November 14, 2025

The University of Toronto has launched a $24M program to support postdoctoral fellows and accelerate research at the institution. The university will create 100 two-year postdoctoral positions, beginning in 2026-27, with each postdoctoral fellow receiving $10K per year. There will also be a new award program created to support “rising stars” within the postdoctoral community with grants of $10K or $30K. “At a time when the value of scientific inquiry is contested and the importance of scholarly expertise questioned, the University of Toronto is a place where great minds still have the freedom to go where their curiosity takes them,” said U of T President Melanie Woodin. The university has also recently hired three US academics, which CBC says is part of a broader hiring trend at universities.

The Government of Canada will reportedly be providing $50M to build Inuit Nunangat University, matching the contribution from the national Inuit organization Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. “While they didn’t include it in the budget, I did have a call with the Prime Minister’s Office, where they clarified that even though there’s no number attached to it, they did tell us that the fund will be $50 million,” said MP Lori Idlout. Idlout shared that she was told that the new university would have a main campus and four satellite campuses. Nunavut News reports that the Prime Minister’s Office said that it was looking into the matter before it would confirm or deny.

A group of 20 postsecondary institutions across Quebec has launched ABEO, an application that will support academic and professional travel outside of Quebec. The app’s development was spearheaded by Université Laval and funded by the Government of Québec Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur. It optimizes resources by providing a single location for individuals—such as students or faculty members—to manage their international stays while giving institutions the ability to monitor travel and intervene as necessary, such as in emergency situations. Dependent on the app’s success, its use may expand beyond the initial partnership members.

Northwestern Polytechnic has partnered with instrumentation and electrical service company CDN Controls to support students in the skilled trades. CDN Controls will support the polytechnic’s Skilled Trades Dual Credit Pathways, through which high school students can earn credits at NWP. In recognition of the partnership, NWP’s Electrical Education Centre, which hosts labs, electrical systems, simulation tools, and workspaces, will now be named the CDN Electrical Education Centre. “The support is helping us create dynamic learning spaces and experiences that prepare students to succeed and strengthen the communities we serve,” said NWP VP of External Relations Cindy Park.

HEC Montréal and Desjardins International Development have unveiled a framework partnership agreement for 2025-2030. The two partners intend to embark on international development projects together that will promote climate resilience and social inclusion in the Global South. “Supporting the economic development of vulnerable people in the Global South also strengthens our economy and innovation,” explained Luciano Barin-Cruz, Academic Director, Executive Education HEC Montréal. “Whether it’s the implementation of sustainable practices that have a positive impact on global supply chains, […] the exchange of know-how in the countries concerned that our students can benefit from, or inclusive models that can be adapted by local businesses, our actions have a multiplier effect at the local and international levels.”

In a recent article for the Vancouver Sun, Capilano University Instructor Trevor McFadyen argues that higher education in British Columbia is at risk of “unravelling” in light of federal and provincial government decisions. McFadyen touches on the different roles that regional institutions play in supporting students and the economy of different parts of the province. He also indicates that regional institutions—and by extension, their communities—are more vulnerable to financial shocks than larger institutions. “When these institutions contract or close, the students they serve will not simply shift to UBC or SFU,” writes McFadyen, “Many will lose access to higher education entirely.” He concludes by calling on both levels of government to take the necessary actions to support BC’s public postsecondary institutions.

The Calgary Police Service is investigating after a religious sculpture at St Mary’s University was vandalized and partially stolen. The artwork, which is valued at $30K, is a life-size sculpture depicting Jesus Christ sleeping on a bench. The Calgary Herald explains that the statue has been installed in several locations around the world and is an “internationally recognized symbol of compassion and awareness for the homeless.” The suspect used a saw to remove a portion of the bronze statue, causing significant damage to the artwork, and then loaded the stolen piece into their vehicle.

In a recent article for Macleans, Charlie Wagner-Chazalon discusses his experiences running campus tours at the University of Toronto and some of the best questions that he was asked by parents and students. While tour guides are expected to cover specific information as they lead guests around campus, the Wagner-Chazalon explains that questions create the opportunity to offer the “on-the-ground” experience of a particular campus. Wagner-Chazalon discusses how he answered questions about “the vibes of each residence building” and how he made friends while at university, and shares the insights that these answers contain for prospective students. “Tour guides aren’t sales reps for the school and we certainly don’t earn commission; our goal is to help students choose the best school for them, whether that’s where we go or not,” concludes Wagner-Chazalon.

Three new student apartment buildings near Memorial University are nearing their combined 600-tenant capacity, after having first opened in September 2025. Leasing Manager Chris Cameron told CBC News that two of the buildings are at capacity, while the third is nearly full. A report published in July by Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador and Annex Consulting highlighted the low levels of housing stock in the province relative to the national average. While Cameron said that the initial demand was evidence that the project was needed, continued demand beyond the building’s capacity shows that the need goes beyond what was built.

Maegan Johnson (Hinds Community College) offers several examples in her recent article on how postsecondary advising departments can better serve rural adult learners. Johnson explains that this demographic faces a mix of barriers that can make traditional advising and student supports less accessible. She outlines several practical strategies—such as offering hybrid and community-based advising or applying frameworks like Schlossberg’s 4S model—to better meet these students where they are. “By reimagining advising for rural adult learners, higher education can empower students to complete their degrees, build stronger communities, and contribute to […] economic and social vitality” in their rural regions, concludes Johnson.