February 14, 2023

SCALE AI has announced a “record-breaking” financing round with $117M invested into 15 AI projects. The projects involve Canadian postsecondary institutions such as Concordia University, Dalhousie University, Université Laval, and York University, which will be working in collaboration with industry. Federal Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne stated that SCALE AI is “creating highly skilled jobs, a more resilient supply chain, and enabling companies to be more efficient and competitive” by supporting the Canadian AI sector.

The Government of Quebec has announced a $54M investment into fighting sexual violence on postsecondary campuses. Institutions will use the funds to hire specialists and implement “one-stop shops” on campuses to support victims, conduct research on sexual violence in institutions, and engage with partners who can support safe development for high-risk areas within institutions. This investment marks a $25M increase from the last budget, and this increase was reportedly spurred by recent reports of high rates of sexual violence experienced by QC cégep, college, and university students.

Canadian universities and officials are preparing to welcome back Chinese students who will be coming back to study in person, reports The Canadian Press. The Chinese government has reportedly ordered students who have been taking online classes at foreign institutions while residing in China to return to their campuses abroad. The Canadian Press reports that the Chinese Ministry of Education has said that students who do not return to foreign campuses this semester will not have their qualifications recognized in the Chinese job market or endorsed by the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange.

Toronto Metropolitan University’s Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst has announced that is piloting a cybersecurity training program for Ukrainians living in Ukraine. TMU, the Ukraine-based Information Systems Security Partners, and the Government of Ukraine are collaborating on the program in order to provide Ukrainians whose previous employment was disrupted by the war with foundational cybersecurity training. Ukrainians who participate in the program will graduate with an internationally recognized cybersecurity certification. The program aims to support Ukraine by building the technology sector and contributing to economic reconstruction.

Concordia University and Kiuna College have established a transfer agreement that will foster the next generation of Indigenous filmmakers. Graduates of Kiuna’s First Nations Languages and Indigenous Cinema programs will now be able to transfer credits toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia. The partnership aims to remove barriers to Indigenous representation in cinema and enable Indigenous filmmakers to hone their skills and voices. “Through this partnership, we hope to encourage a new generation of creators,” said Kiuna Director Prudence Hannis. “It is our hope that Kiuna will become a natural conduit for young Indigenous students who are passionate about the world of film.”

Postsecondary institutions across the United States are updating their curricula to address climate change in a way that inspires students to take small actions rather than be overwhelmed by fear writes Katherine Mangan. Mangan discusses how climate change is being woven throughout curricula in a variety of departments across the US, emphasizing the need for all fields of study to touch on the topic. She provides examples of the strategies faculty are using to teach about climate change and how to respond, such as holding faculty brainstorming sessions and offering curriculum redesign tips and resources for faculty.

The University of Saskatchewan has launched a two-year pilot program that will connect Indigenous students with STEM mentorship. Indigenous students who participate in the Indigenous Student Achievement Pathways (ISAP) STEM+ program will have access to mentorship and work experiences that will help them build their resumes and prepare for their future careers. Their ISAP STEM+ experiences will also be documented on their Co-Curricular Record. “STEM+ students will be coached to identify transferable skills they’ve learned in those workplace experiences, which they can bring back to campus to apply as academic assets in their programs,” said ISAP team lead Dr Sandy Bonny.

North Island College has announced the Island Pre-Health Science program, which will provide students with a pathway to university-level medical and health science programs. The program will enable students to stay local while they prepare for a professional degree in areas such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, health science research, and more. “The curriculum is designed to provide a holistic understanding of health science and issues unique to rural, remote communities [and combines] foundational science courses with social scientific approaches, Indigenous ways of knowing and, a community-learning strategy,” said NIC faculty of arts, science & management dean Dr Neil Cruickshank.

The University of Manitoba and the Univeristy of Manitoba Students’ Union have launched a pilot project to provide free menstrual products in campus washrooms. The products will be available in eight bathrooms at the Fort Garry campus and one bathroom each at the Bannatyne and William Norrie campuses. “This pilot program and the work of the UM Food Bank are key to ensuring that students have access to personal hygiene products and non-perishable food during these challenging times,” said UManitoba Vice-Provost (Students) Laurie Schnarr. “We want students to thrive at the University of Manitoba and these initiatives are examples of our commitment to addressing barriers to student success.”

Northern College is reflecting on its history with the unveiling of a wall of photographed portraits and the launch of a special book about the college’s history. The wall of portraits depicts the eight presidents who have led the college since its founding in 1967. “There’s a lot of history and vision embodied on that wall,” said past Northern president Fred Gibbons. “We’re coming up on our 60-year anniversary, and it’s been the brainchild of those individuals and executed by a great staff at the college, as well.” My Kapuskasing Now reports that the college has also published a book called “Follow Your North Star: The Northern College Story” that includes 60 years’ worth of pictures and content that encompasses all campuses and programs.