October 1, 2025

Statistics Canada has released the results of their Survey on Research Activities and Commercialization of Intellectual Property in Higher Education. The data revealed that R&D contracts, which tend to be client-funded and may grant the client exclusive intellectual property (IP) rights, were found in 86.5% of postsecondary institutions; R&D partnerships, which tend to involve shared funding and joint IP rights, were found in 53.5% of institutions by comparison. Over half of contracts and partnerships were held by universities, with 10% held by colleges and cégeps. Colleges and cégeps were, more likely to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) than their university counterparts, offering the SMEs support such as networking opportunities, business coaching, or prototype development. Institutions cited lack of funding and expertise as key challenges to commercializing their IP.

The strike involving 10,000 full-time support staff at Ontario’s 24 public colleges will continue after recent mediation efforts ended without an agreement. In a news release, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) stated that talks broke down after the College Employer Council (CEC) declined to make changes to job security provisions. The CEC told the Ottawa Citizen that it had tabled an offer exceeding $155M, which included increased wages and additional protections. No date has been set for a return to work.

Dalhousie University’s College of Pharmacy has introduced a new welcome tradition for incoming students, replacing its longstanding white coat ceremony with the gift of a cherry tree sapling. While students will still receive white coats for lab use, the formal ceremony now centres on the saplings, which students are encouraged to nurture throughout their studies. Chosen for their local roots, medicinal properties, and role in traditional medicine, the cherry trees will later be planted to mark students’ personal and professional growth. Dal says that it made the change in response to concerns that the white coat can reinforce hierarchies and evoke negative associations for some patients. “It’s creating a new tradition that allows pharmacy students to understand the roots of the profession,” said Dal College of Pharmacy Director Dr Kyle Wilby.

Loyalist College and the University of New Brunswick marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by opening spaces that honour Indigenous identity and support reconciliation. Loyalist opened the Tsi Titewaya’taró:roks Indigenous Centre (“Place Where We Gather As Family”), a student-centred hub for cultural activities, language learning, and community support. Meanwhile, UNB opened the Wabanaki Eight Point Star Healing Garden, featuring sacred plants arranged according to the Medicine Wheel, seating for reflection, and a brazier for sacred fire. Both centres are intended to strengthen Indigenous student belonging and academic success while advancing reconciliation.

A Nature article offers strategies to help researchers stay on top of relevant academic literature amid growing publication volume. University of Algarve researchers David Brito, Inês Afonso, Clévio Nóbrega report that in some academic fields, annual publication counts exceed more than 1,300 papers every day, leading to anxiety about falling behind in current literature. The authors thus recommend using several tactics, including subscribing to targeted journal alerts, setting up personalized search notifications, and following researchers directly through platforms such as ResearchGate. They also highlight the value of using social media to track new publications and adopting AI tools to help filter and prioritize relevant papers. They conclude that no single method suffices—combining approaches helps researchers stay engaged and efficient.

The Université du Québec à Montréal’s École des sciences de la gestion (ESG UQAM) has announced the launch of a new master’s program—Maîtrise en fiscalité—and a redesigned bachelor’s program—the Baccalauréat en gestion des organisations du secteur public. The master’s program, which launched this Fall, focuses on both technical and ethical aspects of taxation and includes an optional 240-hour internship or supervised project. Meanwhile, the relaunched baccalaureate degree will start in Winter 2026. The redesigned program will include several new concentrations—covering areas such as health and social services, municipal administration, and international organizations—as well as the opportunity to pursue an internship or honours track.

Six Nations Polytechnic is leading a new research project—Leveraging AI for Indigenous Language Learning—to explore how AI can support Indigenous language revitalization. Funded by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario, the project examines whether adaptive AI tools can complement SNP’s existing in-person language programs and help preserve sacred knowledge while upholding data sovereignty. To guide the work, SNP is using a custom research framework that centres Indigenous values, storytelling, and protocols. The project will ultimately evaluate the cultural integrity and long-term sustainability of AI-assisted learning tools through a lens guided by Indigenous community leadership and lived experience.

Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business has launched its Climate Business Institute (CBI). The institute will drive change through research and collaboration with businesses, local communities, policymakers, and educational institutions. CBI Scientific Director Denis Schweizer explained that the research “will provide businesses with actionable insights that will enable them to integrate sustainable practices into the market.” The institute will also contain three impact labs dedicated to Carbon Governance and Leadership, Climate Risk and Finance, and Climate Measures and Reporting, respectively. John Molson School Associate Dean of Research and Impact Cédric Lesage said that the goal is for the CBI to be a “one-stop access point” for research on business, climate change, innovation and outreach, and sustainability at Concordia.

Assiniboine College recently marked the grand opening of its Practical Nursing rural rotating site in Steinbach, MB. The site will ensure that learners in the Steinbach area can overcome the barriers to pursuing nursing education and complete their training near their home community. “Welcoming Assiniboine College’s Practical Nursing program to our community not only opens doors for local students to pursue rewarding careers but also helps ensure our residents have access to the care they need, now and into the future,” said Steinbach Mayor Earl Funk. “This is a great step towards working together to create a good environment for all healthcare in our community.”

The University of Niagara Falls Canada has partnered with Kent School in Niagara Falls to provide a pathway for high school students to remain in the area for their postsecondary education. UNFC will provide Kent applicants with personalized application support and, in the case of eligible international students, the opportunity to qualify for domestic tuition fees. The partnership will also involve finding projects of mutual interest to engage students, staff, and faculty, while giving Kent students exposure to university-level programming. Kent School Principal Rob Ford said that the partnership will create academic and career opportunities for students and may lead to training and professional development opportunities for staff.