May 23, 2025

The Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), a non-profit focused on advancing AI research and training, has received a $5M Google.org grant to boost AI literacy among Canadian postsecondary students. The funding will support a national consortium of 25 postsecondary institutions that will embed new AI curriculum into existing programs, with the goal of reaching 125,000 students and accelerating workforce readiness. “From colleges and polytechnics to U15 Canadian research universities and Indigenous PSE institutes, we’re ready to support educators with access to curriculum resources across faculties, programs and domains,” said Amii CEO Cam Linke.

The Institut maritime du Québec (IMQ) is leading a new training consortium to develop shipbuilding training programs and address labour shortages in the province. The partnership includes six cégeps: Cégep de Chicoutimi, Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, Cégep de Jonquière, Cégep de Lévis, Cégep de Rimouski, and Cégep de Sorel-Tracy. CBC reports that IMQ estimated in 2020 that nearly 4,000 maritime jobs were unfilled. To help fill this gap, the consortium will develop college-level training that integrates topics like robotics, marine materials, quality control, and project management. Partners will also assess workforce needs and revise existing offerings to better align with regional and industry priorities.

The University of Saskatchewan will receive a $1.5M investment from Cenovus Energy to fund the creation and programming of the Cenovus Energy Makerspace. The space will be located within the soon-to-be constructed Engineering Design Hub. The makerspace will include a fabrication area and a space for testing prototypes and design projects, giving students hands-on opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, and develop problem-solving skills. “With Cenovus’s support in creating new dynamic learning environments, our students will gain the confidence and experience to lead in an ever-changing engineering landscape,” said USask President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff.

A new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) reveals a shift in accessibility service use in the Ontario postsecondary sector: In 2022–23, the percentage of university students accessing Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) services (13.4%) surpassed that of college students (12.9%) for the first time since 2013-14. HEQCO links the decline in college OSD registrations in large part to rising international enrolments—making up nearly half of all college students in 2022-23—who access OSD services at much lower rates (1.2%) than domestic students (23.5%). Barriers for international students include limited awareness, cultural stigma, and challenges with documentation and funding. As the number of students with disabilities continues to grow, HEQCO emphasizes the need for OSD services to scale accordingly.

The University of Calgary is leading a $1.24M research initiative focused on improving workplace safety in mining and construction. The funds were provided to UCalgary through Alberta’s creative sentencing provision after employers and contractors were fined $1.24M in relation to the death of Brandon Nelson during maintenance work at an oilsands site. Under Alberta’s creative sentencing provisions, courts can direct fines from workplace safety convictions toward prevention-focused initiatives instead of the province’s general revenue. In this case, the funds will support a project led by UCalgary Professor Thomas O’Neill, in partnership with researchers at Mount Royal University and the University of Alberta, which will study the psychological and organizational factors behind workplace safety and develop an Alberta-based rigging and hoisting competency standard. “We hope to make some good out of this tragedy and do right by Brandon’s family and friends,” said O’Neill.

Université Laval has received $1M from the Government of Québec’s Ministère de la Sécurité publique to support research on the ecological effects of beach nourishment on coastal seabed communities. The funding will advance the second phase of a project examining the impact of shoreline protections on benthic invertebrates—small animals that live on or in the seabed, such as worms, clams, and crustaceans—in regions such as Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Côte-Nord. Researchers from ULaval’s aquatic ecology and biodiversity lab will study five sites along the St Lawrence coast to assess the spatial and temporal extent of these ecological changes and contribute to long-term climate resilience planning.

Fleming College’s Academic Upgrading program in Cobourg has relocated to the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre. The program prepares learners for further education or employment through free, flexible training in subjects such as English, math, and computer literacy. The new site provides students with improved amenities and easier transit access. “Being based out of Venture13 allows us to connect more directly with local businesses,” said Fleming VP, Student Experience Kate McIntosh. “It also gives our learners the chance to network and gain exposure to potential employers.”

Higher education institutions in developed economies must prioritize collaboration with partners in the Global South to effectively address complex global challenges, argue Lena Gumaelius, Tommy Shih, and Susanne Nilsson (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm) for University World News. The authors warn that rising geopolitical tensions are threatening academia’s ability to serve as a global public good. Drawing on KTH’s long-standing partnerships with African institutions, they underscore how innovation thrives in resource-constrained contexts and advocate for partnerships grounded in co-creation and mutual learning, not aid or extraction. “International academic collaboration is not just a strategic consideration; it is what underpins a truly global academic community,” they write.

Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business has extended a partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), becoming an official supporter. Through the partnership, CPC staff and sport members will be able to access Smith professional development and training opportunities through 2032. “Our renewed partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee reflects a shared commitment to developing leaders who drive impact both on and off the field of play,” said Queen’s Smith School of Business Interim Dean, Lynnette Purda. “Working alongside the CPC, Smith is helping shape a future where diverse perspectives and purposeful leadership define success in business and beyond.”

Simon Fraser University has officially broken ground on a new $196.6M residence and child care project at its Burnaby campus. The residence will accommodate 445 upper-year students in a mix of studios, suites, and townhouses, while the new child care centre will add 160 spaces for students, staff, and community members. The project will use mass timber construction and is designed to meet high energy efficiency and carbon reduction standards in support of SFU and BC’s CleanBC commitments. “I look forward to continued growth of SFU’s resident student community on Burnaby Mountain and to continued partnership with the provincial government as we move forward,” said SFU President Joy Johnson. The development is part of SFU’s five-phase housing master plan and is expected to be complete in Fall 2027.