October 15, 2026

Six Nations Polytechnic’s Social Service Worker (Indigenous Specialization) Diploma program has received formal approval from the Indigenous Advanced Education and Skills Council (IAESC) and will welcome its first cohort in January 2027. Students will develop their knowledge and skills in the classroom and through experiential and community-based learning. The program incorporates Indigenous perspectives throughout. “This program represents an important step forward for SNP and for students who want to build careers supporting individuals, families, and communities,” said SNP President Dr Richard Anderson.

The Government of Canada’s Standing Committee on Science and Research recently heard testimony from 32 witnesses on a report on the dissemination of scientific information in French. Among the witnesses were advisory panel members and postsecondary leaders from institutions including La Cité Collégiale, Université de Moncton, and the University of Ottawa. These individuals called on the federal government to implement the recommendations of the report. La Cité President Lynn Casimiro also called on Francophone institutions to work more closely together to attract funds and build a strong research ecosystem, which would offset the concentration of research funding among the nation’s largest English-language institutions.

Maclean’s recently published articles spotlighting Canada’s top large, mid-sized, and small universities. The top three large universities—defined as having more than 30,000 students—were McGill University (#1), the University of Toronto (#2), and the University of British Columbia (#3). The top mid-sized universities (10,000–30,000 students) were Simon Fraser University (#1), the University of Victoria (#2), and Dalhousie University (#3). The top small universities (under 10,000 students) were Mount Allison University (#1), the University of Northern British Columbia (#2), and St Francis Xavier University (#3).

The Government of Ontario has reportedly moved to extend the prohibition from its OSAP program for some career colleges until at least 2030. According to CTV News, this information comes from updated court documents relating to a bid made by three Academy of Learning locations. The institutions allege that the ministry “imposed and relied upon new approval criteria and evidentiary standards without adequate prior notice, and relied upon adverse information and analyses that was not adequately disclosed.” The news comes as the Ontario Provincial Police continue reviewing allegations forwarded to them by the provincial government. Global News says that the OPP have yet to launch a formal criminal probe into the matter.

McGill University has launched AgPrécision, an agricultural research network which will connect agricultural experiments on farms across Québec. The network will support research on soil nutrients, cover crops, new agricultural products, and other elements of cropping systems to create a local scientific database for each agro-climatic region of QC. “The AgPrécision platform has been tailored to Québec agronomists,” explained McGill Department of Bioresource Engineering Chair Viacheslav Adamchuk. “Everything has been designed to help them save time and make better decisions.” Adamchuk stated that the goal is to make the project self-sustaining by 2029.

Trent University has signed a new academic agreement with Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment (HCMUNRE), located in Vietnam. The agreement builds on Trent’s research and talent-development partnerships with universities in Vietnam and focuses on environmental research; workforce training in both countries; and key priorities such as education, sustainable growth, and connections. The two institutions will also engage in student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research, and technology transfers. “This agreement creates a framework for Trent and HCMUNRE to train the next generations of global leaders around priorities shared by both countries,” said Trent Professor and International Institute for Environmental Studies Co-director Dr Huy Dang.

In a recent article for Ed Tech Magazine, reporter Alexandra Shimalla emphasizes the importance of involving more staff and faculty when adopting digital mental health platforms. Shimalla explains that institutions are looking to introduce online mental health platforms to ensure students can access resources remotely at any time. Through conversations with Zach Rossmiller (University of Montana) and Brett Hinson (Lipscomb University), the author highlights the importance of reviewing these platforms for their handling and retention of sensitive health information, their use of AI and AI chatbots, and their impact on students in critical situations.

The Institut national de la recherche scientifique is celebrating the opening of a centre focused on rural sustainability. The Centre Ruralités durables brings together six professors with experience in areas including sustainable innovation, population health, and agroforestry, who will apply their work in the context of rural populations in the province. The centre’s work is structured around four main axes: physical planning and rural territorial balance, technological adaptation in rural contexts, health and social services in rurality, and the dynamics of rural living environments. INRS Centre Ruralités durables directrice d’implantation Amélie Forget asserted that rural territories are key to the province’s autonomy, resilience, and capacity to meet pressing challenges.

Ontario Tech University has created an inaugural Engineering Advisory Board, composed of 12 industry leaders. The Engineering Advisory Board will provide its perspective on the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science’s (FEAS) teaching, research, and talent-development efforts in the context of current industry demands. “Bringing together leaders from across these sectors gives our faculty valuable external perspective as we plan for the future,” explained Ontario Tech FEAS Dean Dr Hossam Kishawy. “Their experience will help us strengthen the connection between academic excellence, research impact, and industry needs, while keeping our priorities responsive to the opportunities and challenges shaping engineering.”

The Fondation de l’UQAM has received a $750K donation to support doctoral students pursuing photography. This donation was made by Lise Plante in honour of the memory of her son, Loïc Plante-Barsalo, who was passionate about photography as a vehicle for societal transformation. The funds will be used to create the Loïc Plante-Barsalo Scholarship, which is valued at $75K and will be awarded annually for five years to doctoral students in the fields of the history, theory, or practice of photography. The grant will recognize innovative or experimental projects that focus on knowledge advancement.