March 3, 2026

The Government of Canada, Government of India, and postsecondary representatives celebrated the launch of the new Canada-India Talent and Innovation Strategy. The strategy—launched by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada—outlines how the two countries will deepen cooperation across fronts such as research, student exchanges, and hybrid campuses. CICan will develop a roadmap for establishing Centres of Excellence in sectors of mutual interest. Universities Canada says that it will be developing the new strategy and working closely with its Indian counterparts to consult with stakeholders and develop recommendations for the government in advance of the next G20 meeting. In the announcement, Canada also highlighted 13 new partnerships between Canadian universities and Indian universities.

As part of a recent academic mission to India, several Canadian universities announced the creation of India-based centres that will support academic and research collaborations between India and Canada. Dal is partnering with IISER Tirupati and IIT Tirupati to establish the Tirupati Tri-Institutional Global Innovation Campus. McGill is establishing a new Centre of Excellence in AI Education and Research, which will offer a master’s program in AI when it launches in May 2027. UBC is expanding its South Asia Hub pilot project into a permanent hub for academic partnerships, research collaborations, and industry engagement. UBC also established a $4M scholarship for Indian students.

Nova Scotia Community College is expected to reduce its workforce by 3% following a $9.4M cut in operating funding by the Government of Nova Scotia. Atlantic Academic Union President Neil Cody said that a 3% reduction could result in about 60 job losses, which would create challenges with workload for remaining staff. “Any time that you’re reducing the capacity while your demand remains high, it’s going to create some serious workload pressures and that’s going to have some big impact on the quality of the programming,” he said. NS is also planning to involve itself in the college’s presidential selection process, tabling a bill to move final approval from the college’s board of governors to the provincial cabinet.

Jason M Lodge (The University of Queensland) has written a defence of group assignments as a key tool for learners in the modern age. Lodge responds to comments made by an Australian opposition education spokesperson that disparaged group work, arguing that group assignments build skills that are core to many professions. He says that with AI and digital device usage increasing, it has become key for universities to provide these opportunities for learners to train their “empathic muscles.” Lodge concludes we should focus on how group assignments can be improved to recognize much of the social work involved, rather than eliminating group work altogether.

Several members of the Alberta postsecondary community shared their reaction to the 2026–27 budget. Leaders from institutions like MacEwan University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary welcomed the increase to their operating grants, while also noting the ongoing financial pressures they will be navigating. The Alberta Post-Secondary Network also welcomed the new investments, acknowledging the top-up to operating grants, supports for capital projects, and funding for new program seats. Staff and faculty unions and student newspapers expressed concern about the budget’s impact on students, as the operating grant increases fell below population growth and inflation.

The University of New Brunswick’s McKenna Institute has received $1M in funding from Bell Canada to support the next generation of Canadian cybersecurity talent. The funding will create the McKenna Institute Cyber Talent Program, a 12–16-week full-time intensive program focused on the needs of the cybersecurity sector. The program will draw on UNB’s existing academic pathways, while adding real-world experience through collaboration with industry partners. “Cybersecurity is central to Canada’s economic and national security, and we need the right talent in the right roles at the right time,” said McKenna Institute Founder Frank McKenna.

University of Toronto dentistry dean Dr Anil Kishen is on leave following complaints about the use of discriminatory materials in a lecture. Kishen issued a statement condemning “antisemitism and discrimination in all their forms,” saying that the images were used as visual analogies and that he did not appreciate their meanings and potential impact. In a statement provided to National Post, the university said that Kishen is on leave pending an investigation with which he has agreed to cooperate. The actions have resulted in statements from several groups across Canada including B’nai Brith Canada, the Centre for Israeli and Jewish Affairs, and Canadian Women Against Antisemitism.

Royal Roads University has introduced their Graduate Certificate in Decolonizing Education Systems, a graduate-level certificate that is based in Indigenous governance; relational accountability; and responsibilities to land, water, sky, and communities. The fully online program can be completed in seven months and is open to those from a wide range of professional backgrounds. The certificate’s three courses will opt not to use traditional grading, allowing for flexibility in how assignments are pursued and encouraging learners to apply learning to their own unique contexts. Learners will explore topics such as settler decolonization, decolonizing education systems, and decolonizing educational relationships.

The University of King’s College has announced it will launch its new Student Academic Support Program this fall, thanks to a $500K donation from the Alpha Aquilae Foundation. The program is designed to support students, including those who traditionally face barriers to learning, through the creation of a dedicated Academic Support Coordinator, senior student peer mentors, and mentor-led workshops, among other initiatives. U of King’s College Chief Enrolment and Student Life Officer Kutay Ulkuer explained that the gift will enable the university to more than double its resources above existing supports, reducing barriers and increasing a sense of belonging among students.

York University’s YSpace has signed memorandums of understanding with the Korea Business Angels Association and the Seoul AI Hub following a trip to Korea in December. Through the MOUs, YSpace will support Korean startups that are entering Canada and create pathways for Canadian founders to enter the Korean market. The agreements include plans for joint workshops, mentoring sessions, and research commercialization project collaboration. YSpace Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation David Kwok explained that businesses entering Canada are provided with a range of supports including market assessments, taxation, and physical office space. Programming related to these MOUs is expected to begin later this year.