June 12, 2025

The Government of Ontario has launched My Career Journey, an online tool that will help students and job seekers explore education and training pathways for in-demand careers. The platform includes job profiles in four priority sectors: health care, skilled trades and construction, technology and engineering, and education. It also includes both a map of over 170 postsecondary campuses—including all 23 public universities, 24 colleges, and nine Indigenous Institutes—and a personalized education and career questionnaire that draws from nearly 100 career resources to guide users through their education and career options. “It’s never too early to start planning for the future,” said ON Minister of Education Paul Calandra. “My Career Journey gives students the tools they need to explore their options and take the next step with confidence.”

The Government of Québec reportedly intends to maintain a tuition hike for out-of-province university students, despite a recent Superior Court ruling that this tuition hike was not justified. QC Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry confirmed that QC will not appeal the ruling, but noted that the judgment “recognizes the government’s responsibility to take the necessary steps to protect French in Québec.” “We are sticking to our decision,” said Déry. “We firmly believe that it is not up to the Québec government to guarantee financial accessibility to education for non-Quebecers.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has published an analysis of the hiring needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The surveyed businesses shared that they often encounter obstacles when recruiting, including struggling to find applicants, facing challenges with compensation expectations, and encountering mismatches between applicant skills and employer needs. “Over four in ten small firms say a shortage of skilled labour is limiting their ability to increase sales or production,” said CFIB Director of Research Marvin Cruz. “Many are struggling not just to find workers, but to find candidates with the right skills, expectations, and qualifications.” Among its recommendations, CFIB encouraged provincial governments to encourage partnerships between postsecondary institutions and SMEs to create apprenticeship and internship programs that could bridge the skills gap.

In a discussion of their recently published research article, Thomas Corbin (Deakin University), Phillip Dawson (Deakin), and Danny Liu (University of Sydney) argue that universities must redesign assessments to preserve validity in the era of AI. The authors argue that regulatory strategies for AI use—such as “traffic light” policies and AI-use declarations—are not sufficient. Instead, the authors call for the use of assignments or assessments that make student learning observable, such as asking students to take part in in-class writing or oral reflections on their process. “Structural change means designing assessments where validity is embedded in the task itself, not outsourced to rules or student compliance,” they write.

The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer has announced that it has provided over $2M in funding to 29 projects focused on improving transfer at colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes in Ontario. These funded initiatives focus on flexible pathways, recognition of prior learning, and targeted supports for diverse learners. Projects include culturally relevant PLAR practices developed by Brock University, a Queen’s University-led collaboration to expand engineering pathways, and Six Nations Polytechnic’s initiative to strengthen university partnerships. “ONCAT’s funding for institutional projects will reduce barriers and smooth transitions for learners,” said ONCAT President and CEO Dr Adrienne Galway.

Medicine Hat College has been approved to offer a Pharmacy Technician diploma program starting in Fall 2025. This two-year program will address a gap in pharmacy technician training in the province. The program will use NorQuest College’s curriculum, and will include practicums and work-integrated learning. “The program is an excellent example of both postsecondary system and partnership collaboration,” said MHC VP Academic and Provost Dr Nancy Brown. MHC says that it will be the only postsecondary institution in southern Alberta to offer this training.

The Government of Nova Scotia is supporting four early-career researchers at Acadia University, Dalhousie University, and St Francis Xavier University whose projects aim to improve mental health and addictions care for equity-deserving communities. The researchers have each received grants through the New Investigator in Addictions and Mental Health program, delivered by Research Nova Scotia. At Acadia, Ahlam Rahal is exploring the psychosocial challenges faced by equity-deserving college students. Keisha Jefferies is leading a study on Black women’s mental health experiences at Dal, which will inform culturally relevant resources and help establish a Black health data repository. Meanwhile, at StFX, Laura Lambe is investigating the mental health impacts of identity-based bullying, and Jill Murphy is leading a project focused on strengthening rural mental health care.

In a recent article for the Chronicle of Higher Education, Jennifer S Furlong (City University of New York) and Stacy M Hartman discuss strategies graduate students can use to present their career goals to their PhD adviser when they are considering career pathways other than the tenure track. Furlong and Hartman encourage advisees to discuss their career goals early on so that they can take advantage of relevant opportunities with their adviser’s support. Advisees should prepare for the conversation by considering their reasoning and reflecting on what supports they would like to receive. While most advisers will be supportive of their advisees’ career plans, the authors provide tips for how to handle a conversation that does go poorly, such as debriefing with someone they trust.

Postsecondary institutions such as the College of the Rockies, Selkirk College, the University of Prince Edward Island, and University of Toronto are preparing for camps this summer. COTR and UPEI are each hosting youth for STEAM and STEM-themed activities that are focused on technology. COTR is offering STEAM Camps for children of different ages, including camps focused on LEGO, lasers, and nature. UPEI and U of T’s Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine have partnered to offer a summer program in Prince Edward Island that is focused on teaching high school students about AI in health care. Selkirk College is hosting the Castlegar Fiddle, Guitar, and Piano Camp. Musicians of any age or skill level can attend and learn from instructors from across Canada.

The University of Niagara Falls Canada has partnered with La Red de Hispanos, a national support network for Spanish-speaking newcomers. Through this collaboration, UNFC students can become members of the organization and access Spanish-language resources including networking events, mentoring programs, and career development support. Membership is open to all students, though Spanish proficiency is recommended. “Partnering with La Red de Hispanos allows us to strengthen the support we offer our Spanish-speaking students, helping them feel seen, heard, and connected,” said UNFC Career Advisor Kimberly Mikalauskas.