May 29, 2025

The University of Saskatchewan has received $10M from global nuclear fuel and energy company Cameco. The gift will support multiple initiatives, including academic programs, research and innovation projects, and initiatives devoted to fostering an interest in the STEM disciplines among northern and Indigenous students. “We need to foster today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and builders and we believe Cameco’s investment in USask will help achieve that goal,” said Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel. USask says that this is one of the largest single gifts it has received toward its current fundraising campaign.

In a recent interview with the Journal de Québec, Université de Montréal Recteur Daniel Jutras discusses the topic of academic freedom and the various threats it faces. Jutras tells the Journal that many commentators have raised concerns about “wokeism,” that is, the trends of self-censorship and the treatment of certain topics as taboo. While UMontréal has taken action to defend academic freedom against these trends, Jutras stated that these threats are often exaggerated and pale in comparison to the risks posed to academic freedom by other factors, such as the US government and declining perceptions of higher ed’s credibility. Jutras concludes by reflecting on the decline of the public’s perceptions of higher ed and how the rise of populism, increasing costs of education, and insufficient self-representation by universities have contributed to this.

Algonquin College has launched the AI Accelerator Hub. With support from AWS Canada and Invest Ottawa, the hub brings together applied research programs, cloud computing resources, and training to help organizations improve their productivity. It will support companies and community organizations that wish to accelerate their adoption of cloud and AI technologies. Algonquin Director of Applied Research Philip Dawe noted that the hub will also provide students and faculty with access to AWS’s cutting-edge technology, so that they can focus on cloud and AI solutions.

A former University of Manitoba student who was attacked while living in student housing last fall has filed a lawsuit against the university. The lawsuit accuses UManitoba of negligence and breaching its duty of care to the former student, explains the Winnipeg Free Press. The former student is reportedly seeking damages and the costs of past and future health care services. UManitoba said that it will respond in due course to the statement of claim and noted that it has implemented new safety and security measures since the incident.

Georgian College has unveiled the PBS Systems Innovation Lab, which will support automotive education. Georgian’s Automotive Business School of Canada students will use PBS Systems’ software—the most used system in Canadian dealerships—to practice creating repair orders and parts invoices, managing inventory, and more. They will also have access to the online dealer academy tool to gain additional experience. “Through this lab and our continued partnership with PBS Systems, our students have access to industry-leading digital tools – the same software they’ll use on the job after graduation,” said Georgian Automotive Business School of Canada Executive Director Jason Dale. “Beyond that, the space will help prepare our students for a digital-first automotive landscape and allow them to collaborate on innovative ideas.”

Several authors have drawn attention to the changing educational technology (ed tech) sector. Higher Ed Dive Senior Editor Roger Riddell reports that the ed tech sector is experiencing a decline in venture capital investments. Riddell writes that, globally, $85.6B in venture funds have been provided to ed tech companies over the last 15 years, with funding reaching a peak in 2020 and 2021 and declining thereafter. In Forbes, Christine Côté (London School of Economics), Saul Estrin (LSE), and Katie Nunner (LSE) discuss how the ed tech sector has become crowded and competitive. They write that the sector is transitioning from an “era of optimism” to a more grounded one that will reward the firms that “truly understand the needs of students […] while at the same time adding value for top universities.”

ILSC Education Group has officially opened a new campus that will serve ILSC Language Schools and Greystone College students. The campus, which is located in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour neighbourhood, is close to amenities and can be accessed via public transit. It includes facilities such as academic advising centres, a theatre, and the ILSC Café. Greystone College students are anticipated to fully transition to the new campus by mid-June. “This new campus is a key part of ILSC Education Group’s strategic plan to continually enhance and upgrade our infrastructure, ensuring we provide the best learning and working environments for our students and teams,” said ILSC Education Group CEO Christopher Mediratta.

Confederation College will be suspending three additional programs this Fall: industrial manufacturing processes, engineering business and safety management, and embedded systems. Confederation President Michelle Salo said that these program suspensions are not permanent, noting that the college may offer a winter intake for these programs. In a report delivered to the college community, Salo explained how federal immigration policy shifts, enrolment challenges, and underfunding have created challenges for the college that have led to these program suspensions.

The University of New Brunswick has officially opened the Allison D McCain Commons, which is an expansion of its engineering building. The mass timber and glass structure has transformed the entrance to UNB’s Head Hall engineering building with an atrium that will provide spaces for learning, research, and student interaction. The commons also houses the Student Success Centre, which offers a variety of services, including tutoring, counselling, and a laptop and technology loan program. The space was named in recognition of the contributions of alumnus Dr Allison D McCain, who is the lead donor to the project.

The College Employer Council—representing employers at Ontario’s public colleges—has requested that the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Labour issue a no board report. CEC and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) bargaining team for part-time support staff have reportedly been engaged in negotiations for over a year. “The CAAT-PTSS bargaining team has delayed or ignored repeated requests to respond to mediation, preventing us from reaching a strong and fair renewed collective agreement,” said CEC CEO Graham Lloyd. “Their delays are no longer acceptable.”