Top Ten
February 28, 2011
University enrolment in Canada reaches record level
University enrolment numbers in Canada have reached a record high, and experts suggest they will keep rising over the next 5 years. In Ontario, the province with the most universities, institutions are poised for another increase in enrolment this fall. By the January 12 deadline, Ontario universities had received 383,403 applications, representing a 49% increase since 2000. The continuous growth in enrolment is a "good sign," evidence that students understand the requirements of a knowledge-based economy, says Council of Ontario Universities president Bonnie Patterson. However, she says, it also raises concerns in terms of funding to accommodate the growing student body without affecting the quality of education. According to figures from the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, there were 32,000 more full-time students enrolled last fall than in 2009, an increase of 3.7%. Canadian Press
uSask education college adds online interview to application process
The University of Saskatchewan's College of Education has revised its application process to include an online interview, developing what it believes is a one-of-a-kind system for admitting potential teachers. Last year, the college temporarily suspended the interview component of the application process; officials say the old interview system used a lot of resources and was not necessarily effective. Applications to the college are up this year, with about 400 applicants for the 270 spots. Grades will account for 65% of the score, and the interview the remaining 35%. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Applications to Brescia up nearly 5%
Brescia University College reports that applications to the University of Western Ontario affiliate from secondary school students across Ontario have risen by 4.8% over last year. A registrar with Brescia is pleased to see these figures because the women's university has made a significant investment in raising its awareness among female high school students. In the past 2 years, Brescia has rebranded, launched a marketing campaign, and revised its Facebook page. The institution recently closed its "Women of Inspiration" Facebook contest, which will award 2 female students an all-expenses-paid trip to London. Brescia Newsroom
Majority of 2009 NBCC/CCNB grads succeeding in finding work in province, survey finds
According to an employment survey, the overall employment rate for responding 2009 New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) graduates was 90%, with 94% of those finding work in New Brunswick. Among 2009 Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) graduates, the overall employment rate of those surveyed was 87%, with 97% of those finding work within the province. The level of employment related to training in the survey reference week was 80% in 2010 for both NBCC and CCNB graduates. New Brunswick News Release
NIC opens $8-million trades training centre
A new $8.2-million trades training facility has officially opened at North Island College, providing the North Island's apprentices an educational opportunity that is close to home. The centre houses the North Island's first carpentry apprenticeship program, the demand for which has already filled the first 3 classes. The BC government reports that carpentry is one of the top 5 trades that will see the greatest number of job openings in the next 10 years. By 2019, it is anticipated that the Vancouver Island region will need more than 6,800 carpenters and cabinetmakers to keep up with retirements and industry demand. BC News Release
Apprenticeship occupations in Ontario up 20% since 2003
In January, the Ontario government introduced a new apprenticeship for residential (low-rise) sheet metal installers in the housing industry. This is the 25th new apprenticeship launched by the province since 2003. There are over 120,000 apprentices learning a trade today, an increase of nearly 60,000 since 2002-03. The Ontario government introduces new apprenticeships following consultation with employers, trainers, and skilled workers to ensure training meets a need identified by the sector. Ontario MTCU Bulletin
Confederation College electronic engineering programs earn national accreditation
Confederation College's electronic engineering technician/technology programs have achieved national accreditation, earning recognition from the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists and the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board. Third-party recognition enables graduates to pursue gainful employment across Canada, says Confederation's dean of aviation, trades and technology, who adds that the Thunder Bay-based college is pleased to be one of the few schools in Ontario to have achieved this accreditation. Confederation College News Release
uWaterloo website undergoes redesign
The University of Waterloo has launched a new-look homepage, on which the phrase "Everything you discover at Waterloo belongs to you" (an apparent reference to uWaterloo's liberal intellectual policies) is displayed over a vibrant photograph of the university's Davis Centre. The transition homepage is part of the new uWaterloo website redesign. Visitors to the site can follow the progress of the redesign by checking out the new pilot site, a link to which is available on the homepage. uWaterloo has a blog dedicated to the project, and is inviting visitors to provide feedback on the transitional homepage in a survey. uWaterloo website
British secondary school urging students to study abroad
Upon learning the British government's plans to triple university tuition fees to £9,000 annually, the principal of Hockerill Anglo-European College, one of the government's flagship academies, decided to make use of the school's international focus, urging students to apply to institutions abroad and hiring a counsellor to help students apply to universities in nations whose fees are cheaper. Hockerill students are offered a choice of 7 foreign languages, but with English quickly becoming the international language of education, even students who are less linguistically flexible soon find that studying abroad can save them money while enhancing the quality of their education. The shortage of university spots in the last year has already prompted a record number of British students to study abroad. New York Times
Students feel guilty about texting in class, US survey finds
According to a survey of more than 1,000 students at the University of New Hampshire, while most students do not believe texting should be allowed in class, nearly half of respondents said they feel guilty about texting in class when it is prohibited. 51% reported being distracted from class material when they send texts. 51% of students surveyed said they are not allowed to text in up to half of their classes, and 49% said they are prohibited from texting in more than half their classes. The survey found that 65% of students send at least one text message in a typical class. UNH Campus Journal
