Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • International

Times Higher Education has released the World University Rankings 2024, which includes nearly 2,000 universities from over 100 countries. The ranking uses a slightly different method this year and measures an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook. states that several countries shifted in terms of average ranking, with Canada’s average ranking improving from 349 to 337. Several Canadian institutions appeared among the Top 200, including: The University of Toronto (#21), University of British Columbia (#41), McGill University (#49), McMaster University (tied for #103), University of Alberta (tied for #109), Université de Montréal (tied for #111), University of Waterloo (tied for #158), and the University of Ottawa (#177).

THE (Release), THE (Ranking)
Opinion
Ranking

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • AB

The Government of Alberta plans to create almost 2,000 new apprenticeship seats across the province with a $12.4M investment. AB states that the investment is intended to help meet the growing demand for highly skilled tradespeople across sectors in AB. Recipients of this funding include the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Red Deer Polytechnic: NAIT is reportedly set to receive $4.9M to create 579 apprenticeship seats, while RDP will receive $800K to establish 138 new apprenticeship seats. The funding builds on the province’s previous investments in apprenticeship programs.

NAIT Nugget, AB, Red Deer Advocate, Global News
News

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • NS

Cape Breton University and Nova Scotia Health (NS Health) have partnered to open a new clinic that provides safe and culturally sensitive primary care for newcomers to Canada. Located on CBU’s campus, the Cape Breton Newcomer Primary Care Clinic offers care to those who have moved to the country within the last five years, live in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and are without a permanent primary care provider. CBU Director of Health and Counselling Judy Kelley explained that CBU’s prior experience with providing primary health care and mental health support to international students will contribute positively to the initiative.

NS, Haligonia.ca, CTV News
News

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • BC

North Island College has announced plans to develop a Centre of Excellence in Early Learning, thanks to a $14.2M investment from the Government of British Columbia. The two-storey centre will expand upon NIC’s Comox Valley Beaufort Centre, adding classroom space for its early childhood care programs and 75 new childcare spaces. “We know there is a critical demand for childcare spaces across the region, and we’ve heard from providers that one of the biggest barriers to opening more spaces is finding qualified early childhood educators,” said NIC Dean, Faculty of Health & Human Services Kathleen Haggith. “This project will allow us to address both of these critical community issues.” Construction on the centre is anticipated to begin in Spring 2024, with the aim of opening the centre by Fall 2025.

NIC, Comox Valley Record
News

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • MB

At a recent provincial party leaders’ debate in Winnipeg, Progressive Conservative Leader Heather Stefanson, NDP Leader Wab Kinew, and Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont debated topics that included funding for Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College. Citing the difference in funding increases between BrandonU and universities based in Winnipeg, Michele McDougall of reports that the leaders debated how they would ensure adequate and fair operational funding for schools in Brandon. BrandonU President David Docherty stated that he did not want to make funding an election issue and instead asserted that it was an equity issue. As part of the debate, all three leaders also committed their support for the completion of ACC’s Prairie Innovation Centre for Sustainable Agriculture.

ACC, Winnipeg Free Press
News

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • QC

McGill University, Ubisoft, and Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute have partnered to create a new research chair focused on responsible artificial intelligence in game development. The five-year Chair”Scaling Game Worlds with Responsible AI”will explore the ethical use of AI in large-scale game development content creation. “This exciting endeavour will center the content creators in this process, instead of focusing solely on the human-seeded AI content creation technologies,” explained Chairholder and McGill Associate Professor Dr Derek Nowrouzezahrai.

Newswire, Mila
News

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • National

Youjin Choi and Feng Hou of Statistics Canada recently published a study examining the relationship between domestic students’ enrolments and the large influx of international students that occurred between 2010 and 2019. Drawing on data from the Postsecondary Student Information System, Choi and Hou summarize how domestic and international student enrolments changed over the course of the decade. The share of domestic students enrolments has decreased in both BHASE (by 9.3%) and STEM fields (by 13.9%) over time, while the number and percentage of international students has steadily risen. The researchers found a positive correlation between the growth in domestic and international student enrolments in select BHASE and STEM programs. The authors state that this positive relationship is consistent with the notion of cross-subsidization, where the tuition fees collected from international students result in the creation of more resources or subsidize the cost of study for domestic students, enabling more domestic students to attend.

StatCan
Study

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • AB

Lethbridge College has unveiled its traditional Buffalo Winter Count Robe, which will serve as a teaching tool, historical record, and ceremonial symbol. The robe consists of a buffalo hide from the Piikani Nation that has been painted to depict major events in the college’s history. The robe was designed by Kainai Knowledge Keeper and artist William Singer III (Api’soomaahka/Running Coyote) in collaboration with colleagues across Lethbridge’s departments and Kainai Kaahsinnoonik (Grandparent) Peter Weasel Moccasin (Miiniipooka/Berry Child). “This robe will serve as a visual reminder that the college’s history and the history of the Siksikaitsitapi are inexorably linked,” said Lethbridge President Dr Brad Donaldson.

Lethbridge Herald, Lethbridge
News

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • ON

Durham College has partnered with the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) to conduct a six-year pilot program that evaluates the benefits of offering free memberships to engineering and applied science students. The pilot will track a single cohort over the course of their three-year degrees and for three years following graduation. The project’s objectives include determining if offering free student memberships to professional associations will increase engagement in the field. Learners will also take part in OACETT’s Professional Practice Exam during their studies, which will provide them with advanced standing in achieving their certification as a Certified Technician (CTech) or a Certified Engineering Technologist (CET).

Durham
News

Top Ten News

Sep 28, 2023 • SK

The University of Saskatchewan has made two partnership announcements. USask and the Meewasin Valley Authority (Meewasin) recently re-signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), renewing their commitment to collaborate in the areas of teaching and research, student engagement and employment, and governance processes. Under this renewed agreement, USask and Meewasin will develop joint initiatives in sustainability and conservation in the Saskatoon region. USask’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has also agreed to join the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ (CEPI) preclinical research network. Through this formal partnership, USask VIDO will help CEPI in its goal of accelerating vaccine development and other countermeasures to epidemic and pandemic threats.

USask (Meewasin), USask (VIDO)
News