December 7, 2023

Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2024 recently released its national list of top employers, as well as for several regions in Ontario. Several postsecondary institutions were listed as leading employers in their respective regions. In the National Top 100, four universities appeared: Carleton University, Simon Fraser University, Université de Montréal, and the University of New Brunswick. In Greater Toronto, six institutions appeared: Centennial College, Durham College, George Brown College, Humber College, Seneca Polytechnic, and the University of Toronto. In the Hamilton-Niagara region, Brock University, McMaster University, Mohawk College, and Niagara College Canada were included among the leaders, while in the Waterloo region, Wilfrid Laurier University was listed as a top employer.

The Government of Saskatchewan has invested $5M to reserve 149 seats in health sciences programs outside the province. With this funding, SK renewed interprovincial agreements to reserve seats in cardiovascular perfusion, diagnostic medical sonography, electroneurophysiology, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine technology, occupational therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, and respiratory therapy; as well as establishing a new agreement for speech-language pathology. “These agreements allow Saskatchewan students to complete their clinical placements here at home, connecting students to jobs in the province and helping meet critical health care system needs,” said SK Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant.

The Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC) has released a discussion of the financial and employment outcomes identified through its 2023 Middle-Years Student Survey. The survey involved 29 universities and almost 12,000 students across Canada. The survey found that the proportion of middle-years students who work while attending university has risen by 6% since 2014, with the average hours worked increasing to 18 per week. The proportion of students relying on their family as a source of funding for postsecondary education has trended downward, while the proportion of students receiving university scholarships and awards has trended upward. Students reported lower levels of debt than in past survey years: In 2014, the average student with debt owed just over $26K, while in 2023, the average student with debt owed about $21K. CUSC noted that the proportion of middle year students who agree that a university degree is worth the cost has declined by 14% since 2014 to 51% in 2023.

The University of Guelph physics department has partnered with community education program Royal City Science to unveil a new inflatable planetarium. This portable, seven-metre dome will be transported to local schools and community events to educate individuals about Canadian space missions and inspire young people to pursue an education in the sciences. UoGuelph and Royal City Science will also work alongside Cree Elder William Buck of the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre to develop resources related to Indigenous moon and star lore teachings. The planetarium was funded by donations from the estate of Jim Stevens and the Canadian Space Agency youth STEM initiatives.

The food bank at the University of Manitoba is reporting an increased number of students seeking help to put food on the table. Food bank coordinator Mauricio Munoz said that the food bank used to provide food to around 100-200 students per month; that has risen to over 600 students each month. Global News reports that the food bank is providing students with groceries once a month and connections to other resources if necessary. Munoz said that with help from other students who volunteer at the food bank, the food bank has increased its number of donations and increased awareness about the food bank’s situation.

In a recent opinion piece for the Chronicle of Higher Ed, Alex O Holcombe (University of Sydney) argues that preventive measures must be taken to tackle the problem of data fabrication and fraud in academia. Holcombe explains that, when fraudulent data is discovered, vast amounts of academic expertise and university resources are subsequently deployed to audit, retract, and correct said data. The author asserts that universities and colleges should invest in good data management and record keeping practices as preventative measures against fraud with the support of software developers and applications. “If we want science to be something that society can still trust,” concludes Holcombe, “we must embrace good data management.”

York University’s Schulich ExecEd has partnered with the Ontario Municipal Administrators Association (OMAA) to launch a Chief Administrative Officer Leadership program. This five-day hybrid program will help government administrators develop leadership skills to support elected officials and implement council policies. Schulich ExecEd Executive Director Rami Mayer explained that upskilling and reskilling within municipalities is an important step in helping local governments adapt to the evolving challenges and opportunities of today. “This partnership recognizes this need, equipping participants with essential business skills and acumen, as well as providing a clear pathway for leadership success in municipal governance,” said Mayer. The first cohort will be welcomed in April 2024.

The University of British Columbia’s Centre for Gambling Research has received a renewed investment of $1.4M from the Government of British Columbia and the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC). The funds will support research focused on reducing the potential harms associated with gambling. “This ongoing collaboration plays a pivotal role in advancing our shared knowledge of gambling psychology and mitigating the potential risks associated with it,” said UBC Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dr Clare Haru Crowston.

The PIE News reports that SpacesShared and guard.me have partnered to increase the amount of available student housing in Canada through the practice of homesharing. The partners will co-develop new products and complete research on housing issues, and SpacesShared will expand its team and enhance its technology. The partnership will support homesharing, where older adults rent their spare bedrooms to students; this will provide adults with a way to age in place and give students access to affordable housing.

A boil water advisory has been issued for the area served by Nova Scotia Community College’s Marconi campus, which includes the NSCC Marconi campus and Cape Breton University. Results early this week tested positive for total coliform, leading to a boil water order for any activity requiring human consumption. Saltwire reports that NSCC is currently investigating the cause of the water’s contamination and following standard procedures for its treatment. NSCC has clarified that the advisory will be lifted as soon as it receives two successive clear reports and approval from the Government of Nova Scotia’s Department of Environment and Climate Change.