August 21, 2023

has released the 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities, which ranks the top 1,000 universities in the world. The top 3 institutions overall were Harvard University (#1), Stanford University (#2), and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (#3). 25 Canadian universities appeared in the rankings, with five in the top 100: The University of Toronto (#24), University of British Columbia (#44), McGill University (#70), the University of Alberta (#91), and McMaster University (#98).

The British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) has made a $6.5M investment into 27 research projects at five postsecondary institutions. The institutions benefitting from the funding are Selkirk College, Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, the University of the Fraser Valley, and the University of Victoria. The funding will support the establishment of the Experimental Ocean Climate Change Lab at UVic and the Centre for High-Pressure Research at UFV; introduce new supports for Selkirk’s Technology Access Centre; and support research projects that will investigate topics such as stem cells, food processing, transportation, and bacteria. These projects seek to grow the province’s economy, improve environmental management, support the health of those in the province, and more.

The University of Guelph has announced that it is following the University of Waterloo’s lead in removing publicly available course information from its website. Details such as classroom locations and professor names will now only be available to students through a private portal. The university will also conduct classroom security assessments and will launch a communications campaign about campus safety measures to ensure that community members know what personal safety tools are available. “The tragedy at the University of Waterloo has prompted universities across Canada, including the University of Guelph, to review security measures to ensure we are doing everything we can to keep our community safe,” said UoGuelph Spokesperson Deirdre Healy.

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) recently announced the Green Pathways for Small Communities (GPSC) program. Over the next nine months, GPSC will see colleges and institutes working with employers and community organizations to identify skills gaps and develop training for the transition to a green economy. Through these partnerships, over 120 individuals will receive free skills training. “As climate change poses its greatest threats to rural, remote, and northern communities, the launch of the Green Pathways for Small Communities (GPSC) program comes at a critical time,” said CICan President Denise Amyot. “With their extensive presence in these areas, colleges and institutes are uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role in developing sustainable solutions.”

Students are being cautioned about scams as they prepare to begin the new school year. A recent article from details a variety of tuition, rent, textbook, and phishing scams that students at McMaster University have fallen prey to. One student was targeted by a scam where a third party offered to pay their tuition at a discounted rate provided that the student sent $5K to the third party to repay them. At Algoma University, several international students have reportedly been scammed by a classmate who offered to have their father pay tuition on their behalf and then disputed the tuition payment after receiving money from the students. AlgomaU is helping the victims access the student relief fund and ensuring they can register for the Fall semester.

In a recent report published by the Smart Prosperity Institute for Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM), Mike Moffatt argues that colleges and universities have a vital role to play in addressing the broader housing crisis. Moffatt writes that the federal, provincial, and municipal governments; builders and developers; and organized labour and postsecondary sectors must coordinate their efforts to address Ontario’s housing crisis. Canada’s postsecondary sector plays a two-part role in this: Training the next generation of skilled workers to support the development of new housing and ensuring that adequate housing is available to support enrolments. Moffatt also notes that some institutions have land that could be used for desperately needed student residences.

South Korea has unveiled its South Korea 300K project, which aims to attract 300,000 international students to the country by 2027. Currently, about 200,000 international students are studying in South Korea. To reach this goal, the country will reportedly be increasing government scholarships, raising the scholarship quotas for students from countries such as India and Pakistan, and establishing international student service centres at overseas education centres. Some experts have noted that the country’s universities will need to make changes such as offering more courses taught in English and diversifying their teaching faculty members to attract more students. South Korean officials noted the increased competition for international students: Earlier this year, Japan unveiled its plan to attract 400,000 international students by 2033.

Western University and Kinectrics Inc have signed the Western-Kinectrics partnership agreement, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will facilitate collaboration on nuclear research. The collaboration will involve multiple faculties at the university and touch on several areas of nuclear research. It will involve student training and internships, research and development activities, and knowledge mobilization. “We look forward to working closely with Kinectrics to strengthen our collective capacity to develop nuclear research and training opportunities that benefit Canadians and help create a more sustainable future,” said Western VP of Research (Acting) Bryan Neff.

A former student at St Francis Xavier University has launched a civil lawsuit against StFX, alleging that it “enabled a predator” and failed to protect her and other students. The student is reportedly one of several who have accused former student-athlete Omogbolahan (Teddy) Jegede of sexual assault and harassment. The lawsuit asserts that the university was notified of an alleged sexual assault by Jegede in January 2020; states that Jegede has since been charged with four counts of sexual assault that occurred in the years that followed. StFX Acting President Amanda Cockshutt issued a statement assuring “the campus community that our policies and procedures related to sexual violence are survivor-centred and trauma-informed.”

Brock University has unveiled a new name for its Department of Residences: Housing Services. The change stems from work on the university’s Residence Master Plan and recognizes how on-campus housing options are changing to meet the community’s needs. Housing Services includes three portfolios: Residence, which offers fully furnished living with a mandatory meal plan to students in any year of study; Brock Suites, which offer independent living for upper-year and graduate students; and Short-term stay, which provides short-term overnight accommodation. “Our core service remains Residence; however, opportunity exists in growing the upper-year market and continuing to evaluate the need for new opportunities around third-party partnerships and monitoring the demand for graduate housing,” said Brock AVP, Ancillary Services Ed Wall.