October 16, 2024

The Université de Montréal and the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation have received a $2.5M gift from the Gloria Baylis Foundation to establish a permanent endowment supporting pediatric cardiology education. The Dr Jean-Claude-Fouron Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Fund will finance international fellowships, allowing doctors from underserved regions around the world to access advanced training at CHU Sainte-Justine. “Thanks to the support of the Gloria Baylis Foundation, fellows from emerging countries will receive cutting-edge training at CHU Sainte-Justine, a state-of-the-art pediatric hospital affiliated with [UMontréal],” said UMontréal Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Dr Patrick Cossette. “The expertise these physicians will acquire within our walls will contribute to the sharing of knowledge, both with our population and with medical teams elsewhere in the world.”

Brock University, Cégep de Saint-Jérôme, and the University of Manitoba have marked Cyber Security Awareness Month by sharing information about cybersecurity and technology driven scams with their campus communities. Brock launched a new training platform for students, staff, and faculty that assesses users’ current cybersecurity awareness and risk levels and provides training and resources that they can use to better protect themselves. Cégep de Saint-Jérôme and UManitoba each shared information on cybersecurity topics, such as generative AI scams and security considerations, identifying deep fakes, and general cybersecurity tips.

Memorial University has provided an update on its progress on fulfilling the recommendations from the Newfoundland and Labrador Office of the Auditor General’s 2023 report. The university has reviewed and updated several administrative structures, including those at its Harlow Campus, and has initiated a review of 35 policies related to topics such as travel, Information and Technology Services, and capital projects. Several search processes are underway to fill leadership roles and new processes have been implemented to improve accountability, transparency, and fraud prevention.

eCampusOntario has officially launched Digital Campus Canada, a suite of services aimed at supporting Digital Transformation (Dx) for postsecondary institutions. The initiative seeks to help institutions embrace Dx and leverage platforms that enhance connections to employers, while reducing their costs and increasing revenues. The inaugural offerings of Digital Campus Canada include professional development opportunities, future-forward workshops, and platforms-as-a-service to facilitate strategic partnerships. “Dx helps institutions align supports for learners, educators, institutions, and employers,” said eCampusOntario CEO Robert Luke. “We’re excited to be in a position to support institutions making this important change that will be such a benefit to students.”

A recent Nature article by Linda Nordling presents six key findings from a survey of over 1,100 laboratory leaders in academia and industry about their hiring practices. Industry hirers reported an improvement in applicant quality compared to previous years, while academic recruiters reported a decline. Survey respondents also shared the worst mistakes candidates make when applying to jobs, the greatest of which was demonstrating a lack of knowledge about the workplace’s research. The survey revealed that cold applications are common and often effective and that many hirers rely on their networks for recruitment. Few recruiters–especially in academia–use AI in their hiring processes. Additionally, the survey found that “soft skills” like communication and teamwork could be decisive factors when the top candidates for a role have similar technical qualifications and experience.

Humber Polytechnic has expanded its Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology, creating 500 skilled trades training opportunities. The first phase of the expansion–funded through the Government of Ontario’s Apprenticeship Capital Grant–added 16,000 square feet of classroom space; labs for heating, refrigeration, air condition, gas, and oil; an AR/VR/XR simulation studio; a heat plant; study areas and collaboration pods; and a remote studio. “With the expansion of the Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology, we are preparing the next generation of skilled workers to drive Ontario’s economy forward,” said Humber President Ann Marie Vaughan.

Northern Lights College has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fort St John Huskies Junior B hockey team to increase enrolment at NLC and financially support athletes through scholarships and bursaries. As part of this MOU, the Northern Lights College Foundation will establish the Huskies Award Fund to benefit future Huskies players studying at NLC. “We’re excited to open up this opportunity for players with the Fort St John Huskies,” said NLC President Todd Bondaroff. “We want to do whatever we can to encourage these players to not only come to our region to play hockey but provide the opportunity for them to study local and stay local.”

The University of Windsor’s Board of Governors will discuss a motion later this month regarding the agreement signed with pro-Palestinian protesters in July. According to the Windsor Star, the motion seeks to pause the implementation of the agreement’s terms and direct the university’s administration to find ways to “address the challenges” caused by the agreements. “I think the fallout has shown that [this agreement] has caused some harm to the university,” said UWindsor Board Member Daniel Ableser, who brought the motion forward. “I think it’s caused harm to our students, our reputation, [and] the community at large.”

Several recent articles discuss the growing importance of and unique opportunities presented by postsecondary continuing education departments. In an eCampus Newsarticle on alternative revenue streams, Gary D Alexander (Hellenic College) highlights how US institutions have successfully diversified their income through continuing education and corporate training. Two articles from The EvoLLLution—one by Rick Russo (University of California, Berkeley) and one by Michelle Giovannozzi (Portland State University) and Shelly Chabon (Portland State)—argue that continuing education departments serve as a unique sandbox opportunity for prototyping programming and teaching technologies, while also offering opportunities to connect with the broader community. The authors acknowledge the challenges facing continuing education, but emphasize that continuing education will continue to support growth and innovation in the future.

Concordia University has officially achieved silver status as a Fair Trade Campus. To reach this standard, Concordia expanded its Fair Trade Steering Committee to include more student groups and campus food providers, mandated fair-trade products in all food service contracts, and encouraged on-campus independent food vendors to switch to fair-trade products. “Achieving silver status required deep collaboration across the university,” said Concordia Executive Director of Budget Planning and Business Development Sabrina Lavoie. “It wasn’t just about meeting certain standards; it was about embedding the principles of fair trade and sustainability into our culture.”