February 18, 2025

The First Nations Education Council (FNEC) has signed a framework agreement with all Québec universities to lay the foundations for the House of Knowledge (Maison des savoirs), the first university teaching establishment in Québec made by and for Indigenous peoples. Under this agreement, FNEC and the universities will draft and present a business plan for the establishment by 2027. They will focus on shaping a curriculum that facilitates face-to-face and online learning while ensuring cultural safety for Indigenous students. The partners will also put measures in place to enhance access to higher education among Indigenous peoples, including through the recognition of prior learning and transition programs.  

The Université Laval, the Université de Sherbrooke, and the Governing Council of the University of Toronto have received funding from the Government of Canada to support the research, development, and demonstration of carbon capture and storage technologies. U of T’s project will collect $2.5M to leverage low-cost, renewable, electric direct air capture removal processes. ULaval will receive $600K to conduct research on solid absorbents for direct air capture applications, while USherbrooke will receive $500K to improve cryogenic technology for the development of a supersonic carbon capture process. This funding is part of a larger $10.8M federal investment through the Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Research, Development, and Demonstration call for proposals.

The University of Calgary’s Faculty of Nursing will introduce a new admissions process to diversify the cohort of candidates admitted to the program. Starting in Fall 2026, the Faculty of Nursing will change to a lottery admissions process, in which applicants who have an overall average of 82% and have completed all required courses will be selected using a computerized system during different times in the admission cycle. “Expanding the admission criteria will open the degree to more qualified, excellent applicants who may currently be self-selecting out given the unnecessarily high admission average we currently have,” said UCalgary Faculty of Nursing Interim Dean Dr Catherine Laing.

Aurora College’s new mandate agreement with the Government of Northwest Territories will prioritize the college’s transformation into a polytechnic university. Under the 2025-2028 Aurora College Mandate Agreement, Aurora’s identity as a polytechnic university will launch in 2027. Becoming a polytechnic university will enable the institution to create opportunities for students, strengthen the workforce, and drive economic growth. “The agreement reinforces the direction the College has been taking to transform into an effective, efficient, and sustainable polytechnic university that supports the needs of learners, communities, and the Northern labour market,” said Aurora Board of Governors Chair Joseph Handley. Other priorities outlined in the mandate agreement include strengthening governance, improving infrastructure, and enhancing connections.

Thanks to a $5M investment from the Government of Canada, the University of Waterloo will create the Consortium for Sustainable Scale-up in Metal Additive Manufacturing. This project will build upon the success of UWaterloo’s Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Lab and bring Canadian businesses together to drive innovation in Ontario’s advanced manufacturing sector. The consortium will focus on three areas: clean economic growth, accelerating scale-up of partner industries’ production, and training. As part of this funding, UWaterloo will also develop a series of online and in-person advanced industry training programs focused on upskilling to address the need for skilled engineers in the Canadian workforce.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has launched the “Make It Excellent in the Skilled Trades” campaign, which encourages youth and underemployed people to complete an apprenticeship so that they can pursue careers in the skilled trades. This campaign highlights how a career in the skilled trades offers rewarding opportunities, good pay, and job stability in the province. It also underlines how apprenticeship programs can help students earn money as they gain experience alongside mentors and journeypersons. Promotional material includes testimonials from local apprentices and journeypersons and information about the supports available to help under- and unemployed individuals complete a pre-employment training program.

The University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business has received $3M from Clio to fund the Powerhouse Project. This gift will fund a space within the forthcoming Powerhouse building where students, faculty, and industry leaders can collaborate on new solutions and ventures. The space will host Sauder Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship initiatives and support experiential learning with workshops, seminars, and accelerators. It will also host the nonprofit Creative Destruction Lab – Vancouver (CDL-Vancouver). “By bringing together students, faculty, and industry leaders, we’re creating an environment that empowers startups to scale and creating opportunities for both students and entrepreneurs to address the challenges that matter to our communities,” said CDL-Vancouver Executive Director and UBC Adjunct Professor Darrell Kopke.

In a recent episode of the Illuminations podcast, Christine Brooks-Cappadocia (York University) discusses the impact of Canada’s changing international student system on continuing education (CE) divisions. She highlights how the rapid rate of federal policy change has introduced significant administrative burdens for CE divisions as they race to track new requirements and assist anxious students. Brooks-Cappadocia underlines that because of these changes, some international students are pursuing studies in other countries, which ultimately hurts Canada’s economy by limiting the pipeline of skilled workers. She recommends that CE divisions double-down on providing student support, strengthen employer partnerships to ensure that programs align with industry needs, and work with community agencies to ensure smoother pathways for international talent.

Recent stories out of the University of Manitoba and Simon Fraser University have highlighted the importance of social connection. A recent CBC article documents how the UManitoba’s commuter campus and the effects of the pandemic have shifted socialization habits. UManitoba Students’ Union President Divya Sharma commented that the community is now seeing the consequences of starting the university experience during quarantine. UManitoba Student Isham Sharma encouraged peers to find connection within the university’s clubs and student groups. SFU Assistant Professor Kiffer Card led a network of Canadian experts in the development of a set of public health guidelines to help individuals and communities foster social connection. “By prioritizing social connection, we can combat the rising mental health crises, reduce health-care costs, and build a more resilient and cohesive society,” said Card.

The BC Coroners Service has announced that it will complete a coroner’s inquest into the death of a University of Victoria student, who passed away from fentanyl poisoning in a dorm room in 2024. UVic released a statement welcoming the inquest, adding: “We know there is more work to do, and we’re committed to the work ahead.” The coroner’s inquest, in addition to the independent review announced last year, will inform the actions we take to further strengthen our approach to overdose prevention and response.” The public inquest will start in April and will aim to determine the facts of the death, make recommendations, and ensure public confidence.