Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • ON

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)—which represents more than 45,000 college faculty and support staff—is calling on the Government of Ontario to provide a $1.4B emergency infusion to stabilize the college system. Speaking to CBC, OPSEU President JP Hornick commented on the recent programming cuts at colleges that have been coupled with staffing losses: “These are good jobs in the communities, but more than that, we are actually training the workers in these sectors that Ontario needs.” She added that the union has been raising concerns about the college system’s lack of funding for years. The College Student Alliance is also calling for ON’s political parties to ensure that their election platforms prioritize postsecondary funding.

 

CBC, Newswire

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • BC

Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia have each received $2.5M in PacifiCan funding from the Government of Canada. Both institutions will use the funding to expand their accelerator programs: SFU will use this funding to expand its VentureLabs’ business acceleration program, while UBC will grow the Creative Destruction Lab – Vancouver’s accelerator program. This investment is part of a larger $17M investment from PacifiCan to help BC businesses in sectors such as the life sciences, clean technology, and construction scale up their operations.

Canada (Release), Canada (Backgrounder)

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • ON

Fanshawe College is reportedly projecting a $35M deficit this year and a $60M deficit next year, as a result of declining international student enrolment. In a video released to staff, Fanshawe President Peter Devlin shared that the college recorded a 41% decline in Level 1 international enrolment for the winter semester and that another 45% drop is expected for the summer. CBC reports that Fanshawe is anticipating layoffs and program cuts in the near future.

CBC (1), CBC (2), CTV News, The London Free Press

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • AB

The University of Calgary’s Faculty of Science has launched a Science Communicator in Residence program that will teach scientists how to engage with diverse audiences. Dr Mary Anne Moser is the inaugural Science Communicator in Residence. “As scientists, we are taught that the facts speak for themselves and to keep our personalities out of it, just like how we write academic papers,” said Moser. “To be good science communicators, we have to unlearn some of that so that we can relate to our audience as storytellers.” The program’s webinars and resources will be made available to the UCalgary’s community.

UCalgary

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • ON, QC

Queen’s University, Université du Québec à Montréal, and the University of Ottawa have each reached tentative agreements with unions on their respective campuses. The agreement between Queen’s and the CUPE Locals 229, 254, and 1302—which represent over 1,000 tradespeople, technicians, library workers, and caretakers across campus—prevents a strike that was planned for February. Similarly, at UQAM, the Syndicat des professeures et professeur enseignants de UQAM has cancelled an indefinite strike that would have affected 2,100 lecturers. UOttawa and the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa also settled on a tentative deal: If members accept the agreement at a vote later this month, this will avert a potential strike.

Queen’s, Business Wire (Queen’s), Le Journal de Montréal (UQAM), The Fulcrum (UOttawa)

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • International

Full inclusion involves helping students navigate the hidden curriculum that shapes their learning experiences, argue Duncan Cross (Arden University) and Brian Smith (Arden). Cross and Smith write that cultural norms and values, as well as “unspoken rules” and expectations, can create additional barriers for some students. The authors advise educators to coordinate their efforts to create a sense of belonging, share discipline-specific practices, make “hidden curriculum” knowledge available to students, and provide a “map” to help students navigate academic and professional expectations. They also discuss how students may encounter similar barriers during work placements, explaining that both employers and educators are responsible for ensuring students can fully participate in work placements.

University World News

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • QC

The Centre national intégré du manufacturier intelligent (CNIMI)—an initiative led by Cégep Drummond and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières—has received over $915K from the Government of Québec’s PROMPT to accelerate digital transformation within QC’s manufacturing industry. By bringing together technical and scientific expertise in engineering and management, CNIMI will support small- and medium-sized enterprises sustainably integrate AI tools into their operations. CNIMI will help these enterprises assess their needs, develop experimental designs, and collect business data using AI.

UQTR

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • BC

In a recent article for The Conversation, Edward R Howe (Thompson Rivers University), Surbhi Sagar, and Athira Pushpamgathan discuss the findings of an ongoing longitudinal research study at TRU on the experiences of international students in Canada. Howe, Sagar, and Pushpamgathan write that the study’s latest findings revealed that international students are facing major challenges in housing and finances. However, compared to 2016, fewer students reported that they had experienced racism on campus in 2024. The students also shared their perspectives on “internationalization,” discussing cross-cultural exchange, mutual learning and community building, and personal growth. The authors conclude by emphasizing the importance of considering the perspectives of international students and addressing the challenges they encounter.

The Conversation

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • SK

The University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business is launching an enhanced curriculum for its Master of Business Administration (MBA) program. The new curriculum includes revised versions of some courses and introduces three new courses: Principles of Indigenous Business and Engagement in Canada, Digital Transformation, and Financial Analysis. USask Edwards School Acting Dean Dr Marjorie Delbaere explained that these changes stem from a comprehensive review and extensive consultations with stakeholders. “What we have discovered is that people see value in many aspects of our current MBA program, including small class sizes and modular format, but there are also a few opportunities for us to capitalize on opportunities for growth in the program,” said Delbaere.

USask

Top Ten News

Feb 04, 2025 • QC

Campus debates over the conflict in Gaza remain heated on university campuses in Québec—including at Concordia University and McGill University—despite the recent ceasefire, reports CBC. At McGill, protesters reportedly put up banners and spilled red paint on a skating rink after the ceasefire was announced. At a recent Special General Meeting, the Concordia Student Union voted in favour of a motion to bring Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions before the Concordia Board of Governors. In a statement, Concordia President Graham Carr said that these kinds of boycott campaigns “are contrary to the value of academic freedom upon which all universities are founded.” Additionally, Carr referenced reports of masked individuals, discriminatory behaviour, and intimidation tactics at the union meeting, condemning this as behaviour that is “unacceptable on campus and contravenes our policies.”

Concordia, CBC (Video)