Major associations and organizations representing colleges, cégeps, polytechnics, and institutes across the country have called on the federal government to include a $40M investment in applied research in the 2020 budget. Polytechnics Canada, the association pour la recherche au collégial, BC Colleges, Colleges Ontario, Colleges and Institutes Canada, Fédération des cégeps, Synchronex, Tech-Access Canada, and Atlantic Colleges Atlantique have co-signed a letter suggesting that such an investment will enrich collaborations between the college sector and SMEs. "We are confident that, with predictable, dedicated funding, the college sector will be better positioned to ensure partners are capitalizing on innovation-ready physical spaces, applied research expertise and cutting-edge technologies," states the letter. "Given their leadership in zero-waste initiatives, carbon-neutral buildings and micro-grid technology, they are also ideally positioned to share and scale this type of expertise." Polytechnics Canada (National)

Concordia University has launched the Centre for Innovation in Construction and Infrastructure Engineering and Management to help transition the construction industry into the digital age. Working with an advisory board featuring executives from several companies, CICIEM helps identify industry needs—such as improving safety, productivity, and competitiveness— and applies new technologies to help better manage work on construction sites and the development of civil infrastructure. “We need to raise awareness of the digital world and how to take advantage of big data for running construction better, which in turn revitalizes the city’s physical backbone,” said Concordia CICIEM Director Osama Moselhi.   Concordia  (QC)

Mount Saint Vincent University's Centre for Women and Business (CWB) has launched a digital pilot program that aims to connect women business owners across Nova Scotia. The program, Coffee Talk, is a monthly online program designed to connect aspiring, start-up, and established women in business, encouraging collaboration and improving business skills. "The idea for Coffee Talk came from the success of our monthly networking breakfasts in Halifax, which have resulted in many friendships and partnerships," said MSVU CWB Business Advisor Nora Perry. "There was a demand for women outside of the metro area and for those unable to attend the breakfasts to participate in a similar program and experience those benefits.” MSVU (NS)

The Government of Ontario has announced that colleges will now have the option to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) independent of a university partner, giving students more choice regarding educational pathways for a registered nursing career. Since 2000, the province has required any college wishing to offer a nursing degree program to partner with a university, which they state creates additional costs and bureaucratic hurdles that can discourage students from going into nursing. “This is a tremendous improvement in health-care training in this province,” said Colleges Ontario President Linda Franklin. “It will attract more students into nursing programs in communities where there is a clear demand for more nurses.”  ON | NationTalk (ON)

McGill University and the Université du Québec en Outaouais are partnering to offer the McGill Faculty of Science’s Medicine Preparatory Program in Gatineau in September 2020. The program consists of ten courses, which will be taught by McGill and UQO faculty in French. The goal of the program is to prepare CEGEP graduates for McGill’s Undergraduate Medical Education Program. "It is gratifying to know that the Faculty of Science, in collaboration with UQO, will help CEGEP graduates on their path towards becoming McGill medical graduates," said McGill Faculty of Science Dean Bruce Lennox. "By offering this program in French in Outaouais, our two universities are partnering to provide excellent preparatory training locally.”  McGill  (QC)

The Council of Alberta University Students has released a report calling on the Government of Albert to do more to prevent sexual violence at postsecondary institutions. The Sexual Violence on Campus report analyzes the policies of 21 postsecondary institutions in AB, including how often the policy is reviewed, what it covers, and other aspects that could be better outlined with a provincial framework in place. Having a province-wide policy, says CAUS Chair Sadiya Nazir, "will make sure that institutions who maybe don't have the capacity to deal with campus sexual violence as well as others are still being supported and have the guidelines to make sure that [the government's] robust policies can be implemented." The article reports that Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador also currently do not have any legislation in place regarding sexual violence on campus policies, while Nova Scotia currently has a bill before its assembly. CBC | CTV (AB)

The Government of Ontario has announced that it is investing nearly $37.4M in 183 research projects at 23 institutions. The investments will help researchers build or upgrade state-of-the-art labs and equipment, and supporting key projects focused on industry and human health. "Ontario is open for business and open for jobs, and research leads to new knowledge that can help our businesses and improve quality of life for our families," said ON Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Vic Fedeli. "Supporting our researchers today is an investment in a bright future of health care advances, new technology, new companies and jobs." ON (ON)

Humber College has announced the creation of an International Graduate School that will provide students with collaborative, career-focused learning. Scheduled to open in January 2021, IGS will provide programs with a specialized business focus that features work-integrated learning. Student will also be connected to employment opportunities in Canada’s financial services hub. Humber anticipates that approximately 350 students will begin their studies at IGS in 2021, with enrolment growing to 2,000 students over time. “The Humber IGS is transformational," said Humber Dean of International Andrew Ness. "Students will receive a global classroom experience in one of the most diverse cities in the world." Humber (ON)

Several Canadian postsecondary institutions are responding to stigmatization and racial stereotyping of Chinese students and the broader community in light of fears about the coronavirus. Kwantlen Polytechnic University is encouraging community members to "remain vigilant about the risks of embracing stereotypes at a time of heightened concern." Relatedly, Queen's University Principal Patrick Deane posted a statement warning students of an "insidious social challenge" in light of the novel coronavirus. “Ignorantly ostracizing Chinese and Asian students will rip apart the beautiful tapestry of our international campus and must be repudiated by everyone,” stated Deane in a news release. Global News | Aldergrove Star (National)

The University of Manitoba has received $6.5M from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the International Milk Composition, a global health initiative focused on breast milk. The IMiC Consortium will conduct a comprehensive analysis of human milk components linked to infant growth and resilience for the purpose of informing nutrition recommendations and interventions. “It is so fundamentally important to infant health, and yet we know surprisingly little about breast milk composition and its variation around the world,” said UManitoba Assistant Professor Meghan Azad. “This project will help us learn about how human milk helps human babies develop and grow up healthy.” UManitoba (MB)