February 17, 2026

Journal de Québec has released its 2026 edition of the cégep rankings. The publication released the top five cégeps according to their performance in different program areas and—new this year—on the uniform French exam. The cégeps that performed best in each of these sub-rankings were Cégep Champlain à Saint-Lambert (Arts and communication), Cégep de l’Outaouais (Engineering Techniques), Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup (Education and Social Services), Cégep de Sorel-Tracy (French Exam; Natural Sciences), Collège d’Alma (Humanities), and Vanier College (Administration, Nursing, and IT).

Canada’s postsecondary funding model must be adjusted to preserve the affordability and quality of the country’s postsecondary education, writes University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Benarroch explains that Canadian universities—and especially those in Manitoba—have been able to offer low tuition fees and high-quality education through constrained spending and a reliance on international student tuition. Now, institutions across Canada like UManitoba are facing a new reality due to international student policy changes. Benarroch calls for a gradual adjustment to tuition, paired with robust financial aid, to help maintain affordability while preserving Canadian educational quality. “If we fail to respond now — honestly, pragmatically, and with courage — we risk weakening Canada’s most powerful engines of growth, innovation, and social mobility,” writes Benarroch.

Statistics Canada has released an analysis of the employment income and mobility of newly certified journeypersons. According to 2023 data, median employment income rose by 1.8% from 2022 levels, with the greatest increases noted among agricultural equipment technicians (10.1%), heavy-duty equipment technicians (7.5%), and truck and transport mechanics (6.8%). They also note that four provinces saw declines in median income: New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. StatCan noted that mobility of journeypersons increased to 6% after facing steady declines from 2014 to 2020. Journeypersons were most commonly migrating from Alberta, while British Columbia and Ontario were the top migration destinations.

Students in Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Electronic Systems Engineering Technology (ESET) program are expressing frustration after being told their program will move from Saskatoon to Regina in the Fall. Global News reports that this change will affect approximately 15 first-year students. Students told CBC that it would be difficult for them to move to another city, due to their current family and financial circumstances. Sask Polytech Faculty of Technology and Skilled Trades Dean Brenda Suru said in an email that the move will support efficiency and enhance student learning opportunities.

A new Master of Medical Foundations program at the University of Guelph will better prepare students for medical school with cadaver dissections, in-depth anatomy studies, and small-group lab learning. Launching in June, the three-semester program is intended for students who wish to pursue medical school or other health care professions. UoGuelph Associate Professor Dr Danielle Bentley told CTV News that only one quarter of medical programs in Canada have students leading cadaveric dissections, which means that many medical students are missing the strong foundational knowledge and skills that they need in a clinical setting. “I think the big consequences are it’s going to impact patient care,” said Bentley.

Several Canadian universities have signed memoranda of understanding with Indian partners following the recent delegation to India. The University of Fraser Valley and Panjab University will create a Bachelor of Business Administration dual degree program, which will see eligible Panjab University students completing their third and fourth year at UFV. A similar agreement between York University and Chitkara University will allow Computer Science students to graduate from YorkU following the completion of their last two years of study there. The University of Windsor and Anant National University also signed a five-year partnership MOU focused on joint climate action research, student exchanges, and co-creation of sustainability curricula.

Dalhousie University and the German maritime defense technology company TKMS have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. As part of the agreement, Dal will become a partner in the TKMS Canadian Defence and Dual-Use Innovation Ecosystem, which was launched earlier in the month with Western University. “We believe this initiative has significant potential to translate research excellence into national sovereignty and long-term public and economic benefit for Nova Scotia and Canada,” said Dal VP, Research and Innovation Dr Graham Gagnon.

The Fédération des cégeps is warning that cégeps’ budget shortfall is expected to worsen if the Government of Quebec does not increase their funding in the next budget. Fédération president Marie Montpetit told Radio-Canada that student enrolment growth and wage increases will result in a 6% increase to costs. Université du Québec à Rimouski professor Martin Maltais emphasized the seriousness of the situation by stating that insufficient investments in young people today will have long-term effects on tax income in the future.

In a recent article for Inside Higher Ed, Gabriel Proulx (Athabasca University) discusses how institutions can ensure that the faculty hiring process is fairer for candidates with autism. Proulx explains that while campus visits are considered an opportunity for candidates to showcase themselves, in practice, they often serve as “social auditions” that can pose an insurmountable barrier for some academics. The author discusses how candidates with autism can be disadvantaged by standard interview formats. Written formats, writes Proulx, can give candidates with autism an opportunity to answer questions without an “unnecessary social filter.” “[T]he academy should be in the business of hiring those who can research, teach and think in transformative ways, whether they have mastered small talk and eye contact or not,” writes Proulx.

Several universities have shared announcements about new and renewed learning spaces. Dalhousie University has opened the Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Clinic, where students can gain hands-on experience while providing patients with care. At the University of Calgary, the newly named ABB Undergraduate Power Engineering Lab will give students more opportunities to learn with modern, industry-grade equipment. The space was upgraded with nearly $150K worth of equipment from ABB Canada. The University of Saskatchewan has launched the Engineering Design Mutualism Laboratory. The lab is designed to be an inviting, inclusive space for interdisciplinary work to take place.