In an article for Toronto Star, Nairah Ahmed reports on how journalism programs across the country are responding to significant changes and pressures in the traditional media landscape. Program and institutional leaders from Fanshawe College, Mohawk College, Seneca Polytechnic, and Toronto Metropolitan University shared how their programs are changing. Some programs are focusing on the transferable skills developed throughout a journalism program that could apply to other workplaces: Fanshawe Broadcast Journalism Coordinator Gina Lorentz shares how storytelling skills, for example, are still needed in the field of digital and corporate communications and the non-profit sector. Tina Cortese, chair of the school of media at Seneca, also shares that journalism programs should prepare students for careers outside of the traditional newsroom and teach learners how to create content across multiple platforms.
Top Ten News
June 20, 2023
Université de Montréal has established a new multidisciplinary research hub that will study environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The Michael D Penner Institute for ESG Issues will leverage academic expertise to contribute to the ongoing debates on companies’ responsibilities in areas such as climate change, diversity, and human rights. The institute will be led by UMontréal Professor Isabelle Martin. Foundational funding for the initiative comes from private-equity executive Michael Penner; Scotiabank has also donated $1.5M to create a Sustainable Development Innovation Observatory within the new institute. UMontréal rector Daniel Jutras said that the university is well-equipped with “expertise to develop [the institute] into a far-reaching interdisciplinary project.”
Universities Canada recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of the Philippines. This agreement will facilitate deeper cooperation on the issues of science, technology, and innovation between universities in the Philippines and in Canada. In particular, the MOU aims to combine expertise from the two countries to drive inclusive and sustainable development around the world. “This collaboration will provide numerous opportunities for us to build and strengthen our individual and institutional linkages and work together to find solutions to pressing challenges facing our world,” said Universities Canada President Paul Davidson.
UPEI makes changes to senior executive team, faculty association calls for board member resignations
Several changes to the University of Prince Edward Island’s senior executive team have been announced, following the release of an independent report on UPEI’s workplace culture. Jackie Podger, who held the role of vice-president, finance and administration at UPEI, was placed on administrative leave a day prior to the report’s release. Tara Judson will serve as acting Vice-President Administration and Finance and Sue Connolly will take on the newly announced interim Vice-President, People and Culture position. UPEI’s Faculty Association issued a letter describing the report as “devastating” and calling for the immediate resignation of board members who held their seats from 2013 to 2015.
Nunavut Arctic College and Galaxy Broadband have partnered to expand education and training opportunities for Nunavummiut. The collaboration will enable Arctic College to connect to the National Research and Education Network (NREN) and CANARIE using satellite technology from Galaxy Broadband. Through this connection, the college’s students, faculty, and researchers will have new access to research and education tools and services. “Our partnership with Galaxy Broadband is a substantial stride towards fulfilling our mission of offering culturally relevant programs of the highest national standard, while building internal capacity to operate such systems and services locally,” said Arctic College President Rebecca Mearns.
Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health has received a $2.5M gift from Shoppers Drug Mart that will enhance diversity in health education and support research that aligns with Nova Scotia’s health transformation agenda. $1.5M will be used to create undergraduate scholarships to reduce barriers for students who are Black Nova Scotians, Indigenous, or who are from New Glasgow and/or North Sydney and are studying in pharmacy, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy programs. $1M will support research on the larger role that pharmacists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists have within the health system.
In a recent article for Nature, Nicollette Jessica Setiawan and Christina Marie Termini provide a method for managing laboratory inventory. Setiawan and Termini write that labs should assess their needs and the areas that they need to improve; create a plan such as a purchasing spreadsheet that could include details such as vendor information, lot numbers, storage location, and order status; and implement a system to track purchases and inventory. This system will need to be adjusted to suit the needs of the lab and updated regularly to keep the information accurate. Additionally, all lab members should share the responsibility of updating the information in the spreadsheet so that team members know where items are stored.
McGill University and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc have partnered to launch a new digital platform that streamlines the consent process for participants in The Neuro Open Biobank and patient registry. Previously, patients had to meet in-person with a clinical research coordinator to give consent to participate in clinical trials; under the new process, patients can meet with a virtual coordinator, consider their participation in their own time, and then provide consent using the accessible, online platform. “This new platform allows us to dramatically expand our Biobank and registry recruitment as well as our work with patient groups and disease networks to find patients/people to participate in research,” said McGill Associate Professor Jason Karamchandani. “It will also make the consent process less strenuous for patients.”
Sheridan College and Colleges and Institutes Canada recently announced the launch of its new Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Knowledge Mobilization Dissemination Centre (KMDC). As a CICan KMDC, Sheridan will support local organizations that have committed to the 50–30 Pledge, a Canada-wide initiative that challenges organizations to increase EDI in the workplace. The KMDC will provide EDI coaching and consultations, host knowledge-sharing events, and disseminate online resources. “We are pleased to have been selected as a Knowledge Mobilization Dissemination Centre through which we can leverage our collective expertise to engage local organizations committed to optimizing the skills of diverse local talent,” said Sheridan EDI Knowledge Mobilization Advisor Alicia Sullivan.
Several postsecondary institutions in Canada have recently announced new short-term programs. Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick will offer six micro-certificates in woodworking; five focus on cabinetmaking and will lead to a cabinetmaking certificate, while one focuses on computer-aided planning and manufacturing. Campion College and the University of Regina are offering a new certificate program in Health and Medical Humanities that is designed to teach students and health-care professionals about the relationships between medicine, health, society, and culture. Simon Fraser University has launched the Climate Action Certificate program, which is designed to prepare working professionals from sectors affected by climate change to lead climate change plans, apply solutions, and more.