July 14, 2026

Collège supérieur de Montréal has temporarily closed its doors after the Government of Quebec ministère de l’Éducation refused to renew its permit. Management said that the ministry’s refusal required the institution to suspend its teaching activities and close its doors until further notice. The closure occurred a week before the end of the semester. CSM student Leandro Donizeti da Silva stated that he is concerned about losing the diploma he is working towards, as well as his visa. Journal de Montreal and TVA Nouvelles report that 900 of the college’s students have formed a discussion group regarding their situation.

Higher education is increasingly narrowing its focus around experiential learning to focus on labour market outcomes and work-integrated learning, which risks forgetting about experiential learning’s other benefits, writes David Peacock (University of Alberta). Peacock explains that while experiential learning often does prepare students for future careers, the benefits also include critical literacy, technological capability, and social inclusion. According to Peacock, institutions and policymakers should articulate these other benefits more clearly to reinforce the idea that experiential education is not just about individual financial gain, but that it can also provide students with opportunities to contribute to the common good.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology recently worked with Academica Group to conduct the 2026 BCIT Brand Reputation Tracking Report. Through a survey of more than 1,680 respondents across the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, the study found that BCIT was renowned for job readiness, its role in supporting the province’s economy and workforce needs, and producing skilled graduates who are ready for the workforce. “The survey demonstrates the strength and reputation of BCIT in delivering industry-focused, applied education that prepare graduates for job-readiness,” said BCIT AVP Marketing and Communications Lara Johnson. “It also reinforces the Institute’s commitment to supporting students in their academic, personal, and professional success.”

The Université du Québec network has received $2M from the Government of Québec to support the creation of a Québec-wide medical program focused on family medicine and primary care. The funds will be used to support the preparatory work and development of the program, including consultations, conducting analyses, and defining a training model that suits the QC context. When launched, the program will train more physicians for rural areas and underserved urban communities. QC Premier Christine Fréchette explained that the funding is part of QC’s broader efforts to build a stronger, future-oriented healthcare system in the province.

Athabasca University’s Faculty of Science and Technology has launched the Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence. This new certificate will enable students to gain a credential in AI without completing a full master’s degree. Students will be prepared to tackle real-world problems using AI, apply AI to decision-making, and contribute to AI-enabled systems. “This is an excellent new opportunity for IT developers and leaders to enhance their AI skills and knowledge with a flexible graduate credential while also working towards a full graduate degree,” said AU School of Computing and Information Systems Chair Dr Dunwei Wen.

The Toronto Star reports that staff and faculty unions have filed at least six grievances against Fleming College and St Lawrence College, calling for the colleges’ merger to be put on hold. “Our collective agreement has employment stability language, where there should be ongoing discussions about upcoming changes and things that may impact the workforce,” explained Marcia Steeves of OPSEU Local 351, which represents Fleming support staff. OPSEU is seeking an order “directing the responding parties to cease and desist from the planned merger/amalgamation/integration” until staffing issues are addressed. It has also launched an unfair labour practice complaint against the College Employer Council, which CEC CEO Graham Lloyd said is unfounded. The colleges and unions are reportedly waiting for an arbitration date for the grievances.

Simon Fraser University recently announced changes to its publishing education offerings in response to industry changes. SFU will be suspending admissions to the Master of Publishing Program after the 2026 cohort and will move its Minor in Print and Digital Publishing into its School of Communications. In a release, the university explained that the change will enable SFU to update the curriculum. “Publishing at SFU is not ending, but it is taking new forms,” states the release. “We remain committed to ensuring that SFU remains a sought-after destination for publishing education in Canada.”

Fanshawe will be launching an Urban Arts micro-credential program in Fall 2026 at its St Thomas/Elgin Regional Campus. Students in the program will learn how to carry out large-scale outdoor art projects. The program takes four weeks to complete and will include safety certifications and instruction in project planning, business, and marketing so students are prepared for the responsible and sustainable design and completion of urban art installations.

In a recent article for the Chronicle of Higher Ed, Beckie Supiano discusses some of the reasons behind why young men do not choose to attend postsecondary. Supiano describes a study out of the United States,that showed that 38% of young men felt that colleges were designed more for women than for men. Many also expressed that they faced social challenges with higher ed, such as feeling lonely or facing social pressure. The article includes a conversation with Public Agenda President Andrew J Seligsohn, who highlights themes such as skepticism toward higher ed, the political split by gender, and thoughts about college being a scam.

Carleton University and McMaster University are working with their respective city councils on changes to their infrastructure. The City of Ottawa will vote this week on whether to move forward with plans to build an aquatic centre on Carleton’s campus. Councillor Shawn Menard, who put forward the motion, explained that Carleton is prepared to partner with the city by providing land and a “significant” financial contribution. Meanwhile, McMaster has made an application to demolish a vacant industrial building operated by the university’s McMaster Innovation Park.