Top Ten
May 24, 2012
More than 500 arrested as Montreal police kettle protesters
A peaceful evening march in Montreal that started with people banging pots and pans in support of demonstrating students ended early Thursday morning with police using the controversial "kettling" tactic on a crowd of protesters and arresting 518 individuals. Mass arrests were also made at student protests in Sherbrooke and Quebec City. Kettling is a tactic where riot police surround protesters and limit or cut off their exits. The practice has been widely criticized as it often results in the roundup of innocent bystanders as well as rowdies. Quebec Education Minister Michelle Courchesne said Thursday that she was hopeful students and the province could resume discussions on the issues that have spurred the demonstrations. The Charest government's emergency protest law, Bill 78, will not be part of any talks, the minister said. Canadian Press | CBC | Montreal Gazette
UTM kicks off $60-million "Boundless" campaign
The University of Toronto Mississauga has unveiled its "Boundless" campaign, whose goal is to raise $60 million. UTM's campaign aspires to connect the campus and community to meet global challenges and prepare global leaders. UTM's campaign is an integral part of "Boundless: The Campaign for the University of Toronto," which passed the halfway mark of its $2-billion goal earlier this year. UTM News
Georgian College raises $40 million in "Power of Education" campaign
At the opening of its Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre Wednesday, Georgian College announced that it has raised $40 million in its "Power of Education" campaign, surpassing the initial goal of $25 million. In the spring of 2011, Henry Bernick, one of Barrie's first land developers, donated $1.5 million to Georgian to launch the entrepreneurship centre and establish the Ontario college system's first $1-million endowed chair. Georgian College News
Global youth unemployment at a "crisis peak"
A new study from the International Labour Organization (ILO) argues that youth unemployment is close to a "crisis peak" and is not projected to improve by 2016. Global youth unemployment began to rise in 2007, and is projected to be 12.7% in 2012. The ILO states that without those who gave up their job search in favour of further education, the unemployment rate in 2011 would have included another 6.4 million people worldwide and risen from 12.6% to 13.6%. The study concludes that other than the "immediate negative economic and social effects of high youth unemployment, it is important to consider its detrimental effects on future employability and wages." Canada’s youth unemployment was higher than the global average last month at 13.9%. ILO News | Globe and Mail | Toronto Star | Report
ACCC compiles case studies on Aboriginal programs and services
In a new publication the Association of Canadian Community Colleges features case studies that examine institutional support offered to Aboriginal students and programs that encourage PSE participation by Aboriginal people. The case studies of 34 institutions show that "colleges and institutes are creating partnerships for future generations by reaching out to Aboriginal youth through innovative recruitment activities and by supporting adults’ access to learning and employment opportunities." ACCC News Release | Download the report
uOttawa worth more than $4 billion to region, study finds
An economic impact study estimates the University of Ottawa's contribution to the Ottawa-Gatineau region's economy at $4.12 billion dollars annually. Taking into account the salary differentials attributable to the level of education of uOttawa alumni living in the region, the study estimates that an additional $1.12 billion is injected into the region annually. This education premium rises to $1.68 billion every year once indirect effects are taken into account. uOttawa News Release | Ottawa Citizen | 2012 Economic Impact Study
NSERC distributes more than $410 million in grants and scholarships
The federal government announced Wednesday more than 3,750 new investments in research programs and scholarships. Scientists, engineers, and students at universities across Canada will receive more than $410 million in NSERC grants and scholarships over terms ranging from one to 5 years. These awards consist of the 2012 competition results for NSERC's Discovery Grants, Discovery Accelerator Supplements, Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships, NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships, and Postdoctoral Fellowships. NSERC News Release
NIC signs funding partnership with VIHA
North Island College and the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) have announced a new Health Education Partnership and Program Funding Agreement in support of rural health programming. VIHA will transfer $200,000 annually for 10 years to help NIC create a Centre of Excellence for Rural Healthcare Education. VIHA will also transfer $250,000 per year for at least 3 years to fund a health education program with the goal of filling rural healthcare positions. NIC president Jan Lindsay says the agreement "will support development of expanded health care programming, the sharing of human and infrastructure resources to support the work of both organizations, and joint involvement in applied research projects." NIC News Release
Yukon College runs "Pathways to Success" poster campaign
Yukon College has launched a poster campaign designed to encourage First Nations youth across the territory to consider their own governments when contemplating career options. Each poster in the "Pathways to Success" campaign showcases an individual, their current job at a Yukon First Nation, and the educational path they took to get there. The campaign follows a request from Yukon First Nations to the college to help highlight jobs available to students in First Nation governments. The 7 posters will be seen across the Yukon in schools, Yukon College campuses, First Nations offices, and nursing stations. Yukon College News Release
Australia teen sues boarding school for failing to get her into law program
An Australian teenager is suing Geelong Grammar School for damages after she failed to qualify to study law at the University of Sydney. Rose Ashton-Weir alleges the boarding school gave her inadequate academic support, particularly in mathematics. The 18-year-old, who completed high school elsewhere, says her final secondary school score was too low to be accepted into uSydney's law program. Rose's mother is also suing Geelong Grammar for lost income and other expenses. The mother gave up her business as Rose moved from the boarding school to live with her in New South Wales. The lawyer representing Geelong Grammar says Rose's school reports showed that she was intelligent but she failed to complete course work. The Age
