Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • National

Times Higher Education has released its World University Rankings 2025, evaluating 2,092 universities from 115 countries based on teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry. Eight Canadian institutions ranked in the top 200 this year: the University of Toronto (#21), the University of British Columbia (#41), McGill University (#45), McMaster University (=#116), the University of Alberta (=#116), l’Université de Montréal (#125), the University of Waterloo (=#163), and the University of Ottawa (#191). Times Higher Education Chief Global Affairs Officer Phil Baty noted that while Canada has some of the world’s best universities, “the continued fall of a significant number of Canadian universities is a cause for concern.” CTV News reports that of the 33 Canadian institutions ranked, only two improved. Declines were attributed to lower teaching and research reputation scores.

Times Higher Education (Ranking), Times Higher Education (Methodology), CTV News, Daily Hive

Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • QC

The Université du Sherbrooke’s portion of Parc-du-Mont-Bellevue has officially been designated as a university nature reserve. Covering 200-hectares, the reserve is home to more than 400 plant species and 100 animal species, including butternut trees, spring peepers, and stream salamanders. USherbrooke and the City of Sherbrooke originally announced plans to create the nature reserve—which is adjacent to the university’s main campus—in 2017 and have been taking steps since to meet the conservation requirements. The primary goals of establishing this reserve are to protect the park’s flora and fauna for the long term, support physical and mental well-being, and ensure accessibility for all visitors. The park will also be a space for teaching, research, and experiential learning activities.

USherbrooke (1), USherbrooke (2)

Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • BC

The University of British Columbia has received $7M from the Dan On Foundation to fund the construction of the Food and Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC), which will open in 2025. FBIC will support BC’s agri-food industry with state-of-the-art technologies and facilities, including a processing lab, a food packaging lab, and three innovation bays. It will foster research partnerships with industry, growers, and government that explore innovative methods for preserving food, reducing waste, and upcycling byproducts. The centre will be named the Dan On Food and Beverage Innovation Centre in recognition of this donation.

UBC

Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • ON

Carleton University has adopted two Indigenous identity verification policies focused on validating Indigenous identity in hiring as well as in admissions and awards. Carleton’s hiring policy will verify the identity of applicants for positions reserved for Indigenous candidates. Carleton’s admissions and awards policy outlines the verification process for Indigenous applicants seeking access to Indigenous-specific program seats or financial aid, including awards, grants, bursaries, and scholarships. Additionally, it establishes a clear way to address potential Indigenous identity fraud. The policies were developed in consultation with First Nation, Métis and Inuit community members; Indigenous service providers; the Indigenous Education Council; and the university’s Algonquin and Inuit Advisory Councils.

Carleton

Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • QC

Superior Court of Québec Justice Babak Barin has granted McGill University a 10-day injunction against Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR) and anyone aware of the ruling. The provisional injunction prohibits protesters from blocking or hindering the entrances or exits of any buildings, streets, or walkways on campus. A McGill statement noted that SPHR had declared on social media that October 7-11 would be a “week of rage,” during which time there would be no “business or class as usual.” McGill stated that it sought the injunction “to protect its academic mission and to defend students’ and instructors’ right to learn and work in an environment that is safe, stable, and suitable for teaching, learning, and research.”

McGill, Montréal Gazette (Acct Req)

Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • SK

The University of Saskatchewan has received a $3M donation from alumni Dr Roman Shklanka and Patricia Shklanka to establish the Shklanka Chair in Precambrian Critical Minerals Systems. Housed in the Department of Geological Sciences, this chair will focus on fundamental and applied research in critical mineral systems, such as ore-forming processes and metal-mineral associations. “The Shklanka Chair will play an important role in mentoring the next generation of USask students who will lead in building the provincial and national workforce in the field of critical minerals systems,” said USask College of Arts and Science Dean Dr Brooke Milne.

USask

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Oct 10, 2024 • National

A recent Globe and Mail article by Ricardo Arena (Polytechnics Canada) discusses how postsecondary institutions can help improve Canada’s weak productivity performance. Arena writes that applied research developed by polytechnics and colleges removes financial barriers for small- and medium-sized companies looking to test new technologies and explore business ideas. Partnerships between businesses and polytechnics benefit business partners with productivity gains while providing institutions with new insights and providing students with real-world experiences. Arena notes that though research conducted at polytechnics in Canada has a high rate of return, it is chronically underfunded. “Investing in applied research and supporting businesses looking to grow is a critical strategy for kickstarting innovation in Canada, renewing our competitiveness on the world stage and addressing the economic inertia that has been holding us back,” concludes Arena.

Globe and Mail

Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • QC

The Institut national de la recherche scientifique recently launched the Collaboratoire Villes Voix Visions (C3V), a new research laboratory focused on urban inequities. Co-directed by INRS professors Stéphane Guimont Marceau and Nathan McClintock, C3V brings together local partners and students to study urban realities, civic relations, and community initiatives that address social disparities. C3V is equipped with an audio recording and production studio, field data collection tools, a collaborative workshop space, and a laboratory. “The results of this research will also inform policymakers, who will be able to better understand the lived experiences of urban populations,” said McClintock. “This future work will be of great use for various players within the municipal, community, and civic spheres.”

INRS, QC (EN), QC (FR)

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Oct 10, 2024 • ON

York University and the Toronto Raptors have entered into a multi-year partnership, formalizing their commitment to engage current and future YorkU students. This collaboration designates YorkU as the team’s official university partner and will offer students opportunities to explore the sports industry through topics in business, health, media, design, and performance. “The team’s positive impact reaches around the world particularly in countries where we have significant research engagement and student intake,” said YorkU President Rhonda Lenton. “This meaningful agreement also supports York’s goal to ensure that every student has a positive learning environment, community engagement opportunities, and gets a head start on their chosen career path.”

Globe Newswire

Top Ten News

Oct 10, 2024 • ON, QC

Two new pathway partnerships will provide college students with opportunities to continue their education at the university level. The Université du Québec à Montréal and Collège Montmorency have established a diplome d’etudes collegiales (DEC) to a baccalauréat (BAC) agreement that enables students in Montmorency’s languages profile DEC program to transition smoothly to UQAM’s baccalauréat en linguistique. Durham College and Queen’s University have created the Smith Engineering Bridge pathway. This agreement allows graduates from Durham’s Engineering Technology program to transfer into upper year civil, mining, mechanical, or chemical degree programs at Queen’s.

UQAM, Durham