July 23, 2026

Niagara College has created a Partnerships and Enterprises division to support the college’s revenue growth and diversification. This portfolio is focused on long-term sustainability by bringing together the college’s partnership, enterprise, international, and revenue-generating functions. This will support Niagara in business development, enterprise operations, revenue diversification, and strategic partnerships. Niagara has also signed an agreement for a 10-year extension to its campus operations in Saudi Arabia through continued work with Colleges of Excellence.

University of British Columbia students, staff, and faculty will have additional housing options thanks to $174M from the Government of Canada and UBC Properties Trust. The funding is being used to build 349 rental homes in Vancouver, with some of those spaces reserved for the UBC community. The project, called The Editions, will consist of three buildings with units of varying sizes, from studios to four-bedroom townhomes. They are anticipated to be complete in 2028. “These homes will help us recruit and retain the faculty and staff who keep UBC running, and they’ll give students and families an alternative to today’s rental market, with easier access to bus routes and transit,” said UBC Properties Trust President Aubrey Kelly.

QS has released its rankings for Best Student Cities 2027. This list evaluates cities with a minimum population of 250,000 and at least two universities that appeared in the latest QS World University Rankings. They are scored according to their performance in six key categories: university rankings, student mix, desirability, employer activity, affordability, and student view. Several Canadian cities ranked in the top 100. Montreal (#20) was ranked highest in Canada, followed by Toronto (#22), Vancouver (tied for #33), and Ottawa (tied for #84). Overall, the top three cities were Seoul, South Korea; Tokyo, Japan; and London, United Kingdom.

Concordia University’s Volt-Age research program signed two memorandums of understanding during the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK. The first MOU is an agreement with ADM Aéroports de Montréal for Volt-Age to join ADM’s YMX Innovation research hub to further expand the hub’s capabilities. Among the plans are collaborations on applied research, technology demonstration, and the development of living labs at the facility. The second MOU, signed with Volatus Aerospace, will focus on drone technologies. The partners plan to collaborate on research and operational testing to accelerate the commercialization of drone technology to support Canadian sovereignty in the area.

Capilano University’s Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies has become LEED Gold certified. This certification recognizes the building’s sustainable design and environmental performance across several key categories. The features that contributed to the building’s certification included its high-performance building envelope, efficient plumbing features, and landscaping. “The Fulmer Family Centre for Childhood Studies demonstrates how thoughtful design can support learning, research, and community while creating a healthier, more sustainable future,” said CapU President Jason Dewling.

The current practices with STEM education are leading to reduced retention rates, and the solution is to treat students like scientists, according to Kristi Rudenga (University of Notre Dame). Rudenga explains that the lecture format and assessment methods used in many STEM courses can be disillusioning for students. Since it may not be possible for every STEM course to run high-engagement activities such as research labs or course-based research experiences, Rudenga suggests instructors begin by implementing low-stakes opportunities for students to discuss or create “next questions” about research that they see in class. In fostering such an environment, instructors can then create opportunities for students to propose methods of answering their questions, mimicking the work of real scientists.

The University of the Fraser Valley recently received a Gold rating through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) that is administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS is a comprehensive sustainability assessment system that evaluates an institution’s progress on several fronts related to sustainability performance, while also providing a roadmap for future action and continued advancement. The university explains that the Gold status signifies that UFV has demonstrated excellence and leadership in integrating sustainability throughout its operations and academic mission. “Sustainability is increasingly central to how universities prepare students for the future, manage resources responsibly, and contribute to the well-being of their communities and ecosystems,” commented UFV President James Mandigo.

Several international graduates recently spoke to CTV News about their experience being unexpectedly denied post-graduation work permits. The graduates said that they completed their studies and submitted complete PGWP applications before June 24, whem IRCC updated its online guidance to clarify the details around eligibility for the program. Afterwards, several students stated that their PGWP applications were declined. The students’ union at Portage College has formed a coalition representing graduates across Canada, and told CTV News that it estimates that approximately 1,500 individuals may have been affected. IRCC stated that there have been no changes to the eligibility requirements for the PGWP program.

St Mary’s University has brought five bee boxes to campus to support native pollinators and contribute to ongoing ecosystem restoration efforts across campus. The bee boxes—built and painted by students—will serve as nesting spaces for mason bees. “There are about 375 species of native bees in Alberta,” said St Mary’s project lead Dr Mary Ann McLean. “Encouraging mason bees helps increase pollination and seed production in both the medicine garden and the prairie restoration area, which will in turn increase the food available for other wildlife.” St Mary’s Indigenous Relations and Initiatives Coordinator Angela Bear Chief added that the project brought together Indigenous knowledge with science-based approaches to create new opportunities for learning, dialogue, and relationship building.

The University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine has announced that it will resume accepting wildlife patients after its temporary closure ends in mid-August. The decision comes after the WCVM’s Veterinary Medical Centre announced its plan to stop wildlife intake until at least November, when a review of the college’s wildlife services will be completed. WCVM student Rory Langelier told 650 CKOM that the wildlife services offered students the “opportunities to become better wildlife veterinarians, but also exotic veterinarians because we’re getting to see cases that we may not see come in as your regular owned exotic case.”