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The Massachusetts Institute of Technology opened registration last week for its first online course through MITx, its new online initiative that allows the public to enroll in an online course at no charge, and pay only for a credential upon completion. Students taking the first course, "Circuits and Electronics", will watch a series of 5- to 10-minute video tutorials, read an e-textbook, and complete homework assignments, virtual labs, and 2 exams (which will be graded by computer). An e-learning innovation MIT developed for the course is a browser-based "virtual circuits laboratory" in which students drag and drop chips and resistors to construct a virtual circuit board. At the end of the course, stud ents will receive a cumulative grade and a certificate from MITx. Registration is free, and there is no enrolment cap.  Inside Higher Ed

An Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities policy paper, not yet made public but obtained by Canadian Press, advances a "3x3" framework that will see colleges and universities realize 3% savings in each of 3 years by offering one-third of their courses online, adding a summer term in a trimester system, and launching more accelerated 3-year degrees. (Apparently institutions will need to find the 3% budget reductions, whether they participate in the strategies or not.) The recommendations echo previous plans for an Ontario Online Institute, and the recommendations of the recent Drummond Report to address the province's deficit. CFS and CAUT are surprised that such a major overhaul would be proposed without consulting faculty or students, and reiterate their concerns about the quality of online education. Canadian Press  | Toronto Star

A $60-million partnership between YorkU and the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), a Waterloo-based think tank funded by RIM founder Jim Balsillie, has come under criticism by the Canadian Association of University Teachers. CAUT notes that the agreement, which has been signed and is up for approval at a York senate meeting next week, requires a panel of 5, including 2 representatives from CIGI, to give unanimous approval of the hiring of the 10 research chairs in international law. "York has given away the store," says CAUT's James Turk. York VP Patrick Monahan argues that a protocol signed by both parties ensures "the promotion and protection of the academic freedom of individual researchers and teachers… including the freedom to pursue research that may criticize the parties or a financial contributor." CAUT has previously criticized CIGI's undue influence over the Balsillie School of International Affairs. Toronto Star  |  CAUT statement

New research shows that British university students had fewer choices when selecting courses in 2012 than they did in 2006. According to the Universities and Colleges Union, there were 70,052 undergraduate courses in 2006, but only 51,116 in 2012. The reduction was most severe in England, at 31%, where students have faced dramatic increases in tuition, compared to a decline of only 3% in Scotland, where local students do not pay tuition. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) course offerings declined by 14.6%, social sciences by 12.8% and arts and humanities by 14%.  BBC

Under tough new rules to come into effect in April, international students in Britain will be allowed to stay in the country only if they have graduated from a university and have an offer for a job paying at least £20,000 from a reputable employer accredited by the UK Border Agency. "In the past, too many students have come to the UK to work rather than study, and this abuse must end," says Britain's immigration minister. The British government has also announced a new graduate entrepreneur program that will allow PSE institutions to sponsor candidates to remain in Britain for 12 additional months, which may then be extended for another year if the sponsor institution "is satisfied with the progress they have made."  Times Higher Education  |  The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access)

On Wednesday, the federal government announced new funding for University of Waterloo programs that help science, technology and engineering graduates work for small companies or start their own. The UW graduate enterprise program, which helps Masters and PhD graduates find jobs with small or medium companies, received $1.4 million. The UW Commercialization Centre, which helps MA and PhD students create their own businesses, received $630,000. With additional sponsorship from the government of Ontario and uWaterloo, this will fund 20 Ontario Science and Engineers in Business Commercialization Fellowships, worth $60,000 each.  uWaterloo News Release  |  Waterloo Record

Last month, Saint Mary's University in Halifax launched the "Living Learning" contest with a Facebook game app that served up information about learning opportunities, both in and out of class, and concluded with a mock newspaper featuring the player's profile picture and a headline about their future achievements. 3,700 contestants in the game were entered into a draw, and 8 finalists are now vying for $8,000 off 4 years' tuition at SMU by writing a 100-word description of a learning experience outside the classroom.  The contest reflects SMU's "living learning" brand and the integrated theoretical and experiential learning emphasized in SMU's latest academic plan. Marketing Magazine  |  Living Learning app on Facebook 

Polytechnics Canada calls for concerted action in the forthcoming federal budget to improve industry innovation, increase apprenticeship completion, and stimulate entrepreneurship. The organization notes that the College Community Innovation Program -- the only federal granting program that supports college applied research -- cannot meet the current demand from industry for such collaboration without the allocation of modest new funds.  Polytechnics Canada states that at no additional cost, Ottawa should end the university-only restriction on undergraduate industrial research awards, opening up eligibility to college undergraduates studying in over 140 bachelor's degrees in areas such as applied technology and applied science. The organization also calls on the government to end the requirement for apprenticeship students to declare any grants as taxable income, a move that in turn will improve the significant low completion rates for tradespeople.  Polytechnics Canada News Release 

In a new report, the Toronto Region Research Alliance offers a supply/demand analysis of more than 60 occupations in business and commerce, engineering, health, information technology, and sciences. The demand was estimated in number of new jobs to be created this year, while the supply was estimated from the actual number of graduates from regional PSE institutions in 2010. The report finds that engineering and IT occupations will be in high demand and undersupplied. Despite a lower demand, occupations in design are projected to be undersupplied in 2012. The report observes a high demand for technical sales skills in the Toronto region. Preparation in sales is generally absent in PSE programs in sciences, engineering, IT, and health, and is elective in most business programs. The report states that local youth interest in occupations is lowest in IT and engineering, and highest in business and commerce.  Read the report (PDF)

The Association of American Medical Colleges has approved sweeping revisions to the Medical College Admission Test that will require would-be doctors to demonstrate that they understand the psychological and social underpinnings of medicine, and not just the hard science. The revamped MCAT will include 2 new sections: one on the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behaviour, and the other on critical analysis and reasoning skills. It will also have 2 natural-science sections covering material learned in introductory biology, general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics courses. The new exam eliminates a writing section that was not widely considered. Critics have argued that such a broadening of the scope of the MCAT would burden pre-medical students with more requirements and discourage many from applying, but the association sees it "as giving them freedom" to study what they are really interested in, says the association's president. The changes come into effect in 2015.  The Chronicle of Higher Education (free access)