March 17, 2025

Keyano College, Lakeland College, Northern Lakes College, Northwestern Polytechnic, and Portage College have established a partnership that will broaden educational pathways in Alberta’s northern communities. The goal of this agreement—the first of its kind in northern Alberta—is to enhance student access, mobility, and learner outcomes through collaboration between the five institutions. Its core focus is on ensuring that postsecondary education in the region is accessible, relevant, and sustainable. “This collaboration will increase accessibility to educational opportunities for our students and communities,” said Northern Lakes President Dr Glenn Mitchell. “By working together, we can create seamless pathways that empower learners to pursue their goals without leaving their home communities.”

Four postsecondary institutions have made this year’s Manitoba’s Top Employers list. The annual competition—organized by Canada’s Top Employers—recognizes select Manitoba employers that offer exceptional workplaces. This year, Assiniboine College was recognized for its pension plan and phased-in retirement work options. The Université de Saint-Boniface was celebrated for its on-site child-care services. The University College of the North was acknowledged for its subsidized memberships to an on-site fitness facility, while the University of Manitoba was recognized for its efforts in wellness, such as its Live Well program and Wellness Week.

The University of British Columbia has introduced a new process for students who have engaged in academic misconduct. This diversionary process turns first-time academic misconduct cases into opportunities for students to learn about the importance of academic integrity. Staff will work with students who have committed academic misconduct to create Integrity Plans that describe each incident and identify remedial steps. This process is shorter than formal disciplinary cases and will typically provide students with clarity about the outcome of their case within two weeks. “We want this to be an opportunity for students to learn, reflect, and come away better equipped to navigate their academic journeys,” said UBC Academic Integrity Associate Director Dr Ainsley Rouse.

ICEF Monitor reports that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised the requirements for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The updates eliminate the field-of-study requirement for international students graduating from degree programs at colleges. Graduates of any Canadian bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree programs who meet language requirements are now eligible for the PGWP. ICEF Monitor reports that while this change will help level the playing field for Canadian colleges, it may take time for these institutions to regain their standing in international markets.

The Government of Canada Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) has distributed more than $36M to the five SIF networks to bolster collaboration between organizations—including postsecondary institutions—in emerging technology sectors. The Canadian Food Innovation Network and the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network will use their respective shares of the funding for projects in the agri-food sector. The other three networks—the Clean Resource Innovation Network, Natural Products Canada, and Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator—will pursue projects related to natural resources, such as oil, gas, and mining.

Former King’s University College President David Malloy is reportedly suing King’s for wrongful dismissal. Malloy departed King’s in 2024, shortly after his second five-year term as president began. His statement of claim alleges that the “employment termination was based, at least in part, on Dr. Malloy’s creed and association with individuals of a sexual orientation that differs from heterosexuality or other sexual orientations that do not align with Catholic values.” The London Free Press reports that the lawsuit is seeking $1.6M for breach of contract and $50K for discriminatory termination of employment and injury to dignity, feelings, and self-respect. King’s declined to comment on the lawsuit; the university’s statement of defence is expected in mid-April.

In a recent Nature article, Marie Launay (McGill University) explores how research labs can align their daily practices with sustainability. Reflecting on her own experiences as a PhD researcher in fish biology, the author describes how she was struck by the widespread reliance on single-use plastics within many labs. Determined to address this, Launay and her team decided to quantify their waste and implement targeted solutions by reusing instruments and making sustainable purchases. She suggests that other researchers can adopt more environmentally friendly practices in the lab by first measuring their plastic waste and then making incremental improvements. “Every small action adds up, and it’s the collective efforts of scientists that will truly drive change in our practices,” Launay concludes.

Teaching assistants at both Concordia University and Queen’s University are hitting the picket lines this week. Concordia’s Research and Education Workers Union—which represents more than 2,000 teaching and research assistants—launched an indefinite strike last week after reaching an impasse in negotiations with the university. Key issues on the table include wages and job security. At Concordia, the Public Service Alliance of Canada Local 901 are beginning their strike today. The union—which represents approximately 2,000 teaching assistants, teaching fellows, and research assistants—is citing pay, mental health, and child-care as core concerns. Queen’s issued a statement assuring its community that the campus will remain open and that academic activities will continue.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology has received $995K from the Government of Canada’s Green Construction through Wood program to build the Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion. This zero-carbon, passive house, LEED Gold and Rick Hansen-certified building will be built out of mass timber. The pavilion will be used as an educational hub that contributes to the province’s climate plan by offering training in mass timber and hybrid construction. “The investment from Natural Resources Canada towards the development of the BCIT Robert Bosa Carpentry Pavilion exemplifies Canada’s leadership in sustainable construction practices while providing a living lab that enhances training and research opportunities for the next generation of skilled tradespeople,” said BCIT President Dr Jeff Zabudsky.

HEC Montréal’s Media Management Hub has partnered with the Initiative Média et Philanthropie (IMP), which is hosted by the Université de Genève in Switzerland. HEC states that it agreed to be the initial partner in the initiative because of the importance of addressing the issue of media financing in the digital world. IMP will engage in a variety of efforts to support the media sector, such as encouraging philanthropic engagement and developing media governance tools and sustainable financing models. “The IMP will chiefly identify innovations and models that will help maintain the media’s ability to represent reality and foster constructive dialogue in an increasingly polarized world,” said HEC Media Management Hub Director Sylvain Lafrance.