June 2, 2023

The Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2023 have been announced and several Canadian universities ranked among the top 100 in the world. THE Impact Rankings measure a university’s performance in advancing the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This year, four Canadian universities were in the top ten institutions: Queen’s University (third), the University of Alberta (seventh), and the University of Victoria and Western University (tied for ninth). Other universities among the top 100 included: Université Laval (14), University of British Columbia (26), McMaster University (33), University of Calgary (34), York University (40), Université de Montréal (42), University of Waterloo (55), University of Saskatchewan (67), University of Guelph (79), Simon Fraser University (86), University of Toronto (99), and Dalhousie University (100).

Northern College recently announced that it will expand some of its services into the downtown core of Timmins, Ontario. It will invest in a new storefront facility that will house community employment services, academic programming, and additional offerings based on the community’s needs. Northern Senior VP Academic and Student Success Aaron Klooster said that this downtown facility will reach learners where they live and help contribute to student success. “Colleges have an obligation to participate actively in supporting and building community with initiatives just like this one,” said Klooster. Northern anticipates launching the full range of employment services and academic programming as early as 2024.

Postsecondary institutions across Canada are celebrating the beginning of Pride Month with festivities, celebrations, and other initiatives. Ontario Tech University and Durham College hosted the Together Always, United in Diversity Pride Lunch and Carnival, which included drag performances, food, activities, and more. The University of Toronto raised Pride flags on its campuses and hosted a BBQ to celebrate the beginning of Pride Month. The University of Manitoba added a Pride crosswalk at its Fort Garry campus to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. At the University of Saskatchewan, the intersex inclusive Pride flag and the two-spirit flag are flying in the Nobel Plaza, and rainbow lights illuminate the building’s front. Langara College raised the Pride flag, which will make its permanent home on campus.

The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Education has launched an early-childhood education (ECE) certificate program for people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing. This two-year, part-time program will be offered online, and its content will be fully captioned and interpreted. The program will also include in-person practicum placements throughout British Columbia. “This program will help not only the needs of young kids who are Deaf and hard of hearing, but also opens up opportunities for adults who are Deaf and hard of hearing to be appropriately employed in areas of expertise where we have great need,” said UBC Director of the ECE program Dr Laurie Ford. The program is reportedly the first of its kind in Canada.

Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles has announced that it has become a member of the Alliance Sport-Études. Starting in Fall 2023, student athletes will benefit from improved educational support with a focus on helping them excel in sports and in their studies. Alliance Sport-Études will collaborate with the cegep’s management, staff, and teachers to provide student athletes with resources and tailored services. Directeur des études Serge Rochon noted that the cegep became a member in order to support young athletes who must balance their studies and their sport.

Trent University recently celebrated the grand opening of the Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre, a new outdoor performance space at Catharine Parr Traill College. The facility features tiered seating for 140 people, professional lighting, and carefully directed sound. It is named after Jalynn Bennett, who served as a Trent Board of Governors chairperson from 1994-1999. Bennett passed away in 2015 and challenged the university to do something “bold, audacious, and effective” with her $1.3M estate gift. Catharine Parr Traill College Principal Dr Michael Eamon said that the amphitheatre “will be a space where professional artists and performers will entertain the community and provide experiential learning and mentorship opportunities for students in various programs including Culture and Media Studies, English Literature, and Canadian Studies.”

In a recent article for Inside Higher Ed, Toni M Whited discusses strategies that academics can use during seminars to avoid rudeness or presentation hijackings with irrelevant questions. Whited recommends beginning with the specific research question, keeping the talk’s introduction concise, including an organized literature review, and provide occasional summaries to help those who may have become distracted to catch up on the presentation. The author recommends that slides have effective titles and a high ratio of white space to text so that listeners can focus on the verbal delivery of the presentation’s key points. Whited encourages presenters to listen attentively to each question and avoid formulating an answer before hearing the whole question, and notes that presenters can put off questions that will eventually be answered.

Northlands College has partnered with the University of Regina to introduce a new diploma in Computer Science. The program is offered entirely in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and will teach learners essential computing knowledge and skills. Students will be prepared to pursue further education or employment opportunities in areas such as information technology, computer programming, and software development. “This is the type of program we have needed in the north for some time, and it illustrates how great partnerships can overcome obstacles and foster new opportunities for the people of Northern Saskatchewan,” said Northlands Director of University Studies Kory Morvik, who noted that the program will help address industry demand for people trained in the field.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology recently received a donation of a locomotive from the Canadian National Railway Company (CN). The $475K 1992 GE Dash 8-40CW locomotive will be used as a training aid for students in BCIT’s Railway program and will increase student access to equipment as well as hands-on training and learning opportunities. At the recognition event, BCIT also announced the naming of the new Canadian National Railway Company Classroom at its Motive Power Centre of Excellence.

McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The MOU will allow the partners to offer a joint course. “ICAO is our most important partner and closest neighbour in Montréal,” said IASL Interim Director Donal Hanley. “Our Institute was founded in the 1950s at the request of ICAO and it makes us proud to be able to build on this fruitful collaboration for future success.”