March 19, 2026

The Government of Alberta has announced that Northern Lakes College will assume stewardship of the Fairview Campus previously operated by Northwestern Polytechnic. The decision will ensure that students in the Town of Fairview and the surrounding communities continue to have access to postsecondary education. Starting in the Fall, the college will offer programming that includes apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship, dual credit for high school students, online programs, and corporate training and support. NWP will wind down its operations in Fairview in August. “As we assume stewardship of the Fairview Campus, we are inspired by the potential this moment holds — for our students, our communities, and the futures they are building,” said Northern Lakes President Glenn Mitchell.

The Government of Manitoba has tabled changes to the University of Winnipeg and its Board in Bill 29: The University of Winnipeg Amendment Act. The changes include the reduction of the Board of Regents from 36 to 21 members and new requirements around bylaws. The Winnipeg Free Press reports that the reductions would eliminate the spots reserved for support staff and a senior academic administrator and reduce the number of seats held by members appointed by the United Church of Canada, alumni, student union representatives, and academics. If passed, the bill would also require the board to introduce bylaws on conflict-of-interest for board members and an annual performance review of the university president.

Memorial University has received $10M from the Hebron Project to enhance student learning experiences. Memorial’s Centre for Analytics, Informatics and Research (CAIR) will use the funds to enhance its capacity and capabilities by expanding its operations team and undertaking technology and cybersecurity upgrades. Students will also gain access to additional hands-on and industry-connected learning opportunities. “Today’s announcement opens pathways for Memorial’s student researchers — our future innovators and leaders,” said Memorial President Dr Janet Morrison.

Times Higher Ed has released a ranking of the “most international universities in the world” for 2026. The ranking assessed institutions from around the world according to their international research, reputation, staff, and student scores in the publication’s World University Rankings. Four Canadian institutions appeared in the ranking: the University of Toronto (#27), the University of British Columbia (#32), McGill University (#43), and the University of Alberta (#49). Times Higher Ed reporter Patrick Jack noted that there was a drop in the rankings across most institutions from the countries of Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, which each introduced policies to limit international student numbers.

Automatically including textbook costs in institution fees under so-called “inclusive access programs” is not a solution to affordability challenges, argue Mount Royal University academic librarians Madelaine Vanderwerff and Sara Sharun. Vanderwerff and Sharun explain that while proponents cite increased course completion rates, improved grades, and cost savings for students, their own research shows that fundamental competencies may suffer as a result of this practice. Surveyed Canadian faculty said that research competency and critical thinking skills should be the focus of course materials rather than affordability. The authors conclude that academic staff should be the arbiters of their own course materials, with the option to draw on Open Educational Resources, library partnerships, or other freely available content to increase affordability for learners.

McGill University’s downtown and Macdonald campuses have been awarded a joint Silver Fair Trade designation by Fairtrade Canada, which recognizes their commitment to fair trade goods available on campus. McGill Student Housing and Hospitality Services Sustainability Co-ordinator Göktuğ Bender explained that the university made Fairtrade certified foods available on campus such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, as well as hosting Fairtrade Month events on campus each October. “This is about making sure that we use our institutional purchasing power to support farmers and communities around the world–and about empowering students to be stewards of that change,” said Bender. This year marks the first year that the campuses have received the designation through a single joint application.

Dalhousie University’s Killam Memorial Library has reduced its energy use by more than 50% by undertaking a retrofit completed this winter. The retrofit included an overhaul to the building’s lighting and heating systems: LEDs and motion detection were introduced to reduce lighting costs, while the heating system was switched from steam to hot water. The library was selected for the retrofit because it was one of the university’s most energy-demanding buildings, according to Dal Office of Sustainability Executive Director Stephanie MacPhee. Next, the university plans to turn its attention to the Student Union Building and the Kenneth C Row Management Building for further energy efficiency projects.

The Centre for Digital Media, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Community College, and the Vancouver Film School have received support from partners DigiBC and Netflix for their respective creative technology programs. The partners have disbursed Creative Technology Gateway Sponsorships to create fully funded seats in animation and VFX art programs at both VCC and VFS. They have also awarded funds to CDM, SFU, and VCC to support the development of micro-credentials for learners looking to reskill or upskill into evolving roles in creative technology. “The funding from Netflix and DigiBC will enable more of BC’s talent pipeline to gain the skills needed to join this exciting field,” said VCC Foundation Executive Director Moira Gookstetter.

Western University’s Ivey Business School has launched an AI Fellows Program to let AI leaders help shape the school’s AI programming. Fellows will connect with the Ivey community through guest lectures, research collaboration, and the development of new cases and teaching materials. The inaugural cohort will include 16 fellows—many of whom are Ivey graduates—with backgrounds in areas such as technology, venture capital, and financial institutions. Ivey Dean Julian Birkinshaw explained that consultation and collaboration with AI leaders will prepare learners “to lead in a world where AI will be deeply embedded in how organizations operate.”

In a recent article for The Conversation, Habib Rezanejad (MacEwan University) discusses the potential for lab-grown organoids to replace animals in the laboratory. Organoids—tiny, three-dimensional versions of human organs grown in a lab from stem cells—offer researchers the opportunity to study human diseases more directly. Rezanejad discusses the benefits of this in fields such as brain research and personalized medicine, and notes that organoids could replace animal testing altogether in some areas of research. He concludes by discussing some of the limitations of organoids, asserting that this emerging technology should be viewed as a new addition to a scientist’s “toolbox” rather than a total replacement.