July 6, 2026

The Government of Ontario and the Government of Utah have signed a broad Memorandum of Understanding that will increase cooperation and collaboration between the two jurisdictions and boost trade in key sectors. As part of the agreement, ON and Utah will collaborate in areas such as energy, the life sciences, and information and communications technology. This includes collaborations between academic and research institutions in the two regions, such as through joint research and development projects, joint training and educational programs, study trips, and professional and academic exchanges. It also includes workforce development activities, including opportunities for strategic partnerships and alliances between public organizations, private sector companies, and academic institutions.

In a recent article, Globe and Mail columnist Doug Saunders argues that Canada must take action to protect its higher education sector. “Canada needs to understand its universities and colleges as crucial instruments of national security,” he writes. “Allowing them to decline, during this time of national emergency, would jeopardize us economically, socially, politically, and materially.” Saunders outlines the democratic, economic, and social securities that higher education ensures for its population. He concludes by asserting that the credentials awarded at graduation are more than simple pieces of parchment: “They’re our shield against inequality and social division, against economic stasis, and against authoritarian tides.”

BCcampus recently published a new toolkit that is designed to support British Columbia postsecondary institutions as they collaborate on curriculum and educational technology products and services. The Enabling Collaborative Initiatives: A Toolkit for BC Post-Secondary resource is organized into six topics: enabling collaboration, getting started, standards and good practices, intellectual property and licences, governance, and sustainable business models. In each area, the resource contains examples, information, and templates. The toolkit is available for free on BCcampus’s website.

Western University has announced that it will be taking part in the DISCOVER-ME collaboration led by MedUni Vienna, which is focused on the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Western says that it is the only institution outside of Europe taking part in the collaboration, which is supported by €7.5M from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program. As one of the key analytical hubs, the university will support the analysis of blood samples with advanced machine learning and AI. “Being invited to join this international consortium is an incredible opportunity for Western to help uncover the biological causes of ME/CFS and accelerate the development of new, more effective treatments,” said Western GSK Chair in Clinical Pharmacology Douglas Fraser.

The Southern Alberta Medical Program—delivered through a partnership between the University of Calgary and University of Lethbridge—and its home facility recently received Blackfoot names. ULethbridge Vice-Provost, Iniskim Indigenous Relations Iikaisskini (Low Horn) Dr Leroy Little Bear named the program “Sokinaki Okakssksin,” which he explained means “making people well,” while Blackfoot Elder Ninnaisipistoo (Owl Chief) Dr. Francis First Charger named the facility “Sokinakiitaissksinima’tstohkio’pi,” meaning the centre for healing. “Today isn’t about simply naming a building or a program, it’s about receiving a gift, and we recognize that a Blackfoot name carries deep meaning and connects us to our identity, ancestry, culture, and community,” said UCalgary Deputy Provost Dr Robin Yates.

Castanet reports that Thompson Rivers University Chancellor DeDe DeRose has re-initiated a nationwide Indigenous university chancellors working group. The group —co-chaired by DeRose and University of the Fraser Valley Chancellor Jo-Anne Archibald—is primarily focused on addressing the challenges faced by Indigenous learners and celebrating their successes. Other topics of interest include residential school denialism and Indigenous identity fraud. “The reason I reached out to my colleagues is because I felt like TRU was the ground zero for the denialist group because Kamloops was the first site where there was images documented and the first site that it seemed like the denialists were going to target,” said DeRose.

Brock University has announced that its Indigenous co-curricular program has been renamed “Ode’min Wigwam,” an Anishinaabemowin name that translates to Strawberry Lodge in English. “The strawberry’s seeds are on the outside, which means its most vulnerable part is shown to the world. Because of this, the seeds spread easily so future plants can grow,” explained Brock Program Consultant Michelle Root. “In the same way, we hope students in our program will continue learning and sharing their knowledge to help future generations.” The name was given as a sacred gift by Elder Peter Beaucage through a traditional Naming Ceremony on the university’s campus.

Several institutions are continuing to celebrate their LGBTQ+ community in July with local Pride festivals and events. While Pride month is recognized globally in June, several communities in Canada hold celebrations in July. In light of that, Fanshawe College, Royal Roads University, the University of Prince Edward Island, the University of Victoria, and Western University are among the institutions taking part in local Pride festivals and parades in July. Royal Roads, UVic, and Western are also hosting a variety of social events and talks on campus this month to celebrate and raise awareness of their community members.

Several unions and associations have reached agreements with postsecondary institutions across the country. In Alberta, AUPE reports that the agreements between Athabasca University, Olds College, and SAIT and their respective AUPE locals have been officially ratified. Each of these agreements included retroactive pay raises, and the agreements at Athabasca and SAIT each included improvements to benefits and personal days. Brock University and the Brock University Faculty Association have  reached a tentative renewal of the collective agreement. Meanwhile, at the University of Toronto, an arbitrator has ruled that faculty members represented by the University of Toronto Faculty Association will receive 3% raise, increases for hearing and eye care coverage, and increases to the university childcare benefit plan, effective July 1.

Vistasp M Karbhari (University of Texas at Arlington) argues that higher ed must adapt to a world where information is now abundantly available, and where skills related to judgement and responsible use of knowledge are more critical. The author explains that institutions must be transformed with broader learning infrastructure in order to to foster future economic prosperity, competitiveness, and social progress. Karbhari also discusses how the sector can draw on AI and technology to scale authentic practices such as simulations, scenario-based learning, and intelligent feedback that help learners build their expertise. Karbhari concludes that the institutions that thrive in the era of AI will be those that re-envision learning in this new age.