November 6, 2024

In the most recent episode of EdUp PCO, Western University Executive Director of Continuing Studies Amrit Ahluwalia and Academica President Julie Peters discuss the changing world of Professional, Continuing & Online Education (PCO) and the postsecondary education more broadly. Peters shares some of the key challenges and trends currently influencing higher education, before turning the conversation to PCO. Ahluwalia and Peters discuss the evolution of and growing focus on the PCO unit, the difficulties around building awareness and understanding of PCO within the institution, and the potential for PCO units to act as a hub that amplifies an institution’s offerings to a larger community. “What excites me is […] this movement toward thinking more deeply about what continuing education units can uniquely offer [and] what role they can serve within an institution,” commented Peters.

York University recently celebrated the grand opening of its Markham Campus. The new campus will offer students flexible learning formats, small class sizes, and experiential learning opportunities to complement their classroom learning. “Serving the students and meeting the needs of employers in York Region and beyond with best-in-class educational experiences and work integrated learning opportunities is our goal,” said YorkU President Rhonda Lenton. “With the first full cohort of students enrolled this fall, we have turned our focus to support their academic needs and professional ambitions–to set them up for a lifetime of success.”

The University of Victoria will introduce a new Faculty of Health in May 2025. Aiming to address the demand for health-care professionals and specialized research, this new faculty will build on UVic’s existing strengths in health and wellness while expanding its programs and partnerships. It will also embed Indigenous perspectives in its approach, including by integrating Indigenous health and Indigenous-led scholarship. Six existing schools as well as UVic’s counselling psychology and clinical psychology graduate programs will become part of the faculty. “This transformative change for UVic embodies our vision for a healthier, more equitable future,” said UVic VP Academic Elizabeth Croft. “Through the Faculty of Health, UVic will be better positioned to recruit, train and support students and scholars and empower the next generation of health practitioners, researchers and leaders.”

Cambrian College has launched a new fundraising initiative to support the future construction of a state-of-the-art Health Simulation Centre. The $3.5M project is part of Cambrian’s broader efforts to address the growing demand for health-care professionals. The planned facility will feature high-fidelity simulation suites, low-fidelity labs, and advanced medical mannequins in order to provide students with essential hands-on experiences at a time when external clinical placements are increasingly limited. “Simulation-based education is a cornerstone of health training, allowing students to develop the competence and confidence to practice independently and interprofessionally while promoting patient safety,” explained Cambrian VP Academic Janice Clarke.

The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology has received $1.4M from the Government of Canada to establish an aerospace composite materials laboratory. The lab will feature state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing equipment and will host a team of researchers and engineers who conduct pioneering work in aerospace manufacturing. “Equipped with advanced technology and a skilled research team, this lab will drive new levels of performance and environmental responsibility across the aerospace sector,” said SAIT’s Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Chair Dr Hamid Rajani. This federal investment, made through PrairiesCan, aims to enhance the competitiveness of Alberta’s aerospace and aviation industry.

Brock University and Concordia University both recently announced shifts in their programming. Brock’s Department of Communications, Popular Culture and Film has submitted a Request for Program Discontinuation to cut the Bachelor of Arts in Popular Culture. Brock is currently seeking feedback from the community prior to proceeding to the next steps with the Institutional Quality Assurance Processes. In Québec, Concordia has concluded the operations of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS). In an online statement, Concordia explained that the closure is due to “budgetary constraints” and expressed its “sincere gratitude to gratitude to all faculty, staff, students and partners who dedicated themselves to advancing MIGS’ mission over the years.”

In a recent Nature article, James Zou (Stanford University) calls for guidelines on using ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs) in peer review. The author notes that since ChatGPT’s 2022 release, computer scientists have observed an increase in the number of chatbot-generated reviews, which often lack depth and overlook errors. While Zou sees potential for LLMs in certain review tasks—such as retrieving related papers or turning vague suggestions into actionable edits—he argues that clear guidelines are essential. Zou urges journals to require reviewers to disclose their LLM use and to encourage more human interactions throughout the peer review process. “Establishing community norms and resources will help to ensure that LLMs benefit reviewers, editors and authors without compromising the integrity of the scientific process,” concludes Zou.

The University of Toronto’s Victoria University has reportedly revoked its Attendance Awareness Program after discussions with USW Local 1998, which represents staff such as food servers and electricians. The Varsity states that union members who were absent from work four or more times over a three-month period would be entered into the five-stage program, which could eventually lead to termination. The union held a campaign to cancel the program, asserting that it pressured sick employees to come into work and was discriminatory against union members. The institution officially rescinded the program in October, stating that it made the decision “after receiving valuable feedback from employees and USW.”

Sprott Shaw College recently launched an updated Veterinary Assistant Program that follows a more comprehensive, hands-on, and modern curriculum. This program now includes Fear Free certification, which trains students to handle animals in ways that minimize fear, anxiety, and stress. Additional enhancements to the program include a deeper focus on shelter medicine principles and animal welfare best practices and improved access to NEO software to enhance students’ engagement through simulations and virtual labs. Students will also be offered access to advanced webinars in veterinary medicine. These updates are designed to prepare graduates for diverse careers in private clinics, animal shelters, and research facilities.

Niagara College’s Indigenous Education (IE) department has launched a new visual identity, featuring an emblem and visuals designed by Indigenous woodland-style artist Tsista Kennedy. The emblem—which will replace the current IE logo—includes a canoe and a waterfall, with a Sky Dome resting overtop. Other visuals will be used to form a mural that wraps around the Indigenous Education Centres at the Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake campuses. “When we began the process of creating our new visual identity, it was very important for me that the artwork and the mural represent the college,” said Indigenous Education Director Leah Hogan. “By focusing on the land that surrounds us–the lush greenness of the fields, the nutrients of the soil in the farms and the vineyards, and the power of the water–we are calling to the land to connect us all together.”