June 3, 2025

Schools and postsecondary institutions across Canada have announced events and begun to share resources in celebration of National Indigenous History Month. In addition to sharing learning resources, institutions like McMaster University and Royal Roads University are holding formal ceremonies and gatherings during the month. Many schools are also hosting special cultural events, such as concerts at the Banff Centre, lunch and learn film screenings at Durham College, and an Indigenous Musical Showcase at MacEwan University. Saint Mary’s University is holding an Indigenous Innovation Design Sprint that will bring Indigenous entrepreneurs, changemakers, and allies together for a two-day event.

A recent study by two researchers from the University of British Columbia Okanagan examining student use of GenAI suggests that students are using AI ethically. The study evaluated responses from over 300 health sciences students, who anonymously reported their generative AI use on a reflective writing assignment. Responses showed that only one-third of students had used GenAI on a reflective writing assignment, with the majority using the tools selectively and in ways that were supportive of the reflective process. Among those who used GenAI, 83% said they believed their usage had been ethical. UBCO Assistant Professor Meaghan MacNutt said these findings contradict common concerns. “[S]tudents in our study reported that AI use was motivated more by learning than by grades, and they are using AI tools selectively and in ways they believe are ethical and supportive of their learning,” said MacNutt.

The University of Manitoba and the University of Saskatchewan are supporting evacuation efforts as their respective provinces contend with wildfires. UManitoba is supporting the Government of Manitoba’s efforts to support evacuees by providing approximately 80 beds and other resources. “As the university for Manitoba, we remain committed to supporting our community in times of crisis,” said UManitoba President Michael Benarroch. USask will be providing 25 Red Cross staff and volunteers with accommodations. It has also shared a list of resources with students, faculty, and staff who are affected by the wildfires and is currently working to ensure that any displaced students are also provided with accommodations.

Bishop’s University recently partnered with Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics to host the Perimeter Scholars International Start Program (PSI Start) on Bishop’s campus in Sherbrooke. This is the first Canadian satellite of the PSI Start program, which offers students programming that serves as an entry point to learn about advanced theoretical physics. The program consisted of an online program and an in-person research internship. “This is about creating things that will improve our understanding of the world,” said Bishop’s Professor Valerio Faraoni. “Having this satellite program at Bishop’s demonstrates what is possible when a small university dares to think big. It’s not just good for our students—it’s good for Canada.”

The University of Alberta has unveiled a new initiative to help parents on campus: a new Mamava pod. The pod offers a private space where staff or students can breastfeed or pump comfortably. It builds on the other family-friendly features of campus, such as a family corner in UAlberta’s Rutherford Library where students can study while their children play. “We recognize the diversity of our campus population, and that diversity includes students with dependents and students who parent,” said UAlberta Assistant Dean of Student Health and Wellness Kevin Friese. Friese told CTV News that the average student age has risen at the university, and many mature students and graduate students at the university have families.

Continuing education enrolments at Canadian universities have grown by 16.1% since 2022, according to a national survey by the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE). In 2024, 33 universities collectively reported over 499,000 enrolments across certificates, micro-credentials, and community programming. Among 20 institutions that consistently reported over three years, continuing education enrolment rose steadily, reflecting demand for flexible, career-aligned learning. However, CAUCE found that nearly 60% of these enrolments are not reported to government, which means the sector’s scale often goes unrecognized. “Continuing education is meeting real needs—from career shifts to lifelong learning—but we need to tell that story clearly,” said CAUCE Chair of Data Collection Committee Evan Cortens.

As the Canada 150 (C150) Research Chairs program comes to an end, many of its internationally recruited scholars are choosing to stay in Canada, reports Hannah Liddle of University Affairs. The $117.6M initiative was launched in 2017 to attract leading international scholars and strengthen research capacity at Canadian institutions. Collectively, the chairs have trained nearly 1,000 students and received over 1,300 awards. With the initiative winding down, researchers are calling for renewed federal investment to maintain Canada’s global research standing. “This is the moment to triple the funding for research in Canada,” said University of Toronto C150 Research Chair Alán Aspuru-Guzik.

About 100 employees from Cégep de Jonquière marched to the office of local Government of Québec Member of the National Assembly Yannick Gagnon on Friday to protest the provincial cuts to Quebec’s cégep system. Participants representing faculty, support staff, and professionals raised concerns about hiring freezes; caps on paid hours; and the non-renewal of vacant, project-based, and retiring positions. Union representatives said that the effects of reduced funding are already being felt on campus, despite institutional efforts to maintain student services.

Kenjgewin Teg has launched a new Alumni Platform and Perks Program to strengthen alumni connections and offer benefits to graduates. This platform offers alumni a variety of opportunities, including exclusive benefits, mentorship and networking, and job and training alerts. “Our new alumni program will become a unique way for our graduates to stay connected to our Kenjgewin Teg lifelong learning community,” said Kenjgewin Teg President Beverley Roy. “We know that students are only with us for a short time during their programs of study, and listening and learning to the teachings of Anishinaabe-aadiziwin takes a lifetime.”

A new editorial from Nature calls for collective action to address persistent gender disparities in research publishing. The piece responds to recent research by data analysts at Springer Nature—the publishers of Nature—who examined 215,000 submissions to Nature Portfolio journals and found that women made up 16% of corresponding authors for Nature. There were notable variations between journals: women’s authorship rates were higher in psychology (33%) and the life sciences (23%), and lower in physics, chemistry, and computer science (10–13%). Nature reports that targeted outreach has helped boost women’s representation in review articles, but the overall imbalance has not changed since 2018. The editors conclude by calling for a collective response to this systemic problem.