August 7, 2025

The Government of Ontario has announced that it is investing $56.8M to support the training of more than 2,200 nurses by 2029, as well as a one-time investment of $7.5M to help universities purchase related supplies and equipment. The investment is part of the province’s broader plan to bolster its health-care system and will be used to expand the pipeline of skilled nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses into the workforce. ON also announced that it is expanding registration in flexible online nursing training for personal support workers and registered practical nurses looking to upskill.

Despite society’s growing use of technology, new graduates interested in entering the technology sector face considerable challenges in getting jobs, writes Aajah Sauter of the Globe and Mail. The author notes that tech job postings on Indeed in early July were down 21% from pre-pandemic levels, and several major technology companies have laid off employees. While many see AI as a key cause, Viet Vu from Toronto Metropolitan University’s The Dais argues that interest rates and a poor economy are really to blame. Sauter notes that according to OUAC, enrolment in computer and information systems programs has declined 27% since last year. The article concludes with advice for recent graduates: Network, build transferable skills, and be prepared for short-term work in an unrelated job.

In a recent Ask Dr Editor column for University Affairs, Letitia Henville describes strategies for researchers interested in pursuing NSERC Discovery grants. Henville explains what Discovery peer reviewers are looking for: Projects that are open-ended and focus on discovery. Since reviewers go to the Canadian Common CV to see evidence of a researcher’s ability to carry out a project, this should be considered a part of the application materials. Methodology is another area to pay close attention to, and researchers must ensure that they are writing for a broad audience and justifying their methodological choices. Finally, Henville encourages researchers to ensure that their EDI approach distinguishes them from applicants who use boilerplate statements.

Northern College and Seneca Polytechnic have signed a pathway agreement that will provide international applicants to Northern with access English Language Institute programs at Seneca. These applicants will be able to participate in a variety of Seneca English language programs online from their home countries. This experience will prepare them to meet the language requirements of Northern’s specialized programs. Northern says that this pathway also serves as a foundation for future collaborations between the two institutions.

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières’s bachelor’s degree in forensic science has been gaining popularity despite its low graduation rates, reports Radio-Canada. Enrolment for the program has increased from 25 students in 2020 to 51 students last year. However, program administrators noted that the program has a low completion rate, likely due to the heavy workload and misconceptions surrounding the program, such as the expectation that forensic science in real life will resemble the TV series CSI. Professors told Radio-Canada that graduates are always able to find work, while one student noted that finding a job is difficult because of the specificity of the degree.

While STEM programs are often the focus of discussions about the future of work, Detlev Zwick (York University) and Kyle Murray (Wilfrid Laurier University) argue that business schools are also essential to the workforce and economy. The authors outline how business schools have become involved in several initiatives that support the economy, including offering work-integrated learning, fostering entrepreneurship, and attracting and developing international talent. “[Business schools] are engines of innovation, growth, and leadership,” conclude Zwick and Murray, “and as Ontario and Canada confront unprecedented economic and demographic shifts, it is critical to recognize that […] they are essential partners in the province’s efforts to build a more resilient, innovative, and competitive economy.”

In Alberta, renovations are underway at several facilities to create new teaching and learning spaces. In downtown Calgary, several floors of an office tower are being converted into classrooms and workshops for the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL). Many UCalgary SAPL students are expected to live downtown, and the Globe and Mail reports that a nearby project transforming an office building into residential spaces will offer a special rate to students. Meanwhile, in Lethbridge, a design firm is transforming a community centre into a new medical education and clinical facility that will house UCalgary and the University of Lethbridge’s Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP). The new space—set to open in July 2027—will include teaching areas, labs, and clinics.

Western University’s Ivey Business School—in partnership with the Asian Institute of Technology’s Entrepreneurship Center—has expanded its two-week LEADER Project program to Thailand. Led by volunteers from Ivey and offered in five other countries, the program aims to promote entrepreneurship in developing countries. Volunteer Aakriti Gupta, a recent Ivey graduate, cited the size of Thailand’s economy and Bangkok’s role as a trade and innovation hub as key reasons for expanding to the region. Through the program, volunteers work with aspiring entrepreneurs using a case-based learning method that they can then apply in their future careers. “It pushed me to think on my feet, communicate across cultures and lead with empathy—strengths I’ll carry into a global marketing role,” said Gupta.

In a recent article for Meridian Source Lakeland College’s Emergency Training Centre Dean Shawn McKerry speaks about how the college has adapted its training offerings and facilities to better prepare emergency responders to work in a rapidly-changing world. McKerry said that the college is focusing on hazardous materials training and emergency responses to new energy sources, such as lithium batteries and hydrogen fuel. McKerry detailed some of the college’s recent additions to its training tools, including a truss tower system, vehicle props, and a confined-space training prop, and added that the college is also working to acquire other tools for students to use in their training. Looking to the future, McKerry expressed hope that government investments will allow Lakeland to prepare students for more emergency situations.

York University recently shared two updates related to its future medical school. The university has unveiled a new sign for its future medical school building on land provided by the City of Vaughan. YorkU also established a partnership with the Ontario Centre of Innovation, which will see the university collaborating with Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct partners to foster health-care innovation and community-based care. “This project reflects our commitment to students and the urgent need for primary-care physicians,” said YorkU President Rhonda Lenton.