January 31, 2024

The Government of Canada has announced that it will expand the Apartment Construction Loan Program to include on- and off-campus student housing. Starting this Fall, postsecondary institutions will be able to apply for low-interest loans for the construction of rental units. “This is going to have a positive impact because universities and colleges often times own wide swaths of land,” said federal housing minister Sean Fraser. “Nonprofit builders and private developers will also be able to build student residences on or near campuses as a result of the policy change.” The application process will open in 2024.

The Government of British Columbia has announced several new measures to address issues in the postsecondary sector and introduce new safeguards for international students. “International students come here for a good education, but too many are being exploited or taken advantage of,” said BC Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Selina Robinson. BC will pause approvals for new postsecondary institutions looking to enroll international students until February 2026. Private institutions will face more frequent inspections, higher approval standards for degree programs, and a minimum language requirement; public institutions will be expected to post tuition levels for students’ full educational journey to ensure that they know the cost of education before they begin.

The Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation Board of Directors has approved $12M in funding to support Nunavut Inuit who are pursuing training and postsecondary education. A new policy will direct $5M to initiatives that support Inuit student academic success in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. The board also approved $1M for the Makigiaqta Post-Secondary Education Funding Program, which boosts engagement, funding, and support for Inuit individuals who have been accepted into postsecondary training.

Colleges and Institutes Canada President Pari Johnston and Universities Canada Interim President Philip Landon have penned an open letter to federal minister Marc Miller outlining their concerns about the introduction of caps to the international student program. Johnston and Landon note that the moratorium on processing new study permits has already begun to impact enrolments; they further point to the long-term ramifications the cap could have on Canada’s economy, businesses, and communities. They urge the federal government to delay the letter of attestation requirement until the end of March or until the provincial governments can establish an effective process and additionally call for “urgent consultations with the sector to modify the cap policy, clarify the many outstanding questions, and mitigate the negative impacts.”

Western University will launch a graduate diploma program in Climate Risk Assessment and Opportunity this Fall. This multidisciplinary program prepares students to navigate the uncertainties of climate change using the lens of one of four specializations: engineering, business, science, or social science. The program is offered fully online and is coordinated by Western’s experts in climate risk and climate change. “The risk associated with climate change is one of the most critical challenges we are facing today,” said Western VP (graduate and postdoctoral studies) Kamran Siddiqui. “This unique program will develop a new generation of professionals who can plan for risks imposed by climate change, and to mitigate its impact on business, industry and our communities.”

Three Canadian postsecondary institutions have recently strengthened their global partnerships by signing agreements with international universities. Holland College and Cagayan State University in the Philippines agreed to explore mutually beneficial programs and research opportunities. Mount Royal University and the American Canadian School of Medicine (ACSOM) in Dominica have signed an agreement that will create new health pathways. Under this collaboration, MRU students will have the opportunity to be interviewed and admitted directly into ACSOM, streamlining the admissions process for MRU students who hope to become physicians. The University of New Brunswick and the Royal University of Bhutan have renewed a collaborative agreement to facilitate faculty exchanges, forge pathway developments, and create new programs to meet future needs.

The Government of Canada recently announced an investment of $8.7M to support 13 research teams as they investigate ways to reduce the risk of age-related cognitive impairment and dementia. The teams seek to better understand the causes of dementia, as well as its prevention and treatment. The recipients of the funding included several research teams from postsecondary institutions such as McGill University, McMaster University, Simon Fraser University, University of Calgary, University of Saskatchewan, Western University, and York University.

The Canadian Digital Learning Research Association (CDLRA) and eCampus Ontario have released a report on digital learning trends in postsecondary education in Ontario. The report draws on the ON-specific results of the CDLRA’s 2023 Pan-Canadian Digital Learning Surveys. The surveys found that more changes to ON’s postsecondary landscape are anticipated. Survey respondents noted they expected greater technology use in postsecondary education and drew attention to some areas where development may be needed, such as professional development, policies on open educational resources, and technology infrastructure. The report notes that its findings indicate that education will not return to its pre-pandemic state.

Former Université de Sherbrooke professor Robert Day has been fined $38K after pleading guilty to tax fraud. According to an investigation conducted by Revenu Québec, Day claimed reimbursements between 2014 and 2019 from USherbrooke for research expenses greater than the amount he spent, reportedly by falsifying and fabricating invoices and proof of payment. The investigation found that Day did not declare the excess amounts in his tax returns, thereby contravening the Tax Administration Act. USherbrooke dismissed Day in 2021 after he was suspected of being involved in major financial fraud. TVA Nouvelles reports that he was consequently arrested by the Unité permanent anticorruption in September 2023.

Fanshawe College has opened the Innovation Village, a state-of-the-art facility that fosters hands-on learning, creative problem solving, and collaboration among students, employees, and industry. The space houses several of Fanshawe’s initiatives and departments, including the Library Learning Commons, Leap Junction entrepreneurial services, the Fanshawe Student Union, and the Centre for Research and Innovation. It also features the new Kalihwíyo Circle, a meeting space for Indigenous students to engage in research, innovation, experiential and digital learning, and social entrepreneurship. “The significance of Innovation Village extends beyond its physical boundaries,” said Fanshawe’s Chief Innovation and Open Assets Officer Simon Trevarthen. “It represents a commitment to equipping our students with the skills and mindset necessary to navigate and excel in a rapidly evolving world.”