February 05, 2026

Alberta University of the Arts has kicked off celebrations for its centennial year. Earlier in the week, the university held an event to launch the centennial year and install President Dr Janis Goldie. This event marked the beginning of a year of initiatives focused on celebrating the centennial and engaging the broader community, including a call for alumni to share their stories and an exhibition honouring the university’s history. “AUArts has always been defined by creativity, courage and community,” said AU Arts President Dr Janis Goldie. “Together, we are building a future that supports artists, designers and craftspeople as leaders, innovators and changemakers.”

The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer has announced that it is awarding $1.94M in funding for 27 projects across Ontario postsecondary institutions. ONCAT President Adrienne Galway explained that these projects “will develop effective practices that can be replicated across postsecondary institutions, rapidly expanding the options for learners to earn postsecondary credentials, pivot career directions, and transition to the labour market.” Projects include a multi-university network of language courses, piloting new bridging pathways between engineering technology and engineering programs, and reducing barriers to postsecondary programs through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.

ResearchNB has announced the disbursement of $1.5M in funding for five research projects in priority sectors. Four University of New Brunswick teams received funding for projects in areas such as health and aquatic ecosystems. Northern Hardwoods Research Institute, which is a partnership between the province’s forest companies, the Université de Moncton, and the federal and provincial government, received funding to study mixed and hardwood forest management. “These projects reflect the important work being done by researchers across our province and highlight how research contributes to stronger communities, a skilled workforce, and a more sustainable future for New Brunswick,” said NB Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Training Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours.

Algonquin College has officially opened the Pìwànak — Algonquin Centre for Science and Innovation. Students will gain hands-on training through learning experiences in this new advanced laboratory space. It includes biosafety level 2 labs and chemistry labs, an analytical instrumentation lab, and research labs that will support projects in bio sciences and environmental monitoring. “We are transforming how learners engage with science and our research community,” said Algonquin Senior VP, Academic Dr Julie Beauchamp. “By working in advanced analytical instrumentation suites, biosafety level 2 labs and applied research environments, learners don’t just study science, they practice it.”

TIME has published its inaugural World’s Top Universities ranking, which includes several Canadian universities. The ranking includes universities that are at least three years old, have more than 2,000 students enrolled, and offer bachelor’s degree programs. These institutions were scored according to metrics in the areas of academic capacity and performance, innovation and economic impact, and global engagement. Five universities from Canada appeared in the top 100: the University of Toronto (#26), the University of British Columbia (#34), the University of Alberta (#75), McMaster University (#92), and the University of Calgary (#97).

Ontario Tech University has broken ground on a new on-campus residence that will be constructed for Fall 2027. The Ridge will feature a modern design and will include 450 beds in its first phase. Long-term plans for the residence will see the building accommodate around 2,000 students. The building will be constructed through partnership with Campus Suites and Woodbourne, which will complete the project. “This new residence is a clear example of how we are building for the future,” said Ontario Tech VP, Administration Brad MacIsaac. “[W]e’re ensuring our students have the resources they need to thrive, while contributing to solutions for the province’s housing challenges.”

Memorial University Professor Gerard Curtis recently spoke to CBC about the university’s decision to sell the Harlow campus. Curtis lamented the sale of the property, explaining that while the sale does not mean that students will be unable to study abroad, their experiences will be different without the familiarity of Harlow. Memorial School of Fine Arts Dean Peter Ride said that the university’s study abroad offerings will continue on, adding that the university has other locations that students can go to in the UK and beyond. The last group of Memorial students will travel to Harlow in the Spring, reports CBC.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic and St Clair College have announced reductions to operations in response to the changing sector. At Sask Polytech, 23 full- and part-time employees have received layoff notices. The changes were made as a result of the international education landscape, which has influenced both international and domestic recruitment. St Clair is pausing enrolment in 21 programs in the upcoming school year. The programs put on pause include paramedic studies at the Chatham Campus, the greenhouse technician program, and the electric drive vehicle technician program.

St Thomas University Student Anna-Leah Simon, who is a member of Elsipogtog First Nation, created a video article about the concerns around the lack of stable funding for STU’s Aotiitj program. Simon explains that Aotiitj is a two-year university program that helps members of Elsipogtog to begin their university studies while staying in their community. Through interviews with other students, she shows how Aotiitj has helped members of the First Nation to pursue higher ed. The program is funded by the Indigenous Services Canada Post-Secondary Partnerships Program, but STU Aotiitj Coordinator Rob LeBlanc explains Indigenous Services Canada has cut or reduced funding for programs that include Aotiitj. LeBlanc calls for Indigenous Services Canada to provide stable annual funding to the program.

Lakehead University will be expanding the footprint of its STEM Hub satellite campus in downtown Barrie with the addition of a second hub location. Starting in Fall 2026, there will be two STEM Hub downtown locations: one on Maple Avenue and one on Ross Street. The Maple Avenue location will house research and teaching laboratories, while the Ross Street location will house flexible classrooms, active learning spaces, student services and social spaces, and graduate student offices. The Ross Street location currently houses Georgian College’s downtown campus, which will be moving to a new location in downtown Barrie.