November 16, 2023

The University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences has received a $1.5M donation from RBC to bolster research in low-emission agricultural practices. This gift will fund research grants for 30 undergraduate and 15 graduate students at UManitoba, supporting the advancement of research and solutions related to the impact climate change has on the food production industry. “RBC’s important investment ensures that we are preparing the next generation of sustainable food producers,” said UManitoba Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Dr Martin Scanlon. “Students will work closely with top researchers as well as producer organizations in areas of the students’ choice, such as regenerative agriculture, soil health and livestock nutrition in the quest for climate-smart agricultural systems.”   

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) has paused its plan to implement a third year in family practice training after a significant number of family physicians, government leadership, and medical organizations spoke out against the idea. CFPC had initially planned to mandate a third year of specialty training starting in 2027, citing the need to better prepare family physicians for more complex cases. However, in a non-binding vote, more than 91% of the family physicians in attendance of the CFPC’s annual membership meeting voted against the plan, raising concerns about existing labour gaps in the medical field.

The McMaster University Indigenous Research Institute (MIRI) has released a living guidance document for researchers whose work engages with Indigenous Peoples and communities. The MIRI Indigenous Research Primer provides advice on how to conduct community-based participatory research, outlines Indigenous methods and research paradigms, and provides guidelines on what to do if a community does not consent to being involved in the proposed research. “As researchers, we all have our curiosities. We have our passions and our interests,” said MIRI Director Savage Bear. “But when you want to work with an Indigenous community or individuals, none of these might be their concern. We need to follow the community’s lead.”

In a recent article for the Chronicle of Higher Ed, Beth McMurtrie discusses the challenges that instructors are experiencing with students crossing boundaries and exhibiting poor behaviour in class and on campus. McMurtrie recounts the experiences of faculty members who had students make aggressive demands or disrupt the classroom. These faculty shared that they felt that they must solve these problems on their own and exhibit endless flexibility, lest they be seen as “unreasonable.” The author also discusses solutions that have been implemented at a number of American universities, including establishing standards and providing wrap-around supports, creating clear class policies and using transparent course design, having faculty discussions about reasonable course expectations, providing workshops, and reestablishing boundaries with students.

Université de Moncton’s continuing education department has launched a new online platform that offers an enhanced user experience for its learners. Developed in collaboration with the UMoncton community, the new platform provides a centralized location for the entire continuing education slate of offerings, including professional training, part-time programs, language courses, and youth camps. The new system also contains an integrated e-commerce system to simplify the payment process, improved data security measures, and a mechanism from which students can easily monitor their course progress.

Trent University’s Cleantech Commons has entered a knowledge partnership with ProLytics Research Synergies to boost the work of clean technology entrepreneurs and innovators. The partnership will support and connect start-up and spinout ventures at Cleantech Commons as they develop, test, and scale their product, therein helping them to bring their ideas to market faster. “We know that many of tomorrow’s clean, green, and sustainable innovations begin right here on campus,” said Cleantech Commons Executive Director Martin Yuill. “By partnering with experts like ProLytics, we provide the next generation of cleantech entrepreneurs with the mentorship, knowledge, and professional support services they require to bring their innovations to the market.”

The University of New Brunswick and Laurentian University both recently created cultural learning experiences for their respective communities. UNB is unveiling a Time-Walk Exhibit that highlights Black New Brunswickers’ contributions and stories throughout the province’s history. The exhibit is designed as an interactive time-walk experience, providing visitors with an opportunity to learn more about Black history in the province. Laurentian’s Environmental Sustainability Committee worked with members of the Wahnapitae First Nation to transform a trail on campus to include the Anishinaabemowin names of native plants and pronunciation recordings on signage. “Our goal is for the trail to serve as a place of education where people can come together to learn, reflect, and engage with the land,” said Chair of the Laurentian Environmental Sustainability Committee Anastacia Chartrand.

Conestoga College has announced that it will open a state-of-the-art esports arena by Spring 2025 at its Waterloo campus. The new facility will host a space for high-performance play, streaming, and production and will feature top-tier gaming PCs, a console station, immersive virtual reality stations, a production suite, a competitive stage, and a room for athletic team operations. “The future state-of-the-art esports arena will provide opportunities for Conestoga students to play and learn using the latest and greatest technology,” said Conestoga VP, Students Trish Weigel-Green.  

In an editorial for University World News, Omolabake Fakunle (University of Edinburgh) questions the rationale for international higher education, positing that currently there is a lack of “a clear understanding of what the purpose is of international cross-border higher education, at a global level.” Fakunle argues that while political and economic motivations for international education are well discussed, the social and cultural rationales are less so. Moreover, understanding individual students’ decisions to study abroad-e.g., factoring in experiential and aspirational motivations-remains a gap in the current conversation. The author concludes that discussions about post-colonialism and decolonization could help to overcome the current hegemonic Western orientation regarding the purpose of international higher education.

The University of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon’s Fire Department are embarking on a joint project to address housing insecurity and homelessness in the city. The two parties will examine current policies and survey fire inspectors, investigators, and bylaw enforcement inspectors to better understand how current bylaws are helping or hindering housing in Saskatoon. Through this process, the researchers hope to learn more about the gaps in existing social services and Saskatoon bylaws in order to take a more preventative approach to fighting housing insecurity in the future.