December 18, 2025

Researchers from Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia have received $33M from the Government of British Columbia for four projects under Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH). CIEBH is a consortium of partners focused on start-to-finish drug development for Canada. The funds will support four projects out of SFU and UBC: the advanced therapeutics manufacturing facility (ATMF), the AVENGER project that seeks to create a flexible vaccine library; the PROGENITER project focused on antibody treatments; and the Bridge Research Consortium focused on vaccine and immune-supporting innovations. UBC broke ground this week on The Edge, a six-storey building that will house the ATMF project when it is completed.

Red River College Polytechnic will expand its applied research capacity thanks to a $3.3M investment from Prairies Economic Development Canada. The investment will be used to establish the Innovation Garage, a space where academic researchers and industry partners will work on heavy equipment and vehicle (HEV) research and development. The project will establish a space for applied industrial-scale collaborative research and HEV development, a microgrid lab, and a hydrogen and fuel cell lab. It will also support RRC Polytech’s Clean Technology and Advanced Manufacturing program. “[T]his investment provides the technology, expertise, and collaborative space needed to innovate quickly and efficiently,” said RRC Polytech President Fred Meier.

To help trades students better understand plumbing code, SAIT Instructor Fred Bretzke transformed the 2020 National Plumbing Code appendix into a series of computer animation videos. Using computer equipment, digital tools, and AI voice programs, he created 65 animations and eight holograms from the existing code appendix articles. The animations, which he uploaded to YouTube, are intended to serve as teaching tools for trades instructors. “Trades are very visually oriented,” explained Bretzke. “Seeing things in 3D helps expedite learning and makes everything more accessible to the student.” Bretzke’s next immersive teaching project is “SAIT City,” a 3D set of commercial and residential buildings that could be used to teach multiple trades.

CampusNB has partnered with the national digital credential network MyCreds / Mes Certif. This partnership will bring access to secure, portable digital academic records to postsecondary institutions across New Brunswick. Learners will have improved access to their academic records, empowering them in their academic and career transitions. “Connecting our province’s postsecondary students with their credentials, while building a state-of-the-art network of interconnected institutions, makes for a richer and more meaningful experience in New Brunswick’s educational landscape,” noted CampusNB Co-Chair and St Thomas University Provost and VP (Academic and Research) Dr Kim Fenwick. With this partnership, NB reportedly becomes the second province in Canada with 100% adoption of the MyCreds network.

Humber Polytechnic has released a new Indigenous Education Plan called Biskaabiiyang: Returning to Ourselves, Reimagining the Future. The plan is shaped by four interconnected pathways: Being (Transforming), Knowing (Embedding), Relating (Sustaining), and Doing (Evolving). “Together, these pathways remind us that reconciliation is not a single act – it’s a continuous process of learning, unlearning, and reimagining,” said Humber Dean of Indigenous Education and Engagement Elijah Williams. “It calls on us to transform who we are, deepen what we know, strengthen how we relate and take meaningful action.”

A new article for Inside Higher Ed explores the methods several educators are using to reduce student reliance on AI tools. “For so long, online courses have been the same old, same old—essays and multiple choice questions,” said MIT Assistant Director of Instructional Design Luke Hobson. Hobson proposes using other assessment methods, including oral assessments or video journals where students discuss their learning, as well having students critique generative AI output. While it may not be possible to stop students from accessing AI, there are ways to limit the tools’ usefulness, argue Deakin University PhD Candidate Leon Furze and Boston College Professor Carlo Rotella. Furze suggests drawing on hands-on projects, while Rotella shared how he structures his classes to be discussion-based and device-free so that only students in attendance would know the context of assessments.

Confederation College has launched the Canerector Foundation Scholars Program, which will provide financial awards to 20 students annually. The scholarships will be limited to those who are enrolled in eligible trades programs, with five reserved each year for Indigenous students. The program also includes a mentorship component to facilitate networking and leadership skill development. The program was created through a $500K investment from the Canerector Foundation. “[This investment] allows us to provide meaningful financial support, mentorship, and recognition to students who will go on to shape the future of our workforce,” said Confederation President Michelle Salo.

Concordia University’s Board of Governors has given its approval to several programming changes. Pending the approval of Québec’s higher education ministry, Concordia’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science will offer two new degree programs in the 2026-2027 academic year: a Bachelor of Engineering in Cybersecurity Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. The university has also announced that it will be offering a certificate program version of its recently created Minor in Black and African Diaspora Studies in the Canadian Context in response to broad interest in the program. Finally, Concordia’s Minor in Data Intelligence will be updated with a new name (Minor in Business Analytics) and new course content to better reflect industry and make the program more appealing.

A King’s University College student has reportedly been arrested and charged with three counts of uttering threats of death or bodily harm. The student reportedly compiled a list of other men’s names while sitting in a common area at King’s and mentioned to others nearby that the list referenced “individuals that he wished to kill.” Two reported the threats to a local staff member; no injuries were reported. “The safety and well-being of our students, staff and community is our top priority, and once the situation was brought to our attention, King’s acted immediately and worked closely with the Western Special Constable Service and the London Police Service to ensure campus safety,” stated King’s spokesperson Chantal Quagliara. Additional supports have been made available to students affected by the incident.

Points for School Inc and the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation (CST) have partnered to enable Canadians to use their loyalty points to fund a CST Spark Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). “Everyone is feeling the financial pinch these days, so this new option allows parents a way to preserve their cash while still funding their children’s future education,” said Points for School CEO Suzanne Tyson. Family and friends are able to redeem their loyalty points for an education credit, which can then be transferred into the RESP.