July 31, 2025

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories have signed five-year extensions with the nine universities that are participating in CNL’s Academic Partnership Program. The partnership program includes a variety of initiatives—including student learning opportunities, collaborative research, and infrastructure sharing—with the goal of bringing together Canada’s research and development community to support the country’s climate change goals through nuclear energy. The participating universities are McMaster University, Ontario Tech University, Queen’s University, the University of New Brunswick, the University of Ottawa, the University of Regina, the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Waterloo, and Western University.

Emily Carr University of Art + Design’s Student Services and The Stationery Project have partnered to develop custom stationery for prospective students while prioritizing sustainability. This stationery is created from wastepaper salvaged from the university’s labs, studios, and galleries at the university. This wastepaper is repurposed into creative stationery in sizes and formats that maximize usability and minimize waste. “Our materials are generated from the work of ECU students, staff and faculty, and because the paper is recouped, you see little glimpses of past projects,” said ECU Designer and Faculty Member Katherine Gillieson. “Our stationery is also made by teams that include students, staff and faculty. So, it’s from the community and it reflects the community, as well as our values.”

Statistics Canada has released an analysis of Canadian university revenues and expenditures in 2023/24. Over the course of that year, Canadian universities’ total revenue increased by $3.5B to $52.4B, while expenditures rose by $2.3B to $48.7B. StatCan reports that the revenue growth came primarily from investment income, tuition revenue, and provincial funding. Increases in expenses were noted for travel expenses; externally contracted services; buildings, land acquisitions, and improvements; and professional fees. Provincial funding generally increased in 2023/24 compared to 2022/23, with the greatest growth seen in British Columbia (12.5%) and Manitoba (10.1%); federal funding decreased by 1.5%, which was largely attributed to the conclusion of a capital project in Manitoba.

In a recent article for The Conversation, Junaid B Jahangir (MacEwan University) discusses how he uses a variety of Disney classics to teach real-world economics in a way that is accessible and introduces issues of inequality. Jahangir explains that several of these movies follow narratives that dismantle the message that hard work and individual talent leads to success. For example, the author uses Cinderella to discuss interventions from outsiders that level the playing field, The Princess and the Frog to teach the economics of racism, and Pinocchio to critique the idea that living standards are based on productivity. “Overall, various Disney animations allow me to broach real-world economic issues in a manner that captures the interest of students, young and old,” writes Jahangir.

McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business is launching two new graduate programs that respond to the growing role of AI in business. Launching January 2026, the part-time Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making is designed for mid-career professionals. The program blends online modules with weekend residencies that build student skills in applied AI, data analysis, and ethical leadership. The full-time Master of Management in AI and Analytics, set to launch in September 2026, is designed for early-career professionals. Students will study machine learning, data strategy, and analytics implementation through a mix of coursework and hands-on experience, including an eight-month practicum and a work term.

The University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine and the University of Lethbridge are now accepting applications for the Southern Alberta Medical Program (SAMP), a three-year MD program focused on rural and regional health care. Beginning in July 2026, about 20 students will complete 18 months of classroom learning in Lethbridge’s Rural Medical Education Program Training Centre, followed by 18 months of clinical placements in communities such as Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Pincher Creek. The program aims to address physician shortages in underserved regions outside of major city centres like Calgary and Edmonton. “If you recruit locally and train locally, there’s a better chance they’ll stay local,” said SAMP Associate Dean Dr Richard Buck.

Writing for The Chronicle of Higher Ed, Emory University Professor Pamela Scully argues that overuse of learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas and Blackboard contributes to student stress and disengagement. After holding dedicated conversations with her students, Scully found that constant LMS notifications combined with the system’s design encouraged last-minute, passive learning. In response, she adopted a “slow teaching” approach that minimizes LMS use, emphasizes paper journaling, and fosters reflection. Scully notes that this approach has been well received by students, with many describing the environment as calm and intellectually engaging. “Professors and administrators must think long and hard about how we are creating the very anxieties we lament,” she concludes.

Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières is launching a certificate program in Indigenous studies. The études et expressions autochtones program focuses on the history, traditions, knowledge, and cultural expressions of the First Peoples of Québec and Canada, with a special focus on the Abenaki and Atikamekw communities. Students will explore fields such as art, literature, history, and linguistics as they develop their ethical research and intercultural dialogue skills. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the Abenaki and Atikamekw communities and meet representatives of these communities.

Conciliation talks between Dalhousie University and the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) have reportedly reached an impasse, triggering a 14-day countdown to a potential strike or lockout. A final conciliation session is set for August 11, with job action possible by August 12. While DFA members voted 91% in favour of a strike mandate in July, DFA President David Westwood told the The Chronicle Herald that the union has no intention of striking in August and remains focused on negotiation. In a statement to CBC, Dal explained that it cannot meet the union’s wage proposal in light of the scale of expense reductions that it needs to undertake in the coming years, but it remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached.

The 2025 Rhine-Ruhr FISU Summer World University Games have concluded and Team Canada has brought home a total of 11 medals. The games saw athletes from 150 nations competing across 18 sports. Overall, Canada secured 25th place with two gold medals, one silver medal, and eight bronze medals. The gold medalists were Felix Dolci (Collège LaSalle) and Nithan Brindamohan (Toronto Metropolitan University), while the silver medal was claimed by the men’s team for Artistic Gymnastics.