January 21, 2026

The University of Regina will receive a total of $6.9M in funding and in-kind investments from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan to build the Small Modular Reactor Safety, Licensing, and Testing Centre. This facility will give researchers and businesses a space to develop, test, and deploy nuclear technologies. Industry and academic partners will be able to access two test loops that will simulate real-world SMR conditions. “Through strong partnerships, we are advancing nuclear research while training the next generation of highly skilled professionals who will help shape Saskatchewan’s clean-energy future,” said URegina President Dr Jeff Keshen.

Several Canadian postsecondary institutions have appeared among the leaders of Forbes’s list of Canada’s Best Employers in 2026. This publication ranks organizations with 500 or more workers in Canada based on surveys of employees. The top organization overall was Université Laval. Other postsecondary institutions to rank in the top 50 included Université de Sherbrooke (#3), Concordia University (#5), Toronto Metropolitan University (#14), British Columbia Institute of Technology (#25), George Brown Polytechnic (#27), and the University of Prince Edward Island (#47). ULaval Executive Vice Rector André Darveau told Forbes that the university is focused on putting employees at the centre, especially in difficult times: “Every time we talk to them, we make sure that we thank them and we recognize their work.”

Thousands of aspiring cégep students have been turned down due to lack of space, according to a new investigation by the Journal de Québec. After compiling admissions data from several cégeps, the Journal found that 35 of the province’s 48 cégeps are in a space deficit. The Journal also found that these space limitations were exacerbated at remote cégeps. Cégep de l’Outaouais directeur général Steve Brabant explained that the institution has had to deny 1,300 nursing applicants over the past decade, despite a demand in the labour market for 1,000 nurses in the area. Several cégep leaders echoed the sentiments of Brabant, saying that something must be done to alleviate the strain on institutions.

In a recent article for Times Higher Ed, Tom Smith (Royal Air Force College) argues that universities must take control of their use of AI rather than focusing exclusively on student policies. AI is becoming the university’s operating system, writes Smith, and institutions must create live maps of their AI infrastructure and create clear lines of accountability for AI systems that affect student progression, classification, or welfare. Smith writes that AI must be deliberately designed to avoid “quiet deprofessionalisation.” “The challenge now is making sure someone is actually in charge of the engine room – and that the people whose lives are affected by it know where the controls are,” writes Smith.

A new $150M student housing project is in the works after the City of Vancouver approved the rezoning of a property located near Langara College and near transit routes serving the University of British Columbia. Global Education Communities Corporation (GECC) will develop a 650-bed apartment building with a mix of units that include studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and seven-bedroom units. All units will be fully furnished, and the building will include amenities and services to meet student needs. Additionally, 20% of the units will be rented at below-market rates. Units will also be offered to faculty, staff, and GECC’s other postsecondary partners.

The Université du Québec à Montréal and Saskatchewan Polytechnic have each announced new programs. At UQAM two new computer science programs will launch at the Laval campus this fall. The bachelor’s program and the certificate program will both provide students with fundamental computer science skills, with the bachelor’s program delving further into the theoretical foundations in the field. Sask Polytech has announced its new Bachelor of Business Analytics and Decision Science, which will begin in Fall 2026. The program teaches learners how to turn data into insights and provides several hands-on opportunities for students, including a capstone research project. The flexible program is offered through evening courses and learners can choose from in-person or virtual instruction.

Capilano University and Adler University have forged a pathway agreement that will expand access to master’s level education. This five-year partnership agreement establishes an expedited admission process for eligible CapU graduates who are interested in pursuing select graduate programs at Adler. Barriers such as fees and supplemental material requirements are removed for students, who also receive a scholarship toward their tuition and fees. CapU graduates from a variety of programs will be able to pursue further study in a Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Master of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, or a Master of Psychology in Health and Wellness.

St Francis Xavier University has been selected to receive $3.45M over five years from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). With these funds, StFX will work with organizations across northeastern Nova Scotia to increase the inclusion of vulnerable seniors with disabilities in social activities. “We will work together to build a rural community network that supports, promotes and champions age-friendly futures in northeastern Nova Scotia,” said StFX AVP Research, Graduate, and Professional Studies Dr Erin Morton.

Faculty at Laurentian University officially went on strike on Monday morning, leading to the cancellation of classes, labs, seminars, and other faculty and instructor-led activities. Sudbury.com reports that Laurentian University Faculty Association’s (LUFA) priorities include compensation, workload, and changes to the pension plan. LUFA President Fabrice Colin said that “[w]e made enormous sacrifices to keep Laurentian alive,” and that now that the university’s financial situation has improved, the board of governors should “step up and do its part.” Laurentian said that their offer included salary increases “beyond what is normative in the sector,” as well as improvements in other key areas.

Nova Scotia Community College has adapted its program offerings in response to the shifting demographics of its student body. The college has suspended or reduced programs that have historically drawn international students, such as business and culinary arts programs. At the same time, it is moving resources to programs that are of high interest to domestic students and has expanded its nursing and trades offerings. “We’re trying to steward the tax dollars the best that we can,” said NSCC VP Academic Andrew Lafford. Radio-Canada also reports that the Government of Nova Scotia recently shifted the oversight of the college from its Advanced Education Department to the Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, citing its role in jobs and training.