June 18, 2025

Western University has launched a Generative AI Teaching Fellows program that will seek to cultivate and support the use of AI in teaching and learning across campus. Appointed fellows will undertake projects to expand the use of AI in the classroom and offer workshops and other professional development activities. “AI is a general purpose technology. Alone, it doesn’t do much,” said Western Chief AI Officer Mark Daley. “But paired with human creativity and determination, it is a powerful enabler of change.” The inaugural fellows will be Western Ivey Professor Guneet Kaur Nagpal, History Professor William Turkel, and Health Sciences Professor Andrews Tawiah.

Statistics Canada has released a new set of data that outlines the geographic mobility of Canadian bachelor’s degree graduates. In a discussion of the data, Sylvie Brunet, George Marshall, and Youssouf Azmi observe that the Atlantic provinces and the territories have the highest proportions of graduates who completed their bachelor’s degree in another province, while Ontario and Quebec have the lowest. Broadly speaking, graduates who travelled to pursue their education typically left their province of study within a year of their graduation. The authors conclude by explaining how mobility affects provincial workforces and investments into postsecondary education. They also identify further opportunities for research.

Concordia University has received a $1M donation from Power Corporation of Canada. The gift will be used to expand Art Volt—a platform that helps fine arts graduates to launch their creative careers—to include collectors, industry professionals, and the broader creative community. The program includes access to resources such as mentorship and professional opportunities, as well as a juried sales and rental marketplace called the Art Volt Collection. “This generous donation will help cultivate creative talent in Montreal and Quebec while enabling our alumni to make the challenging transition from academia to professional life,” said Concordia President Graham Carr.

The University of Victoria’s senate has approved a change to the non-academic misconduct definition in order to help ensure students call for help in overdose situations. References to drug use and possession will be removed from the definition, while the manufacturing, sale, or distribution for monetary gain of illegal or prescription substances will remain. Vancouver is Awesome reports that this change follows the recommendations from a recent investigation and inquest into an on-campus student death that occurred in 2024. UVic President Kevin Hall asserted in a memo that this change will help encourage help-seeking behaviour and ensure “students feel empowered to act responsibly.”

The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) has released a report on work-integrated learning (WIL) eligibility for transfer students. ONCAT researchers Emerson LaCroix and Jeffrey Napierala examined the websites of 24 colleges and 23 universities in Ontario to better understand how they were relaying relevant WIL information to transfer students. They found that websites typically had limited information about how students could participate in WIL and/or had this information split across webpages. LaCroix and Napierala conclude with a series of recommendations that institutions can follow to improve their websites and information sharing practices to better inform transfer students.

McGill University and Airbus have signed a strategic collaborative agreement that will foster innovation, training, and research. Under the agreement, McGill and Airbus will collaborate on projects and create experiential learning initiatives that will enhance students’ training and career preparation. It also includes other activities such as symposia, industry employee training, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. “By combining our expertise with that of a world leader in aeronautical and aerospace engineering, we are creating an environment conducive to scientific advances that will have a significant impact on the aerospace industry of tomorrow,” said McGill VP, Research and Innovation Dominique Bérubé.

The University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Faculty of Management is launching a micro-credential that will prepare leaders to work within the evolving health-care landscape. The Micro-credential in Health Care Management and Leadership is delivered through a mix of in-person modules and online components and follows a curriculum that is specially tailored to the health-care setting. Learners will develop their knowledge and skills in areas such as project management frameworks, economic evaluation methods, and data visualization techniques. “As the demands on our health systems continue to evolve, this program offers a transformative learning experience that is customized for health care to build capacity and lead with operational acumen,” said UBCO Dean of the Faculty of Management Dr Gady Jacoby.

A recent article in Inside Higher Ed discusses how some instructors are requiring students to handwrite their work to ensure that they are not using AI. Instructors such as Durham College Professor Sara Gallagher shared how they have implemented this change. Gallagher shared that instructors sometimes feel pressured to use generative AI within the classroom without guidance on how to detect academic dishonesty. Gallagher and Monica Sain (Mission College), who both require students to complete essays in class, said that switching to handwritten assignments increased student engagement and connection. Melissa Ryckman (University of Tennessee Southern) also shared the impact that this change has on class content.

Université du Québec à Montréal and the healthcare and social services centre Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest (CISSSMO) have signed a framework agreement to strengthen their relationships in related sectors. The three-year agreement outlines how the organizations could collaborate on initiatives such as joint research programs, for-credit and non-credit academic programs, and internships. UQAM recteur Stéphane Pallage stated that CISSSMO and UQAM share a spirit of innovation in service of their communities.

Ontario Tech University researcher Dr Jennifer Abbass Dick, Lakeridge Health, and the Durham Region Health Department recently partnered to launch a digital tool focused on breastfeeding health literacy for parents. The platform is designed for use in both home and clinical care settings, and includes printable handouts and posters that support those who are planning to breastfeed or currently breastfeeding. “Through this resource, we’re giving families the tools they need to understand how their bodies work, overcome common challenges, and know when and where to seek specialized lactation professional support in the community,” said Abbass Dick.