November 1, 2024

Memorial University’s Continuous, Adult and Lifelong Learning (CALL) has launched an online hub for its continuing education and professional development offerings. The new hub provides a single location for community members to read testimonials, access resources, and explore for-credit and non-credit programming from across the university. “By bringing together educational offerings from across the university in one central, online space, we aim to help people pursue their passions, enhance their careers and broaden their horizons with ease,” said Memorial Special Advisor on Continuing Education Dr Ailsa Craig.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) is facing criticism over its “guideline,” which stipulates that international students should only be served after they have been in Canada for over one year. GVFB CEO David Long said that the guideline was created in response to an influx of international students, as well as social media posts about food bank misuse. Several individuals spoke to the press about the negative impact that the policy has on international students at a vulnerable time in their experience in Canada. “If we want to help international students, this is the one thing we can get rid of,” said Jaskaran Singh, an international student activist with Team We Care Canada, adding that the students who are new to the country may lack resources and support. Long said that in spite of the policy, the food bank would provide food to international students who are truly in need.

Several education-focused companies have recently announced new or expanded partnerships focused on better serving postsecondary institutions and students. GuardMe International Insurance and Points for School have partnered to enable students to use loyalty points to pay for their education. The partnership intends to help address the financial barriers that Canadian students may encounter while pursuing an education. Anthology has announced two partnerships: The first partnership aims to bring Transact Campus’s campus payment and credentialling systems to Anthology’s technology solution platforms, while the second partnership will see Obrizum’s AI-powered learning technology implemented into Anthology’s Blackboard learning management system. Ellucian and Transact Campus have also expanded their partnership to create a more efficient, streamlined payment process for tuition and expenses.

The University of Manitoba and York University have each announced a variety of new sustainability initiatives. UManitoba launched the 2024 Green Investment Fund to support student, faculty, and staff projects promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. The university also recently highlighted how its Low-Fire Ceramics class used clay from a local construction site to reduce the environmental impact of the ceramics creation process. YorkU has launched electric shuttle busses to run between its campuses, a move that it says is a first in Ontario, in addition to launching a new virtual course run by the United Nations Institute for Training & Research (UNITAR) Global Water Academy which aims to tackle the issue of global water insecurity.

The British Columbia Institute of Technology and Brock University have each announced new programs. BCIT’s Associate Certificate in Polytechnic Teaching (POLY) program is designed to prepare current and aspiring postsecondary educators to teach in an applied-skills environment. Program graduates can also transfer their courses and continue their education with Vancouver Community College’s Provincial Instructor Diploma Program. Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences is offering two new degrees: A Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation (BTR) and a Concurrent Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies with Honours in Outdoor Education/Bachelor of Education. The BTR will teach students to promote health and well-being through leisure activities and prepare them to sit the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification exam. The Concurrent Bachelor program will teach educators to integrate outdoor learning with classroom teaching and promote outdoor experiences.

The University of Saskatchewan recently issued a health alert for pertussis, also known as whooping cough. USask Student Wellness Centre physician Dr Ayla Mueen said that there has been an uptick in whooping cough at the university. Mueen stated that the uptick is concerning, not only for the students but also for infants in the community who are too young to be immunized. Those coming to campus are advised to ensure that their immunizations are up to date and to wear a mask if they feel sick. CBC says that the Public Health Agency of Canada has received reports of over 12,000 cases of whooping cough across Canada from January to August this year, a marked increase over the nationwide average of 4,500.

Humber Polytechnic recently received accreditation from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) for its forthcoming Mortgage Agent Level 1 licensing course. The accreditation demonstrates that the course meets Ontario regulatory requirements under the Mortgage Brokerages, Lenders, and Administrators Act. “This course offers a clear pathway to entering the mortgage industry, and we are confident that our learners will be on track to finding rewarding careers upon completing the program,” said Humber Program Delivery Associate Dean Erin Gray. Humber says that it is the first postsecondary institution accredited by the FSRA to offer the program. The polytechnic also recently announced that a partnership between Humber’s journalism program and Village Media has resulted in the launch of a new Humber Et Cetera news website.

The Vector Institute and Conference Board of Canada have announced a new report on the AI workforce in Canada. Among the report findings, the researchers note that Canada has abundant technical talent, which means that AI-skilled jobseekers need other skills and experience to stand out. The report also discusses the challenges faced by employers on the fronts of AI adoption and AI literacy. Among its recommendations, the report calls for strengthened AI education at the postsecondary level and the creation of more bridges between academia and industry through work-integrated learning opportunities. “Continuing to cultivate top-tier AI talent and retaining these professionals will be crucial if Canada is to remain competitive in the global AI landscape,” commented Conference Board of Canada Director of Innovation and Technology Alain Francq.

The University of Waterloo held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on the new Mathematics 4 building. The building will serve as the heart of the mathematics district on campus, connecting the W G Davis Computer Research Centre, Mathematics and Computing, and Mathematics 3 buildings. It will house increased classroom space, research labs, and an eco-friendly server room. “The facility will help Waterloo harness its expertise in technology to revolutionize health care, address the climate crisis, create a more equitable society, protect our data and privacy and drive economic prosperity,” said UWaterloo President Dr Vivek Goel. “M4 will bring together researchers from across the University and encourage new collaborations and synergies at the intersection of disciplines.”

Thanks to new partnership agreements with international institutions, HEC Montréal will be adding two new destinations to its international exchange program. Students can now travel to New Jersey thanks to a partnership agreement with the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University, or to Australia, thanks to a partnership agreement with Bond Business School at Bond University. Students will be able to spend a semester studying at one of these institutions starting in 2025-26.