Top Ten
September 23, 2011
UBCO kicks off $100-million fundraising initiative
The University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus has launched a $100-million fundraising campaign, among the largest ever to be staged in the BC Interior. The "start an evolution" campaign has already raised $52 million. The fundraising initiative is part of a larger campaign for UBC, to be announced this week in Vancouver. UBCO News
Carleton working group rejects proposed Navitas partnership
In a new report, Carleton University's Working Group on International Recruitment recommends the institution not enter into a contract with Navitas Group, an Australian-based for-profit education firm. The report states that while the company does a good job of providing a good quality education experience within its business model, the model is not a good option for the university. The report says Carleton is already highly international with an increasing attraction for high-quality students, and that "a contractual relationship with a private company would diminish our ability to control our strategic development." Based on discussions and feedback on the report from the university community, Carleton's provost will then present his final recommendations to the institution's senate. Provost News | Report on International Recruitment
Queen's opens new medical school building
Queen's University held a grand opening ceremony last Thursday for its $77-million School of Medicine building. Described by the health sciences dean as "one of the few purpose-built, pedagogically-oriented medical school buildings in Canada," the facility brings together all medical school departments under one roof. The building includes a simulation lab featuring high-tech mannequins and observation rooms. Queen's News Centre | New Medical School Building website
VIU opens Cowichan Place campus
Last Thursday, Vancouver Island University celebrated the grand opening of its Cowichan Place campus in Duncan, BC. At more than 3,500 square metres, the campus serves students enrolled in business, health and human services, trade and applied technology, university degree, career and academic preparation, and employability skills programs. VIU received a combined $25.4-million investment from the federal and BC governments for this project. BC News Release
Whistler sitting on "little gold mine" of PSE opportunities
Last week Academica Group CEO Rod Skinkle presented highlights from a comprehensive report of higher education opportunities to Whistler city council that recommends the BC resort town consider developing an Institute for Experiential Learning, bringing students to Whistler to learn from its top chefs and hoteliers, and from one of North America's biggest and most successful ski resorts. Skinkle presented a concept in which Whistler would create organized student cohorts drawn from a number of different institutions who would take part in on-the-ground job experience. To minimize the risks of growing too fast and not being able to fill seats, Skinkle recommended staying focused on the Whistler brand of hospitality and tourism and partnership with existing PSE providers. Pique Newsmagazine
Algoma U president discusses St. Thomas project
Algoma University president Richard Myers told the Sault Star that the idea of offering a first- and second-year BA program in St. Thomas, Ontario is to address the problem of drawing students to Sault Ste. Marie by "taking Algoma to them." Myers hopes to see the "fairly modest" St. Thomas project welcome students next fall, and is aiming for a 50-student enrolment (25 students per year) when the program is "up and running at full bore." Myers stresses that the project will not be a satellite campus, but rather "extension programming." Myers says Algoma U is learning toward using the Block Plan for its St. Thomas courses. (Under the Block Plan, students take one course at a time, with 3 to 4 hours of instruction per day for about 3 weeks, after which they write an exam and move on to the next block.) Algoma U is considering adopting the Block Plan model for its main campus. Sault Star
Modest tuition fee increases, credit transfers subject of Manitoba Tories' election platform
With a provincial election approaching, Manitoba's PC Party pledges to support tuition fee increases at the rate of inflation to protect the quality of the province's higher education. The Tories also promise to ensure there is a clear credit transfer system in place. Another commitment the party makes is to encourage post-secondary schools to focus on market needs and practical training. The party also pledges to continue to support Manitoba's apprenticeship system, and to support University College of the North to encourage additional training opportunities for northern residents and Aboriginal students. Manitoba PC Economic Strategy
York U, UBC, uCalgary, Concordia listed in Aspen Institute's alternative business school ranking
The Aspen Institute Center for Business Education has released the latest edition of "Beyond Grey Pinstripes," its biennial survey and alternative ranking of 100 full-time MBA programs worldwide. The 4 Canadian business schools to make the list are those at York University (2), the University of British Columbia (24), the University of Calgary (35), and Concordia University (42). Of the 100 schools ranked, York U's Schulich School of Business placed first in the areas of relevant course work and faculty research. Aspen Institute Full-Time MBA Ranking | Concordia News Release
Telfer develops microsite dedicated to its brand
The University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management has launched a new Web portal dedicated to the school's brand. The "Linked with Leadership" microsite features an interactive world map with which users can see where all of Telfer's 20,000 alumni are located and how many are in senior or executive positions within their organizations. The portal also showcases profiles of alumni leaders worldwide with social networking links for those who opted in. The site includes a feed of the latest Telfer-related comments on Twitter, as well as links to the school's official social media accounts. Other features include displays of upcoming events, past and upcoming guest speakers, and international destinations where Telfer representatives will host events or present at conferences. Telfer News | Linked with Leadership
US releases education statistics projections to end of decade
According to a new report released by the US Education Department, PSE enrolments will rise by 13%, to 23 million students, from 2009 through 2020. The analysis speculates that the anticipated 3% drop in the number of high school graduates will be more than offset by sharp increases in the number of 25- to 29-year-olds. While sizable, the overall enrolment increase would actually represent a slowing pace, as total enrolments rose by 43% between 1995 to 2009, the analysis notes. The report finds that between 2009 and 2020, the number of part-time students will grow more quickly (16%) than will full-time students (11%). The rate of enrolment growth for Hispanic and Latino enrolments is expected to greatly surpass those of other racial groups. The department projects that by 2020, women will account for 59% of all PSE students, up from the current 57.1%. Inside Higher Ed | Read the report
