March 18, 2024

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), hosted by the University of Manitoba, has received a $5M gift from the Winnipeg Foundation. The funds will contribute to a $40M capital campaign to build a new home for the NCTR. The new location will offer a safe space for the community to come together to share stories, learn about the history of residential schools, further reconciliation, and heal. “The new home for the NCTR will be an internationally renowned site of learning, healing and meaningful action,” said UManitoba President Dr Michael Benarroch.

The University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) will launch a Master of Sustainable Agriculture program in 2025. The 16-month, interdisciplinary program will cover sustainable agriculture, data analysis, and agri-tech. Students will explore the agricultural sector through flexible courses; professional development programming; and experiential learning opportunities, including field courses and site visits. “OAC’s strong focus on experiential learning and partnerships with agricultural organizations provide students with real-world, career-focused experiences,” said UoGuelph OAC Acting Dean John Cranfield. “Students will have many opportunities to connect with potential employers in the agricultural sector, acting as a launching pad for their career.”

In a recent article for University World News, Nic Mitchell discusses the growing interest and participation in the United Nations’ qualification recognition treaty. Twenty-eight countries—representing a quarter of the world’s internationally mobile student population—have ratified the treaty on the recognition of higher education qualifications. The treaty allows for transnational credential recognition, removing barriers to mobility for those who have completed higher education qualifications abroad. UNESCO director of policies and lifelong learning systems Borhene Chakroun said that some of the largest sending and receiving countries—including United States, Canada, Germany, China, India, and Brazil—have not yet joined the convention.

Queen’s University and the University of British Columbia both recently received $1M in endowments each from Teck Resources (Teck) to establish the Don Lindsay Teck Award in Mining Engineering. The award—which was established in recognition of former Teck CEO Don Lindsay’s contributions to the mining sector—will fund annual renewable scholarships for students pursuing mining studies. The endowments build upon longstanding partnerships between Teck and the mining schools at UBC and Queen’s. “The Don Lindsay Teck Award in Mining Engineering will shape the next generation of mining engineers,” said UBC Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science James Olson.

A new article published in the Higher Education journal examines the role of lecture recordings in advancing accessibility in higher education. University of Glasgow scholars Chiara Horlin, Barbora Hronska, and Emily Nordmann explored how students, especially those who are neurodivergent or have disabilities, use lecture recordings. They found that recordings proved to be an inclusive learning tool, as students were able to consolidate their notes after a lecture or take advantage of functional flexibility such as being able to pause or adjust the speed of the recording to manage their learning experience. However, the findings “do not support an uncritical view of lecture recordings,” as the participants emphasized the need for self-discipline to effectively use the recordings and avoid overreliance on them.

Saint Mary’s University Student Association (SMUSA) is calling for the reinstatement of SMUWorks—an on-campus employment program— after Saint Mary’s University announced that it would not offer the program in the upcoming academic year. “The removal of SMUworks will deprive our students of opportunities, especially when they are already grappling with high rent, food inflation, and rising tuition costs,” read a release from SMUSA. SMUSA is also asking the university to ensure that student access to financial aid will not be impacted. In a statement, SMU AVP of External Affairs Margaret Murphy said that “[c]urrently, the university is looking at other work-study options.”

Portage College has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Village of Boyle to offer micro-credential training to municipal employees and elected representatives. Participants will be able to enrol in one complimentary course annually, with access to programming that ranges from permaculture to business essentials. Portage and Boyle will also collaborate to explore work-integrated learning placements for college students; develop promotional, economic development, and training opportunities for the village; and provide service benefits to registered students at Portage. “We’re all about lifelong learning and making our community thrive, and this partnership is a big step towards that,” said Portage President Nancy Broadbent.

York University mathematics instructors have introduced an open educational resource called WeBWorK, which allows math students to practice their skills with an unlimited number of problems and receive instant feedback. YorkU is piloting the program with over 700 Linear Algebra students. YorkU Assistant Professor Andrew McEachern additionally paired the platform with Discord so that students could ask questions and quickly receive answers. McEachern said that so far, his students have been reporting much less anxiety about their homework. “In my opinion, if even one student benefits, it’s worth it,” said McEachern.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Board of Governors has approved an increase to the tuition deposit required from international applicants in preparation for the Government of Canada’s provincial attestation letter (PAL) requirements. International student applicants will be expected to provide a $5K deposit, up from $1K, which will be largely refundable if the applicant’s student visa is denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. UPEI states that the change is intended to ensure that international applicants are serious about their plans to come to the institution. UPEI says that Holland College is making similar changes.

At John Abbott College, students have lined the hallways with loonies and toonies to help others pay for rent, food, and other expenses. The strip of coins is a part of the cégep’s loonie line fundraiser, which is raising money for a student assistance fund. “You don’t really know what everyone’s going through and their situations,” said John Abbott student Sidney Ullmann. Global News reports that the cégep has seen more students in need of financial help, with the student assistance fund receiving more than double the number of requests for help compared with last year.