June 11, 2024

Nicholas Keung of the Toronto Star reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) appears to be considering changes to the rules of its post-graduation work permit program. Keung writes that the IRCC sent an eight-question survey to colleges and universities about proposed changes that would “align […] eligibility with labour market needs while reducing the overall volume of PGWP holders” and potentially improve labour market outcomes for international students. IRCC officials are also reportedly seeking feedback about permanent residence and provincial immigration selection programs for international graduates.

Convocation ceremonies at McGill University and the University of Ottawa were briefly disrupted by protesters late last week. At McGill, a graduating student reportedly unfurled a banner reading “Divest from Death” while on stage and made a spitting motion at university leaders. At a UOttawa graduation ceremony on Sunday, several individuals reportedly disrupted the event and shouted to disrupt a speech by UOttawa President Jacques Fremont. Security proceeded to remove the protesters; a 27-year-old man is facing charges after a security guard was pepper-sprayed. With convocation forthcoming on several other campuses, CTV News reports that institutions like the University of Waterloo and the University of Guelph are implementing additional security measures and communicating their expectations with attendees and graduands.

Convocation ceremonies at McGill University and the University of Ottawa were briefly disrupted by protestors late last week. At McGill, a graduating student reportedly unfurled a banner reading “Divest from Death” while on stage and made a spitting motion at university leaders. At a UOttawa graduation ceremony on Sunday, several individuals reportedly disrupted the event and shouted to disrupt a speech by UOttawa President Jacques Fremont. Security proceeded to remove the protestors; a 27-year-old man is facing charges after a security guard was pepper-sprayed. With convocation forthcoming on several other campuses, CTV News reports that institutions like the University of Waterloo and the University of Guelph are implementing additional security measures and communicating their expectations with attendees and graduands.

In an opinion piece for Times Higher Education, Anton Muscatelli (University of Glasgow) explains the ins and outs of sustainable financing: the process of taking environmental, social, and governance considerations into account when making investment decisions. Muscatelli writes that universities are increasingly adopting sustainable financing approaches as part of their transition to net zero. However, the author clarifies that “”sustainable finance is not a substitute for adopting a credible net zero plan for emission: it is a means to that end.”” Muscatelli concludes that sustainable financing requires robust internal governance to ensure that financial strategy complements an institution’s overall strategy and is “”not simply a bolt-on.””

Charlottetown police are investigating reports of graffiti at the University of Prince Edward Island Chaplaincy Centre. A statement from UPEI President Wendy M Rogers said that the graffiti was “disturbing and offensive” and demonstrated “antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-Christian sentiment, sexual deviance, and threats of sexual violence.” Rogers maintained that this behaviour is unacceptable and falls outside of UPEI’s commitment to build a culture of trust, safety, and inclusion. UPEI is working to identify the perpetrators with the police and has taken action to enhance security at the Chaplaincy Centre and share information about supports with affected community members.

Thanks to support from the Government of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies will deliver two new forestry sector training initiatives. A new Forestry Log Haul Step Program will provide students with the necessary hours of experience to become fully licensed as log haul drivers. SIIT will help graduates find employment opportunities and connect with forestry sector employers. The institute will also acquire two Simlog Simulators for its mobile job connection program, which helps northerners gain virtual worksite training and learn about safe heavy equipment operation. SK provided $505K to SIIT in support of these initiatives.

The University of Calgary and the University of Windsor have launched an online repository of 64 original illustrations and 23 videos that represent the spectrum of human diversity. This initiative is part of the Anatomy Video and Imagery Diversity project, which seeks to address the lack of diversity represented in anatomy teaching materials. These visuals show complex networks of arteries in the face and body and detailed drawings of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems with variations in age, skin tone, ethnicity, and body size. The artwork is housed within UCalgary’s library digital collections and available for download at no cost.

The Université de Moncton and Elizabeth Fry Nouveau-Brunswick have signed a partnership agreement that will advance research and services in the areas of sociology and sexual violence, prevention, and intervention. Through this partnership, Elizabeth Fry and UMoncton will offer internship placements for criminology student, develop joint research projects, and collaborate on funding proposals. The partnership will also enable Elizabeth Fry to establish a presence in Moncton, offering French-language services for vulnerable women in the community.

Instructors should intentionally go through the process of learning skills that are outside of their comfort zone so that they can better empathize with their students, writes Rachel Trousdale (Framingham State University). Trousdale describes how her learning style and strategies have changed since she was a student, making the learning process much easier. However, learning a very different set of skills—making her own clothing—highlighted the challenges of the learning process, including learning unfamiliar meanings for words, breaking down projects into manageable steps, and accepting errors as part of getting started. Trousdale concludes by reflecting on the importance of helping students to stay dedicated to the learning process and accept the frustration, confusion, and mistakes that are part of that experience.

NOSM University and the University of Waterloo have celebrated the official opening of spaces on campus to support teaching, learning, and research. NOSM University celebrated the official opening of the Dr Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity, a multidisciplinary centre dedicated to the improvement of health and wellness in Northern Ontario. UWaterloo celebrated the official opening of its state-of-the-art Inert Atmosphere Fabrication Lab. The lab is designed for research and development in nanofabrication and characterization; it is accessible to researchers and industry partners through the Quantum Collaboratory initiative.