Okanagan School of Business Dean Joe Baker.

St Lawrence College recently launched its Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanics apprenticeship program. This program is offered in a hybrid format composed of 12 weeks of part-time online study followed by in-class training. Students will also be able to develop their skills in the college’s new HVAC Lab. “The new HVAC Lab and hybrid delivery represents a significant step forward in our efforts to equip future HVAC professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in this essential industry,” said SLC President Glenn Vollebregt. “We have already seen tremendous support and need from local employers for this and look forward to training apprentices to fill labour market needs.”

A new Wiley survey on academic integrity and the impact of AI has revealed that students and instructors at North American postsecondary institutions have mixed feelings about AI in the classroom. The survey found that both instructors and students believe cheating is increasing, with 96% of instructors saying they believe some of their students cheated within the last year. Most students and instructors believe that cheating will increase, while instructors worried about the impact AI could have on students’ critical thinking and writing skills. The report also found, however, that students and instructors both see opportunities with AI on the fronts of providing academic assistance.

Watermark Group has proposed a large rental housing project just south of the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. The development would include three buildings with over 400 units, commercial space, and indoor and outdoor amenity space. The application includes a request for a height variance that would allow part of the building’s roof to extend beyond the permitted height, as well as a parking stall reduction due to the nature of purpose-built student housing. The application has not yet gone before Kelowna’s city council.

The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) has compiled a list of recommendations as part of its 2025 Pre-Budget Submission to the Government of Canada. CASA’s submission is organized under two pillars: ensuring equitable access to postsecondary education and supporting student productivity and innovation. Among its recommendations for the federal budget, CASA has called on the government to increase funding to several student grants and support programs, maintain competitive Canadian graduate student funding levels, and revise the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System.