December 2, 2024

Mount Royal University and the University of Waterloo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the creation of a new school of optometry in Alberta, which would be the first in Western Canada. This MOU seeks to address the increasing demand for vision care, focusing especially on better addressing ocular and systemic diseases that are prevalent among rural and Indigenous communities. “What’s unique about this initiative is the recognition that a partnership model leveraging the respective strengths of two reputable institutions with aligned values may be the key to recruiting a diverse optometry student body including talented candidates from underrepresented groups,” said UWaterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science Director Dr Stanley Woo.

HEC Montréal and the Institute for Data Valorization (IVADO) have partnered to integrate AI expertise into MBA training. Through the partnership agreement, HEC MBA students will participate in AI-related consultation projects with companies based in Québec. “This is a unique opportunity in the country,” said HEC MBA Program Director Kevin Johnson. “Students will receive cutting-edge training on the different facets of leadership roles and make an impact on AI-focused companies, while acquiring experience in this field.”

McMaster University’s Global Nexus has received $4M from the Government of Canada to establish the Centre for Collaborative Chemistry. Once operational, the centre will support the university’s research in drug discovery and development and bolster similar work conducted by small and medium-sized enterprises. This investment will allow McMaster to purchase new equipment, hire more staff, create additional industry partnerships, and develop experiential learning opportunities for students. “This transformational support […] will catalyze new collaborations between academic and external partners and create a cutting-edge experiential training environment that will ensure that we have a robust pipeline of highly skilled workers to meet the needs of our growing life sciences sector,” said McMaster Global Nexus Executive Director Matthew Miller.

In an article for Times Higher Education, Daniel Diermeier (Vanderbilt University) writes that it is “time for universities to build more bridges” between the liberal arts and technological fields. Diermeier asserts that a liberal arts education yields the skills and knowledge that benefit both employers and broader society. However, he argues that the liberal arts can “no longer be technology-free zones” if they are to remain relevant, as students must understand the fundamentals of topics such as data analytics and computing to thrive in society. He concludes by stating that higher education must offer all students–no matter their focus–an education that is as holistic and multifaceted as the world they will graduate into.

The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Applied Science is collaborating with Seaspan Shipyards to introduce a faculty chair position that focuses on marine innovation in robotics and autonomy. The position is held between UBC’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Seaspan will provide $1M over five years for the chair; UBC will match this investment through its President’s Academic Excellence Initiative. The chair will be held by Dr Adrien Desjardins, whose research specializes in novel sensing method development, machine learning, and autonomous robotic platforms. Desjardins will focus on developing new solutions for autonomously inspecting marine vessels and monitoring the environment.

Seven Generations Education Institute has unveiled the new name for its main campus: Rainy Lake Campus. The institute renamed the campus following SGEI Board meetings discussing the importance of Indigenous self-determination. The campus is built on Agency One lands, which are held in common by the Agency One First Nations of Couchiching, Mitaanjigamiing, Naicatchewenin, and Nigigoonsiminikaaning. “By referring to our building as the Rainy Lake Campus, we’re not only paying homage to the beautiful Rainy Lake, we’re also honouring the fact that we are sitting on Agency One lands,” said SGEI CEO Brent Tookenay.

Last week, protesters occupied Dalhousie University’s Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building for about 40 hours. The group entered the building on Tuesday to attend a Board of Governors meeting, during which Dal Student Union President Mariam Knakriah proposed a motion urging the university to sever financial ties with Israel. After the motion failed, approximately 30 students remained in the building overnight and throughout Wednesday, leaving on Thursday “on their own terms,” according to The Coast. The university closed the building for the remainder of the week. Dal President Kim Brooks said that the university would “continue to monitor campus activity and restore spaces to their original state.”

North Island College, the Kapi‘olani Community College in Hawai‘i, and Universidad de Colima in Mexico are collaborating on an intercultural learning opportunity. Students from the three institutions will study environmental issues in the global context and share the findings of their respective projects with their partner classes in early 2025. Three NIC Indigenous Leadership students are supporting the class and will have the opportunity to travel to Hawai’i to meet their counterparts from the other institutions.

Redeemer University has launched a Bachelor of Health Sciences program. This new degree follows an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on fields such as biology, public health, and sociology. Graduates will be prepared for career paths in sectors such as policy, health care, and research. “Offering the new bachelor of health sciences will provide a competitive option for Christian students looking to enter careers in health fields,” said Redeemer Associate Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Dr Edward Berkelaar. “Integrating faith into the bachelor of health sciences will prepare students to reflect the love of Jesus Christ in these in-demand careers.”

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology has been selected by the National Culinary Federation to assemble and coach the next team of junior chefs who will represent the country in international competitions. NAIT will take over the training of the team for the next four years, including by leading them to the 2026 World Culinary Cup in Luxembourg and the 2028 IKA Culinary Olympics in Germany. Recruitment is currently underway for a team of eight junior chefs, who will be led by three NAIT culinary instructors: Troy Lymburner, Nigel Webber, and Enrico Caparas.