June 14, 2024

Times Higher Education has released the University Impact Rankings for 2024, which assesses universities by their performance across multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Canadian universities were strongly represented in the ranking, led by the University of Alberta (#6), Queen’s University (#8), and the University of Victoria (tied for #13). Other institutions to appear within the top 100 were Simon Fraser University (#17), Université Laval (tied for #19), Western University (tied for #21), Université de Montréal (tied for #28), McMaster University (#30), York University (#35), the University of Calgary (tied for #58), and Dalhousie University (tied for #65).

The University of British Columbia has officially launched the Smart Hydrogen Energy District (SHED), which combines hydro, solar, and hydrogen energy in one dedicated space and connects them to a unified micro-grid. SHED will enable researchers to experiment with ways that they can provide energy to a city block. The technology is connected by a 5G network so that researchers can create digital simulations for energy, transportation, and urban planning research. “Hydrogen can play a critical role in Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy,” said SHED lead Dr Walter Mérida. “With SHED, we demonstrate hydrogen as a bridge between renewable electricity and sustainable energy services. As technologies become smart and interconnected, we can stop thinking of gas, electrical and digital networks as separate entities.”

Three organizations—Devant, Kibbi, and guard.me—have struck a partnership focused on supporting international students studying in Canada. guard.me offers health and wellness services and supports, while Devant and Kibbi offer AI-enabled technology for finding meaningful employment during and after postsecondary education. The three partners will collaborate on solutions that reduce the burden on educational institutions’ resources while improving outcomes for international students and their communities.

The Student Union of NSCAD University (SUNSCAD) has issued a statement endorsing a Fall tuition strike if NSCAD University does not act on its demands related to disclosure and divestment. The group is calling on NSCAD U to publicly disclose the entirety of its investment portfolio, immediately divest from companies connected to the war in Gaza, and increase student representation on the NSCAD U Board of Governors. The Coast reports that students from NSCAD U are part of a coalition of students from Halifax universities that have set up an encampment on Dalhousie University’s front lawn.

The Government of Canada has invested $6M through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in order to expand and strengthen the impact of the Canadian Research Initiative on Substance Matters (CRISM). $4M of the funding will be used to create a Network Coordinating Centre, which will be led by University of Calgary Professor Dr David Hodgins. This team will establish four core platforms for initiatives such as knowledge mobilization, training, research, mentorship, and clinical trials and studies. The other $2M will go toward the development of the CRISM Indigenous Engagement Platform, which will be led by USask Associate Professor Dr Robert Henry. Henry’s team will advise the Network Coordinating Centre on Indigenous research priorities, which will help to strengthen and increase Indigenous involvement across CRISM’s regional nodes.

Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture and the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) in China have established a jointly run college on FAFU’s campus. The Dalhousie University College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University offers undergraduate-level programming to students from China and around the world. Initially it will offer two bachelor’s degrees—Landscape Architecture and Agricultural Economics—which will adopt a 4+0 mode that gives students the opportunity to voluntarily attend Dal for study, exchange, or research activities. Graduates who meet FAFU and Dal requirements will receive degrees from both universities.

Génome Québec and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – secteur nature et technologies have announced nearly $3.6M in funding for 15 research projects across the province. The recipients of the funding include researchers from Institut national de la recherche scientifique, McGill University, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, and Université Laval. FRQ Scientific Director Janice Bailey stated that the research will cover “a variety of themes [that] will ensure a better understanding of issues relating to biodiversity, ecosystem health, and animal health.”

The University of New Brunswick’s McKenna Institute has established the Rural Strategy for Digital Transformation to accelerate New Brunswick’s digital economy. UNB will receive $1M over three years from the River Philip Foundation to support the strategy. With this funding, the strategy will work to bridge the rural-urban divide in NB’s digital economy and increase digital adoption through initiatives related to skills development, digitalization initiatives, and partnerships. It will also provide employers, organizations, and individuals with best practices regarding thriving in a digital interconnected economy and leading digital transformation.

Cégep de Victoriaville, Cambrian College, and Portage College have announced new programming. Victoriaville is launching accelerated, two-year AEC programs in the areas of chemistry and electrical engineering to support the region’s energy transition. Cambrian is launching a two-year tourism program through its Douglas A Smith Family School of Business. Students will learn about trends and best practices in hospitality and tourism; develop their management and leadership skills; and learn how to develop, market, and deliver tourism experiences. Portage has launched a Pre-Apprenticeship Heavy Equipment Technician (HET) program, in which students can learn about topics such as heavy equipment systems, maintenance, and repair techniques through a mix of online learning and hands-on training.

Non-academic staff at Red Deer Polytechnic have voted to join the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) bargaining unit. Approximately 100 staff from departments such as IT and maintenance—who were previously represented by CUPE—voted 99% in favour of joining AUPE. Bargaining with RDP will begin at the end of July. “We are committed to a collaborative relationship with both the Polytechnic’s Faculty Association and AUPE constituent groups, working as partners towards common goals that include supporting our employees’ needs and nurturing a positive organizational culture that promotes the success of our students, while advancing our Polytechnic mandate,” said RDP Chief Human Resources Officer Cristal Glass-Painchaud. 400 other RDP employees are already AUPE members.