September 16, 2026

Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick has received a nearly $9.9M investment from the Government of New Brunswick to expand its health care training capacity. This three-year investment will fund the addition of six modular classrooms and the creation of six health labs. These spaces will be used by the college to offer five new programs, beginning with the Pharmacy Technician and Primary Paramedical Care programs that will start in Fall 2027. Construction on the classrooms and laboratories will begin in Fall 2026.

The leaders of the Université du Québec network recently published a letter arguing against the use of the term “research universities” in an open letter by the rectors of McGill University, Université Laval, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke. The original letter, published on September 6, discusses the challenges with research funding and argues that establishing research universities will strengthen Québec’s prosperity, resilience, and autonomy. In the response published on September 13, Université du Québec President Alexandre Cloutier and the 10 leaders of the UQuébec network institutions argued that the term “research universities” is redundant as all universities engage in research. They emphasize the importance of university research and assert that the diversity in size, areas of expertise, and infrastructure of the universities within QC is a strength.

In a recent episode of the EdUp PCO podcast hosted by Amrit Ahluwalia, Mohammad Salhia (McMaster University) discusses the importance of bringing learning and practice together through continuing education. The discussion touches on several key issues related to professional, continuing, and online education, including the lessons that can be learned from health professional education’s culture of continuous improvement, the importance of bringing multiple perspectives to program design, and the importance of allowing for risk and experimentation with teaching and learning models.

Several institutions in New Brunswick have launched new or adjusted programs in recent years to meet the demand for teachers in the province. The University of New Brunswick is planning to launch an online Bachelor of Education program next year that is designed for uncertified teachers who are working in the anglophone school system. Crandall University has been offering online and weekend programming for those interested in pursuing an education degree. Last year, the Government of New Brunswick expressed concern about the shortage of teachers. New Brunswick Teachers’ Association President Heidi Ryder told the Telegraph-Journal that the association is hearing “that staffing levels are better than past years.”

To build better university leaders, institutions should focus on the systems surrounding those in leadership positions, writes Vicki L Baker (Albion College). Through interviews with current and former associate deans, Baker found that leaders who flourished typically had supervisors who set clear expectations, communicated regularly, were open to disagreement, delegated authority, and challenged them. Those who struggled in their positions experienced the inverse. The author argues that while leadership programs can prepare people to become leaders, they cannot provide the systemic conditions necessary for them to thrive. “The question we should ask of senior leaders, then, should not simply be ‘What did you accomplish?’ We should also ask: ‘Who became more capable of leading because you were here?’” concludes Baker.

King’s University College has received a $1.5M donation from alumnus Frank Schlichtherle in support of classroom modernization and experiential learning. A classroom and an endowed experiential learning award will be named in Schlichtherle’s honour in recognition of the gift. “This gift, the largest in King’s history, conveys powerfully what we mean when we say that King’s alumni are connected for life, carrying an enduring connection to the people and places that shaped them,” stated King’s UC President Dr Robert Ventresca.

St Mary’s University President Dr Scott Morrison and St Mary’s Students’ Association President Darcy Smereka recently signed the Recovery on Campus pledge on behalf of the university. The Recovery on Campus initiative provides institutions with the tools and resources they need to reduce stigma and create a community where recovery is supported. “By signing the Recovery on Campus pledge, we are reaffirming our commitment to fostering an environment where individuals in recovery are treated with compassion, respect, and understanding,” explained St Mary’s Director of Student Success Kathryn Strilchuk. “We want every member of our community to know that support is available and that no one has to navigate their journey alone.”

Concordia University has again become a member of the Association internationale des études québécoises (AIEQ). As a member, Concordia will be part of an international network that connects Québec studies specialists through exchanges and research collaborations. Concordia explained that it joined the network following a call for solidarity by the AIEQ after the Government of Québec’s Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie announced that its funding for the organization would end. “By supporting a network that brings together researchers interested in Québec, both here and around the world, we help circulate knowledge, foster new collaborations and give the next generation of researchers opportunities to consider Québec from an international perspective,” explained Concordia Faculty of Arts and Science Dean Pascale Sicotte.

Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences has introduced a new course that will train professionals on how to quantify the impacts of disability management programs. “For too long, disability management has had to make the case for its value using stories, averages, or broad estimates rather than evidence tailored to the decisions leaders actually have to make,” explained course designer Dr Emile Tompa. “We’re giving professionals the tools to measure what their programs mean in dollars, workforce participation, organizational performance, and social impact—and to translate those results into evidence that executives and policymakers can act on.” The course will be delivered online in October.

The Université du Québec à Montréal has renamed its pavillon de Chimie et Biochimie in honour of UQAM professeur émérite Richard Béliveau. UQAM Recteur Stéphane Pallage explained that the newly named Pavillon Richard-Béliveau recognizes Béliveau’s numerous contributions to medical research and to health education over his 28-year career. Pallage also highlighted how Béliveau has a continued influence on the field through the generations of biochemistry researchers he taught during his tenure at UQAM.