May 21, 2009
The AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence announced yesterday a 2-year, $10-million investment in 20 new projects that will provide technology and knowledge for Canada's automotive sector. 28 researchers from 13 universities will participate in the research projects.
AUTO21 News ReleaseThe federal government has yet to announce funding for Ontario college infrastructure projects as part of its $2-billion Knowledge Infrastructure Program, which worries the presidents of the province's colleges because the capital projects could be in jeopardy if funds are not distributed soon. Colleges Ontario says each week of delay will make it more difficult for schools to meet the program's 2-year deadline to complete work. The matter is especially urgent because of an
increase in applications.
Colleges Ontario News Release |
Globe and MailIn order for the University of Saskatchewan to cut its operating budget by
$10 million over the next 2 years, nearly all academic and administrative units will see a reduction in their budget allocations. For example, the college of dentistry faces a 10% budget cut. The adjustments come as losses in uSask's investment funds reach $100 million. With the Saskatchewan government having
lifted the tuition freeze, most programs will see a 3% increase in tuition costs, while tuition at the colleges of law and pharmacy will grow by 7.5%.
uSask News Release |
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix |
CBCRed Deer College is reporting that first-year applications are up nearly 16% compared to this time last year. Degree programs such as Bachelor of Science -- Nursing and Bachelor of Education are contributing to the increase. A number of certificate and diploma programs, ranging from Music to Pharmacy Technician, are of high interest to applicants this fall. Registrations for students beginning their second and third year of classes are also up significantly.
RDC News ReleaseA proposal to introduce a
flat tuition fee at the University of Toronto's arts and science faculty will go ahead as the university's governing council has approved the plan to charge new full-time students at the St. George campus for 5 courses, regardless of how many they take, beginning in September 2011. The flat tuition rate is meant to encourage students to take more classes at one time, and to generate additional funding for the faculty, which is facing a deficit of $5 million to $7 million a year.
Toronto StarYesterday the Ontario government announced that starting this September, it will add 100 new first-year spots at 5 medical schools over the next 3 years, with a particular focus on new community-based campuses in Kitchener-Waterloo, St. Catharines, Mississauga, and Windsor. The Waterloo-area campus of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, where 7 seats will be added, will receive over $2 million to build additional classrooms and purchase IT equipment and library resources. The province is investing $35 million over 3 years to help medical schools build specialized rooms, laboratories, and equipment.
Ontario News Release |
Waterloo Region RecordAs part of its election platform, the NDP in Nova Scotia is promising to create an additional 250 seats at Nova Scotia Community College. Party leader Darrell Dexter says the extra seats are part of his campaign to ensure more young people stay in the province. The increase, Dexter says, would help reduce wait lists and give more students access to training in high-demand trades.
Halifax Chronicle-HeraldIn light of the upcoming provincial election, the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents has prepared a public policy document outlining recommendations regarding PSE. CONSUP suggests the next government make a one-time allocation of funds over a set period to address deferred maintenance and new construction. It also recommends the government invest $1 million annually in a partnership with the council for a marketing campaign to ensure young people in Nova Scotia are aware of the province's educational opportunities. Student assistance programs should be redesigned to place more emphasis on disadvantages and under-represented communities.
Read the full report Police in Kingston are not worried about this weekend's spring reunion at Queen's University turning into a booze-fuelled street party, as has happened during past fall Homecomings. Queen's announced
last fall that it would shift its annual Homecoming to the spring for 2 years as part of an effort to terminate the unsanctioned
Aberdeen Street Party. The university will not be asked to contribute to any policing costs. The cost of policing last year's Homecoming was approximately
$300,000, of which Queen's paid $175,000.
Kingston Whig-StandardAccording to a new report from the Canadian Council on Learning, e-learning is considered an essential tool for lifelong learning -- it breaks down geographical and physical barriers to learning, and can be accessed when desired or necessary. Despite Canada being internationally recognized for its investment in e-learning, levels of adoption of e-learning in the country are considerably slower than anticipated. The report suggests the Advisory Committee on Online Learning's recommendations be revisited to ensure Canada takes full advantage of e-learning's potential.
CCL News Release
rtraction