September 26, 2025

Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles will be conducting a long-term project to support community resilience in Senegal thanks to a $24.8M investment from the Government of Canada. This project will include work in three areas: technical training through two new business schools, solutions promoting the restoration of biodiversity and adaptation to climate change in the Senegal River delta and Saloum delta, and supporting entrepreneurship in the blue and green circular economy. The project aims to train and create jobs for women and youth to keep them in Senegal and provide opportunities that lift them out of poverty.

The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) has published the results of its analysis of the student mobility section of Academica Group’s 2024 University/College Applicant Study (UCAS). Conducted yearly by Academica Group, the UCAS gathers information from applicants to postsecondary institutions across Canada regarding their application decisions and motivating factors. ONCAT and Academica Group partnered to ask applicants to Ontario postsecondary education questions related to student mobility and transfer. The analysis explores over 40,000 applicants’ responses to these questions.

The University of Regina Students’ Union has postponed the vote on its dissolution. CBC reports that the resolution would have both dissolved the students’ union and also released URSU from liability related to its operations. During the meeting, students expressed their frustration about the meeting’s virtual format and the voting process, and the meeting was ended without a vote taking place. CTV News said that hundreds of students were unable to access the meeting. URegina student Matthew McStravick told CBC that the wording of the motion was “double-barrelled” because it would release URSU of all liability and allow the union to seal records that may answer student questions.

The University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management has partnered with the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security to provide public sector and critical infrastructure leaders with professional development. This partnership expands the offerings available at the uOttawa-IBM Cyber Range with new crisis simulation exercises, a simulation scenario catalogue, professional training, talent development programs, and more. “Through this initiative with Telfer, we are supporting leaders responsible for our most critical systems and services,” said Canadian Centre for Cyber Security Head Rajiv Gupta. “This collaboration will ensure they are prepared to respond to real-world crises in an increasingly complex digital world.”

Both Concordia University and McGill University have recently taken steps to promote sustainability through their facilities. Concordia has partnered with Johnson Controls for its PLAN/NET ZERØ project to retrofit the university’s Guy-De Maisonneuve Building to reduce energy consumption by 50%. The facility will also feature a “living lab” where researchers can test technologies in real conditions. At McGill, progress is underway to create the McGill Sustainability Park. McGill President Deep Saini explained that the goal of the park it to “create a physical and intellectual commons where McGill’s brightest minds work alongside government, industry and civil society to co-create solutions for a resilient, equitable and sustainable world.” The park is expected to be completed in 2029.

Conestoga College has reportedly offered voluntary exit packages to 373 full-time employees. Those who received the offer included faculty members, librarians, and counsellors who had worked at the college for at least two years. They will reportedly have until October 20 to decide if they want to accept the offer; those whose applications are approved will leave their roles on December 19. “We are in an existential threat here as a provincial, publicly funded college system,” said OPSEU Local 237 President Leopold Koff. “We have never seen layoffs or reductions of staff as much as we see here.” The Waterloo Region Record states that the college’s workforce has declined by 44% across all job categories.

A new article from Inside Higher Ed reporter Ashley Mowreader offers several examples of how postsecondary institutions in the United States are helping students to develop healthy eating and cooking habits. Referencing a student survey conducted by the publication, Mowreader notes that students without cooking or food-preparation skills tended to be at a higher risk for food insecurity. She then describes initiatives that universities have used to teach cooking skills, such as grilling classes, a “culinary corner,” a virtual demonstration library, and a for-credit culinary boot camp.

A traditional Chinese medicine herbal dispensary opened at Kwantlen Polytechnic University this week, creating a new opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in herbal remedy preparation while also servicing the community. The dispensary is overseen by Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM practitioners and is intended to provide practical learning for students in KPU’s Bachelor and Diploma programs in traditional Chinese medicine. “Our students can provide more comprehensive care to patients in the community while learning first-hand about the rewards and challenges of patient care,” said KPU Dean of the Faculty of Health Sharmen Lee.

Cégep Heritage College is the latest institution to sign the Colleges and Institutes Canada Indigenous Education Protocol. The protocol is composed of several principles, including the commitment to prioritize Indigenous education, respect for Indigenous peoples in governance structures, providing Indigenous-centered services, and implementing Indigenous traditions in learning. The cégep says that it is the 75th Canadian institutions to sign the protocol, and that Indigenization is already a key component in its strategic plan.

Simon Fraser University is reportedly exploring the possibility of joining U Sports and/or other Canadian competitive frameworks. The Province explains that SFU’s teams were a part of the U Sports Canada West Conference before they moved to and became the sole Canadian member of the NCAA Division II in 2010. The university noted challenges with competing in the US, such as potential issues at the border, “changes to the competitive framework,” and “restrictions on our ability to affect NCAA decision-making.” The university has confirmed that it plans to pay the initial application fee to U Sports to “ensure that all paths are open to us” when a decision is reached.