May 1, 2025

According to the Canadian Press (CP), the Government of Ontario is considering shortening the length of teachers’ college to address the province’s educator shortage. CP obtained Ministry of Education documents and research reports on teacher supply and demand through two freedom-of-information requests. The documents include findings that longer teaching programs do not necessarily produce better teachers and that the shortage of educators is expected to worsen in 2027. Some in the sector, including the Ontario Principals’ Council and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, support a return to a one-year teaching program. However, Council of Ontario Universities President Steve Orsini warned that “anything that would reduce the preparation our teachers receive could affect the quality of education and future success of students.”

HEC Montréal, the Université du Québec à Montréal, the Université de Sherbrooke, and SAP Canada are launching a three-year project to help Canadian companies harness the power of AI. The $2M project will focus on reducing the costs associated with data visualization errors, helping Canadian companies better interpret data and optimize their real-time decision making. A core initiative of this collaboration will be advancing the Business Builders learning platform—a game-based tool developed by HEC Montréal’s ERPsim Lab and SAP Canada that helps university and college students develop their data visualization skills. Results from the project will be published in scientific journals and integrated into academic and professional training courses.

Academics in Saskatchewan are continuing to grapple with the choice of whether to travel to the US for academic events, reports CBC. University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association Vice-Chair Matthew Mitchell said this situation is “unprecedented” for “Canadian professors who are quite privileged in many respects, who have many protections for the most part, who value academic freedom, freedom of expression.” Mithcell added that academics are now making choices that could impact their ability to network or make connections leading to employment. USask doctoral student Wendy Verity told CBC that declining a US conference opportunity may impact her CV and network, while USask Professor Nazeem Mahajarine told Radio-Canada that he would fear engaging in academic discussions at US-based conferences due to potential repercussions.

McGill University’s Centre for International Peace and Security Studies (CIPSS) and the Max Bell School of Public Policy have joined the Global Alliance for Peace Operations. The alliance, which includes more than 50 think tanks, research institutes, and civil society organizations, brings together international expertise to develop policy recommendations on peacekeeping and peace operations. It is coordinated by the Global Governance Institute in Brussels, the Berlin Center for International Peace Operations, and Amani Africa Media and Research Services. As part of McGill’s contribution, Max Bell School of Public Policy Director Jennifer Welsh and CIPSS Visiting McConnell Fellow Emily Paddon Rhoads will share their insights on the protection of civilians in the alliance’s input for the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial.

York University and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) have signed an MOU that formalizes their relationship, identifies areas and processes for future collaboration. This agreement will facilitate projects that leverage YorkU and TRCA areas of expertise, including environmentally focused research collaborations; student, community, and stakeholder engagement; and knowledge mobilization. “Championing sustainability is a collective effort, and we are proud to partner with TRCA to create new research and learning opportunities for our researchers, faculty, and students while addressing the most pressing environmental challenges of our time,” said YorkU President Rhonda Lenton.

University of Calgary Properties Group (UCPG) has partnered with Truman Homes to build Scholar: a purpose-built rental residence in the University District. The new six-storey, mixed-used building is projected to add 203 units to the area. It will offer one- and two-bedroom rental units, all of which will include a balcony, washer and dryer, and stone finishes. The building will have a main floor retail podium managed by UCPG, while residential units will be managed by Truman Homes. The Calgary Herald reports that this arrangement will enable UCPG to optimize returns on land owned by the University of Calgary. Construction is anticipated to begin this summer, with occupancy expected in 2027.

Cégep Édouard-Montpetit is facing scrutiny after reporting high failure rates in a provincially funded refresher program for internationally educated nurses recruited from French-speaking Africa. According to Le Devoir, six of the 13 students in a recent cohort at the cégep failed the program, prompting the Government of Québec to question the institution’s support measures. While the cégep’s overall success rate for the program since October 2023 remains at 74%, some of the program’s students have raised concerns about poor communication, harsh grading, and a cold learning environment. Cégep officials maintain that the evaluation process is rigorous, but fair. The cégep has since launched a comprehensive review of its student support services.

The University of Manitoba Student Union recently reviewed and rejected a motion calling for UMSU community representatives to receive an honorarium. According to the student newspaper The Manitoban, UMSU has seven elected volunteer community representatives who “advocate on behalf of and represent their community” to the UMSU board of directors. Those that put forward the motion emphasized the need to demonstrate appreciation, as well as the inconsistent use of honoraria in the past; those against argued that it could lead to biases in voting decisions and the union’s existing bylaws . Ultimately, the honoraria motion was ruled out of order due to union bylaws, though UMSU President Divya Sharma announced that representatives would receive a $250 UMSU gift card in recognition of their work.

In a recent article for the evoLLLution, Gabrielle Martinez (Western Governors University) discusses the key role that registrars play in managing micro-credentials. The author argues that the registrar’s office is often a key driver of innovation in micro-credential programming, particularly in areas such as credentialing systems, data integrity, and the overall student experience. Martinez highlights the importance of aligning micro-credentials with institutional standards, supporting their recognition on transcripts, and ensuring metadata clarity to help students effectively showcase their skills. The author also emphasizes the importance of promoting collaboration across departments for good micro-credential management. Martinez concludes by positioning registrars as key contributors to institutional innovation and learner success through inclusive, responsive and trustworthy micro-credentialing practices.

Cégep de Sorel-Tracy has officially launched a new website. The website is designed primarily for prospective students, with information for current students hosted in a separate intranet platform. The new website offers information that will guide prospective students in their decision-making and enrolment processes. It also highlights the reasons why students may choose to study at the cégep, including the institution’s sports and sociocultural activities. Cégep de Sorel-Tracy said that the new website is part of several newly implemented actions that aim to meet future student needs.