Top Ten
February 29, 2016
Western, McMaster, Waterloo, receive $35 M to form Advanced Manufacturing Consortium
As part of the 2016 Ontario Budget, Western University, McMaster University, and the University of Waterloo have received $35 M to form an Advanced Manufacturing Consortium. The proposed “advanced manufacturing triangle” between the three universities will seek to lead ON in emerging sectors like next-generation additive manufacturing, digital components, and devices. Investments will contribute to infrastructure, research, collaborations and partnerships, and instruction. “Western is strong in material science; McMaster is strong in auto; Waterloo is strong in technology and computation. When you bring that kind of strength together, it is a tremendous initiative,” said Western Vice-President (Research) John Capone. uWaterloo | Western | McMaster | 640 Toronto
Camosun officially opens new trades education centre
The new Centre for Trades Education and Innovation at the Interurban Campus of Camosun College officially opened last week. The new facilities for marine and metal trades training at the centre will allow Camosun to train students in areas such as welding, metal fabrication, and ship building. Camosun will also offer a mechanical trades program. “This is an incredible day for our college. Camosun is the largest provider of trades training on Vancouver Island and this new facility will assist us in educating more than 2,700 skilled workers each year,” said Camosun President Sherri Bell. The $30 M project also included renovations and upgrades for older trades buildings on the campus. Camosun | Times Colonist
VIU and STU exchange agreement creates opportunities for Aboriginal Students
Through an exchange agreement, Vancouver Island University and St Thomas University are aiming to create opportunities for Aboriginal students to learn about Aboriginal cultures and traditions from across Canada. “It’s something that we want to encourage because we know these study opportunities broaden perspectives and that immersing yourself in another community can teach so much,” said VIU Associate VP of Academic Planning and Aboriginal Initiatives Steve Lane. “Before I came [to VIU from STU,] I wasn’t aware of just how many services there were for Aboriginal students and how integrated First Nations culture would be on VIU’s campus,” added STU student Keyaira Gruben. “One of the things I’ve noticed is that people acknowledge they are on First Nations territory at events and meetings and they give thanks to the local First Nations people. I see it all the time and that doesn’t happen back home. It’s something I’m definitely going to bring back with me.” VIU
uRegina, University of Edinburgh sign carbon capture and storage MOU
The University of Regina has signed an MOU with the University of Edinburgh that will see the schools collaborate on carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology research. The MOU will also establish a series of scholarships with funding from SaskPower. Recipients of the awards will be accepted as visiting graduate students at the University of Regina after completing two semesters of the University of Edinburgh’s MSc in CCS. “This agreement is an exciting step toward building international capacity in CCS, and we are thrilled to be able to share our knowledge with University of Edinburgh students as we welcome them to our hub in CCS. Working together we have the potential to provide real solutions to climate change around the world,” said uRegina Vice-President (Research) David Malloy. uRegina | Energy Voice | Business Green
Georgian, Lakehead announce over 20 new degree programs and transfer pathways
Georgian College and Lakehead University have announced that they will launch over 20 new degree programs and transfer pathways at their Orillia and Barrie campuses over the next five years. “We are committed to providing education that is market and career-focused," said Georgian President MaryLynn West-Moynes, "Our students will graduate job-ready, and our communities will have the workforce they need to grow our economy.” The programs, including health management, gerontology, and engineering, were developed in response to recommendations from an Ontario report on the future of degree studies in Simcoe County, which preceded an announcement by Laurentian University stating that it would pull its programming out of Barrie. Barrie Examiner (1) | Barrie Examiner (2) | Georgian
Queen’s receives $1.5 M for online learning
Queen’s University has received a $1.5 M funding boost from Ontario for its online learning programming, which will be used to develop or redesign 28 of the school’s online courses. “Queen’s is very proud of its track record in developing high-quality online learning opportunities for students, which is reflected in our repeated success in the provincial funding competition,” said Queen’s Provost Alan Harrison. “The university delivers online learning experiences that are informed by best practices, including the integration of explicit learning outcomes and active learning strategies into course design.” Queen’s
International students bring many benefits, says BC Minister
Students who travel to Canada to get a world-class education “also bring a wide range of short- and long-term social, cultural and economic benefits,” writes BC Minister of Advanced Education Andrew Wilkinson. The article describes some of the very first international students who came to BC at the beginning of the 20th century, before discussing the benefits that today’s international students bring to Canada. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of international students, says Wilkinson, is that they pay the full cost of PSE tuition and thus subsidize not only higher education, but K-12 programming for domestic students. Further, international students who stay in Canada after graduation have been shown to fulfill an important role in closing the country’s skills gap. For these reasons and more, Wilkinson concludes, “the benefits add up and are irrefutable whichever way you study the equation.” Vancouver Sun
Ryerson, Tangerine partner to open "Thinkcubator" in Toronto
Ryerson University and Tangerine have announced the launch of their new Ryerson Tangerine Thinkubator, a unique business incubation space for Canadian start-ups. This incubator will provide mentorship as well as access to Tangerine’s networks and Ryerson’s incubator ecosystem and existing partnerships. Tangerine will also be working with Ryerson’s Magnet incubator, which is focused on social innovation for employment and economic development. "We're proud to be working with Ryerson University to build a new community of local entrepreneurs who will be behind some of Canada's latest innovations," said Tangerine Chief Strategy Officer Brenda Rideout. Betakit | Tangerine
OISE creates new centre for the study of higher education
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto has announced the creation of a new higher education research centre. The Centre for the Study of Canadian and International Higher Education will work to advance scholarship while informing policy and practice in higher ed. The centre is reportedly the largest academic research and policy unit of its kind in Canada. The Centre’s first director, Professor Creso Sá, says that the institute will, “stimulate research-informed dialogue on higher education issues and contribute to public debate as it investigates the critical questions in the development of higher education across continents: from Canada to the United States to Australia in the Anglophone world, to Brazil and China among emerging economies.” OISE
Institutions looking to operate in China may benefit from new research
“Launching a successful transnational education offering in China is a holy grail for some Western university leaders,” writes Inside Higher Ed, “and recent research may help map a path to this elusive prize.” A recent study published in the Journal of Studies in International Education has found that countries that have pre-existing economic relations with China and that are looking to establish campuses in more developed regions of the country are more likely to be accepted by the Chinese government. Author Lan He said that she conducted the study because the selection criteria used by the Chinese Ministry of Education to grant approval for these institutions “are not openly available.” A separate study, however, warns that future demand for PSE in China will decline because of a shrinking student population and the increasing accessibility of study abroad. Inside Higher Ed
