November 8, 2024

The Government of Alberta has announced that is establishing an expert panel to review and evaluate the province’s postsecondary institution funding. The review will assess factors such as the impact of federal immigration policy changes on institutions and current and alternative funding mechanisms. The committee will also look at higher education funding models across Canada and around the world. “Our students deserve to have the best opportunities to pursue their career aspirations and create prosperity for our province,” said AB Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney. Appointments to the committee are expected to be completed by December 31st; the panel’s work will commence in 2025.

Corporate Knights has published the 2024 Better World MBA rankings. The organization evaluated 174 MBA programs from around the world, reviewing the proportion of required courses integrating relevant sustainable themes and the companies alumni went on to work for. The top 40 institutions included in the final rankings are from 14 countries. Six Canadian business schools appeared in the rankings: the University of Victoria’s Peter B Gustavson School of Business (#9), the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business (#13), York University’s Schulich School of Business (#15), Toronto Metropolitan University’s Ted Rogers School of Management (#17), McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management (#26), and HEC Montréal (#36).

As the mental health crisis intensifies, universities should lead the changes needed to address it, writes University of British Columbia President Benoit-Antoine Bacon. Bacon writes that recent data from the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations demonstrates that many students are struggling with poor or very poor mental health. This, in turn, impacts their academic performance and quality of life. Bacon argues that universities should address mental health issues by prioritizing mental health services and addressing socio-economic issues. Bacon urges postsecondary institutions to advocate for significant investments in mental health and well-being, as funding for mental health is an investment in a healthier and more resilient future.

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) will receive $9.9M from the Government of Canada over six years to support the Egypt Green Skills for the Climate-smart Agribusiness Network Program (EGYCAN). EGYCAN will foster collaboration between colleges and institutes in Canada and Egypt to advance sustainable agriculture, improve economic pathways for young professionals in Egypt’s agribusiness sector, and strengthen the capacity of 10 Egyptian institutions to deliver programs that support sustainability. EGYCAN will also contribute to the creation of an Agribusiness Centre of Competence which will connect young professionals in Egypt with agribusiness education, training, and jobs. This hub aims to provide technical training, internships, and career counselling to more than 20,000 students.

Collège Ahuntsic is launching a sustainability-focused initiative to raise awareness about the environmental impact of food served at the institution’s cafeteria. Ahuntsic has partnered with Polycarbone and Compass–the company that runs the college’s cafeteria–to display information about the carbon footprint of 40 of the cafeteria’s most popular meals. The carbon footprint will be displayed on screens in the cafeteria so that those purchasing food can compare the carbon footprint of each dish and make informed decisions about their food practices.

Dr Tammy Clifford (Canadian Institutes of Health Research), Alejandro Adem (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council), and Dr Ted Hewitt (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) have announced that the tri-agency granting councils will transition away from the Canadian Common CV format. The granting councils will instead use a narrative-style CV that allows users to share their career trajectories and research outputs in greater detail. Clifford, Adem, and Hewitt explain that this change aligns with shifts occurring within other funding agencies and enables societal research outcomes like mentorship to be valued alongside traditional indicators. Clifford, Adem, and Hewitt added that “users will be provided with clear instructions and learning opportunities to understand how to navigate the new tri-agency CV.”

The University of Guelph and University of Waterloo have each expanded their mental health services by implementing new technology. UoGuelph has expanded its house calls program—in which volunteers visit first-year students in residence to ensure they are receiving the support they need—to include virtual calls for those living off campus. At UWaterloo, Campus Wellness has deployed a new AI chatbot called Doro to help people who are showing early signs of mental health conditions. Doro draws from different therapy techniques to provide solutions for students who are struggling with a wide range of issues, including insomnia, anxiety, or stress.

CTV News reports that a former John Abbott College student is reportedly seeking $600K in damages after she was sexually assaulted by a former onsite educator on the cégep’s campus in 2021. At the time, the student reported the assault to the institution and filed a complaint with the Montréal police. The student is now suing the cégep, the educator, and the West Montreal Readaptation Centre—which employed the accused at the time—for $600K in moral and punitive damages, as well as loss of future income. The Montréal Gazette reports that the lawsuit asserts that the supervisor was “by all appearances […] an employee or subordinate” of the cégep; the cégep issued a letter stating that he was not employed by the institution.

Université Sainte-Anne and SAIT have recently announced new programming. USainte-Anne has launched a program for students interested in pursuing a career as a bilingual administrative assistant. The 14-month Adjoint administratif bilingue program will prepare students to provide bilingual administrative support to the municipal, provincial, or federal levels of government. SAIT’s School of Health and Public Safety is adopting the Before Operational Stress (BOS) program, an eight-module certification for paramedics. “With this training, our graduates will enter the workforce better prepared and equipped to manage the psychological stresses of their chosen profession,” said SAIT School of Health and Public Safety Academic Chair Jimmy Joy.

The University of Niagara Falls Canada has established a partnership with Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche in Spain. The partnership agreement will act as a framework for academic collaborations and partnership projects. The two universities will explore a variety of initiatives, including articulation and pathway opportunities, semester aboard programs, and student and/or faculty exchanges. “Taking this step … emphasizes UNFC’s dedication to creating unique international education opportunities,” said UNFC Inaugural President Cyndi McLeod. “We look forward to seeing the doors this partnership will open.”