July 4, 2025

Northern Lakes College has announced the disposition of its Grouard Campus and related assets to Kapawe’no First Nation. The First Nation first co-located at the campus in August 2021, and the Kapawe’no First Nation School has since experienced continuous growth. The college will maintain a presence in the Hamlet of Grouard and will continue to work with the First Nation to provide accessible educational opportunities to the region and surrounding communities. “Kapawe’no First Nation appreciates Northern Lakes College sentiment on the journey to reconciliation,” said Kapawe’no Chief Sydney Halcrow. “Our Nation has worked diligently to increase educational opportunities for our children and now has the space to expand our offerings and focus on future growth.”

Mount Allison University Professor Elizabeth Wells offers advice on how to make sabbatical leave both productive and restorative. Rather than trying to do everything at once, she encourages thoughtful sabbatical goal setting, structured weekly planning, and time for rest. Sabbaticals, Wells notes, offer a rare opportunity to step back from daily demands and reconnect with research. “Grinding away at one thing wears you down, even if you are enthusiastic about your work,” she writes. Wells concludes that by making space for focus and reflection and staying flexible with plans, faculty can return recharged and proud of what they have accomplished.

MacEwan University’s General Faculties Council has approved the establishment of three research groups to foster collaboration on core societal issues. The Black Community Research and Innovation Group will address health and socioeconomic disparities in Black communities, the Indigenous Research Group will support research grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems and reconciliation goals, and the Research Group for Inclusive Experiential Learning will develop strategies to reduce barriers in experiential learning environments. The groups are designed to bring together diverse expertise and strengthen partnerships across disciplines and communities. “Research groups are a way to build something bigger and more substantial than is possible through a small, siloed team of scholars,” said MacEwan Associate Vice-President, Research Dr Craig Kuziemsky.

Wilfrid Laurier University has reportedly closed its Centre for Indigegogy permanently. In a statement posted to Instagram, the Indigenous Field of Study (IFS) program explained that it “no longer has the human resources and capacity” to sustain the centre and “needs to re-prioritize its energies and resources into IFS teaching and core programming.” WLU Centre Director Kathy Absolon told CBC that many members of the community have shared their shock and disappointment at the news, as the centre has had a broad impact on the way they live, work, and teach. “It was a very difficult decision for us to make, but we had to make that decision … in the reality of fiscal cutbacks and faculty cutbacks,” said Absolon.

Microsoft has released its 2025 AI in Education report exploring how students and educators around the world are using AI. Drawing on a global survey of over 1,800 students, faculty, and staff from K-12 and postsecondary settings, the report describes how students are using tools like generative AI to brainstorm, study, and get feedback. On the institutional side, administrators reported using AI to streamline operations and support student success. Microsoft closes with several recommendations for educational administrators, including involving students in planning and embedding AI literacy and human skills into curricula.

Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business and Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna) are launching an undergraduate double-degree program. Starting Fall 2025, second-year students at either institution can apply to split their studies between Queen’s and WU Vienna, ultimately completing two years at each campus. Participants will complete core and elective courses, collaborate in international peer teams, and access career resources at both institutions before ultimately graduating with two degrees. “This rigorous academic experience will see students gain both functional expertise and a broad global management perspective,” said Queen’s Smith Interim Dean Lynnette Purda.

The Government of Manitoba has announced two important initiatives: A new clinical trials office to support health research and a new Research Improvements Through Harmonization in Manitoba (RITHIM) project that will be led by Research Manitoba. The new clinical trials office will make it easier and more efficient to conduct health research in MB, while RITHIM will improve capacity and efficiency for postsecondary researchers. “RITHIM is unique across Canada as the first program of its kind to harmonize ethics, privacy, and health institutional reviews,” said Research Manitoba Board of Directors Chair Andrea Legary.

Algonquin College has opened applications for its new Real Estate Salesperson Program and announced the launch a Real Estate Broker Program in Fall 2025 as an approved education provider of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). Both new programs will be delivered online with flexible scheduling to support aspiring and mid-career professionals pursuing real estate careers. “Expanding access to real estate education across Ontario helps ensure that aspiring salespersons and brokers have choice as they prepare to meet the demands of a regulated profession and deliver high standards of service to the public,” said RECO Registrar Joseph Richer.

Vanier College Director General Benoit Morin says that the Government of Québec’s recent investigation has exacerbated tensions at the college. While the investigation report proposed adopting a new law to better regulate academic freedom in the cégep system, Morin told the Canadian Press that this would be a mistake as it would create an environment where teachers need to censor themselves and do not feel trusted. He also questioned the QC investigation report’s finding that prayer rooms can foster radicalization and division, saying that this was not seen at Vanier.

University World News journalist Yojana Sharma reports on a recent panel discussion on how geopolitical tensions and visa uncertainty are reshaping global academic talent flows. The panel noted that, increasingly, students and researchers from China and India are opting to stay in or return to their home countries, drawn by expanding research ecosystems and career opportunities. While global experience is still highly valued, panelists suggested that the shift may signal a long-term rebalancing in international higher education, particularly as the United States becomes a less certain destination.