August 8, 2024

University College of the North has received $1.2M from the Government of Canada to boost Indigenous and Northern workforce development in the critical minerals sector. UCN will use this funding to develop and deliver Train-to-Hire Mine Readiness programming. “The need for skills throughout the North, in communities, in industry, and all other sectors is critical,” said UCN President Doug Lauvstad. “This program is an important first step in ensuring northern people have access to high quality, relevant training that will help communities realize their aspirations of progress and prosperity.” This project is one of seven receiving a combined $3.1M in federal funding through the Manitoba Indigenous Critical Minerals Partnerships Initiative.

The Michener Institute of Education at the University Health Network has opened the Michener Centre for Post-Graduate Nursing Education (Michener CNE). The new centre will provide professional development for nurses to fill knowledge gaps in the healthcare system and build capacity to meet the healthcare system’s emerging challenges. Michener CNE’s featured programs are offered in a flexible, hybrid format and include hands-on experiences, mentorship opportunities, and virtual learning options. “Nurses seek out employers that will provide them with opportunities to grow and develop, so by providing continuous professional development, nurses will not only want to work at a hospital but will also stay there,” said Michener Critical Care Nursing Course Coordinator and Instructor Klara Malkova.

Polytechnics Canada has released a report on the economic impact of the applied research conducted at 13 Canadian polytechnics and institutes of technology. The report finds that every dollar invested in applied research generated a return on investment of anywhere between $8.09 to $18.49, and further notes that several social benefits have stemmed from this work, such as reductions in carbon emissions and improvements to public well-being. Polytechnics Canada highlights the importance of the applied research collaborations that polytechnics engage in–often with small- or mid-sized organizations–and their positive impact research and development capacity, competitiveness, and job creation. The report also asserts that polytechnics could significantly increase their contribution to the applied research ecosystem, rate of innovation, and productivity growth with additional support.

Students and staff from Algonquin College, Cambrian College, Georgian College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and the University of Prince Edward Island recently went on cultural and educational exchange experiences. Students and staff from Algonquin, Cambrian, and Georgian travelled to the University of Wollongong and the Daintree Rainforest to learn about Australia’s Indigenous peoples, history, culture, and activism. Nine Kwantlen Polytechnic University nursing students and two KPU Bachelor of Science in Nursing instructors took part in a volunteer nursing expedition in Guatemala, where they provided basic checkups, distributed medication, and offered health education. UPEI students and staff travelled to New Zealand as part of a cultural exchange to compare their language and knowledge with that of the Māori people.

Northern College and Takwata NPLH Drilling have partnered to deliver a tuition-free Diamond Drilling Common Core – Basic training program starting this Fall. The program will prepare students for in-demand careers in the drilling and mining sectors. The partners aim to recruit and provide inclusive opportunities for Indigenous peoples, women, and youth. “The theory and practical experience the trainees will receive in this program will provide participants with excellent opportunities to secure full-time employment in the mining industry,” said Northern College Senior VP, Academic Dean Lessard.

With postsecondary institutions increasingly drawing on parents to help launch first-year students, many parents would benefit from more guidance on how to support their children, writes Philip A Glotzbach (Skidmore College). Glotzbach offers several guidelines that institutions can share with parents to lay the groundwork for constructive interaction, including embracing their student’s new level of autonomy and encouraging their student to stay focused on their studies while pursuing adjacent activities that contribute to personal growth. Glotzbach notes that parents should be intentional about letting go: Students must learn to solve their own problems, with parents only seeking help on their behalf in extenuating circumstances.

Portage College and the Sacred Turtle Woman Healing Centre (STWHC) have partnered to enhance addiction and mental health support services while providing students with hands-on educational experiences. Under this partnership, Portage human services students will have access to work placements at STWHC, Portage’s curriculum will be integrated with STWHC’s holistic healing practices, and a “circle of care” will be created that combines traditional academic learning with alternative therapies. “This partnership will provide our students with invaluable hands-on experience and support the community’s need for comprehensive addiction and mental health services,” said Portage President Nancy Broadbent.

Police officers, bomb experts, paramedics and firefighters were called to the University of Toronto Scarborough’s campus on Tuesday afternoon after a “hoax” explosive device was found in the Environmental Sciences and Chemistry building. This building and the Instructional Centre were both evacuated. The device was remotely examined and detonated after it was determined to resemble a real bomb. Emergency services personnel subsequently found that the device did not have explosive components. The building was swept for other devices; investigators are reviewing surveillance footage to determine who placed the device.

Starting the semester in a productive way can help set the tone for its overall success, writes Kristi Rudenga (University of Notre Dame). For first-year classes, the author encourages instructors to foster discussions about different learning strategies and address imposter syndrome with a sharing exercise that highlights how students are facing similar worries about postsecondary education. Rudenga also offers a variety of tips for classes of all levels, such as asking students to complete a survey on the syllabus to make learning about expectations more engaging and posing intriguing questions to introduce students to skills they should develop throughout the semester.

The University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management will host an international sports management program this Fall that is supported by the International Olympics Committee. According to CBC, UOttawa will be the first institution outside of Europe to host the program in its 30-year history. The Executive Master’s in Sport Organization Management program helps professionals working in national and international sports organizations to further develop the skills and knowledge in management best practices. UOttawa will offer the English version of the program, which is also available in French and Spanish.