March 5, 2008
Newly-released census data shows a rapidly aging workforce across Canada, and a looming labour shortage crisis for IT, skilled trades, health care and education. 15% of working Canadians are 55+ and heading to retirement. Today's young Canadians are our nation's most educated -- the number of adults between 25 to 64 with university degrees has increased 24% since 2001. More young adults hold college educations than their elders: 23% of 25 to 34 year olds, compared to 16% of 55 to 64.
The Toronto Star |
The Globe & Mail |
The National Post |
Colleges Ontario News Release |
Statistics CanadaThe Canadian Institutes of Health Research have announced more than $125 million in funding for 495 health research projects in Quebec. CIHR is shining a spotlight on just three of these projects at McGill, uMontreal and uLaval.
CIHR News Release |
uMontreal News ReleaseBC has announced $15 million toward the construction of the first new academic building at Royal Roads University since its transformation from a military college for just 300 cadets. RRU serves 3,000 students by extensive use of distance learning technologies. The 4,500-square-meter building will contain classroom, lab and office space to accommodate an additional 1,000 students.
RRU media releaseRoy McMurtry, former Ontario chief justice, was announced yesterday as the new chancellor of York University. McMurtry will succeed former Supreme Court justice Peter Cory. Mr. McMurtry comes with a background in tough issues such as race relations and youth violence. He reports that he is "delighted and humbled to have the opportunity to serve as chancellor of York University."
The Globe & Mail |
The Toronto Star |
York News Release
Canadian businessman Stephen Smith has donated $1 million to his
alma mater. His donation will establish a new endowed fund at Queen's University's department of Economics, to create a prestigious faculty fellowship. The Stephen Smith Faculty Fellowship in Economics is intended to recognize distinction in the field, while also allowing the university to retain "an economist of the highest calibre."
Queen's University News Release A UBC student has been arrested for the threats made against the university's campus -- one of which caused the biological sciences building to be locked down in January. The 19-year-old student is facing 2 counts of uttering threats and 2 counts of mischief, and is possibly facing expulsion. It is hinted that the student may have been lashing out generally in response to personal issues.
Maclean's On Campus |
The Globe & Mail |
The Vancouver ProvinceNova Scotia's Liberal party is calling for free tuition for medical students, provided that they stay resident in the province after graduating. The proposed program would fund students' tuition and some living costs, "in exchange for five years of service." The program was proposed at the Liberal party AGM this past weekend in Halifax.
Maclean's On CampusGeorgian College and Laurentian University have announced a new joint program, "Growing by Degrees". The program will expand current three-year university degree programs offered at Georgian to four-year BAs in English and Psychology. Students who want a four-year degree will no longer have to transfer to Sudbury for their fourth year.
The Barrie ExaminerNew research reveals that empty nests are not necessarily as sad or upsetting for parents as sometimes thought. Most parents report that relationships with their children actually improve when the kids move out. Parent-child relationships tend to shift to a mentoring role with sons, and often a more peer-like relationship with daughters. "The empty nest of 30 years ago was very different, because those women mostly just worked part-time. Now, we women who have always worked are finding we're finally getting the time to do things."
The Globe & MailThe 2008 Horizon Report is out, and with it comes another year's emerging technologies "likely to have a large impact on teaching and learning." The report predicts that grassroots video and collaborative webs will become mainstream within the next 12 months. Both technologies are already being used on many campuses. Mobile broadband and data mashups are also starting to emerge, and are expected to be mainstream within the next three years.
Horizon Report
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