Top Ten
May 17, 2017
More than one-third of QC graduates say they are worried about managing their money
More than a third of recent graduates from Quebec's CEGEPs and universities are worried about managing their money, according to a recent survey. The study found that 38% of graduates “say they feel anxious or overwhelmed with having to manage their expenses alone.” Journal de Montréal reports that this anxiety may stem from the fact that 36% of QC graduates wait an average of one year before finding a job, while another 39% says they earned less money than they expected when they were still in school. Others reported that they faced unforeseen expenses such as buying clothes for work (27%), housing (26%), and paying for transportation (23%). “Today's graduates are ambitious and motivated, but the realities of the job market can create a sense of financial pressure and guilt when they are unable to afford the things they want,” says Émile Khayat, Branch Manager, TD Canada Trust. Journal de Montréal
UCalgary draws on past lessons in deflecting ransomware attack
The WannaCry ransomware that has infected global computer networks over the past week was successfully quarantined after it attacked through a number of emails at the University of Calgary. “We had some very limited impact—less than 10 emails came in,” said UCalgary Vice-President of Finance and Services Linda Dalgetty. “Since last May we’ve done so much work on our network and monitoring tools … that it was immediately seen and quarantined.” Dalgetty referred to the enhanced security practices that UCalgary has implemented since it was struck by a ransomware attack last year. The WannaCry malware has reportedly struck the Université de Montréal as well, impacting about 120 of the university's 8,300 computers according to university spokesperson Geneviève O'Meara. The university’s IT team is working to address the issue, and as of yesterday, UMontréal had not paid any ransom. Calgary Herald | Calgary Sun | UCalgary | CBC (UMontréal) | La Presse
Universities Canada, ACUFC promote graduate mobility between Canada, France
Universities Canada and the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne have signed a letter of intent with France’s Conference of University Presidents that will increase the mobility of graduates between the countries. According to a Universities Canada release, the new commitment will also address the growing need for French-language teachers in Canada while encouraging Canadian students in French-language teaching and francophone programs to study and work in France. “We sincerely believe that this memorandum of intent will contribute to the development of teaching in French and about French in Canada by fostering student mobility between Canada and France in this discipline,” said Dominic Giroux, vice-chair of the Universities Canada board of directors. Universities Canada | ACUFC
Harvard launches program aimed at training Indigenous communities for financial success
Harvard Business School held its first annual Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities program earlier this month. The program aimed to provide professionals from Indigenous communities with enhanced skills and ideas for managing their business and resources. The Globe and Mail reports that over 60 Indigenous people from across Canada and the US attended the four-day course, which featured classes on practices and governance strategies, and saw attendees brainstorm new solutions to the issues facing their home communities. “It’s a great way to collaborate with their peers … And together through this collaboration there’s ways to work together, there’s ways to share best practices,” said Meagan Hill, who is Mohawk, a member of Six Nations, and a co-creator of the program curriculum. Globe and Mail
UNB signs MOU with Israel-based cybersecurity initiative
The University of New Brunswick has signed an MOU with an Israeli cybersecurity initiative in an effort to combat online terrorism, reports Global News. UNB’s Canadian Institute of Cybersecurity will collaborate with Israel-based CyberSpark to increase innovation and development in cyber research, with an aim to enhancing cybersecurity and preventing future cyberattacks. UNB says that the partnership, which is meant to spur innovation and collaboration in the field of cyber research, is the first between CyberSpark and a Canadian university. “CyberSpark has been doing this for awhile and we hope that through these interactions we can send our students or researchers to them or learn from them how to do different types of training,” explained Ali Ghorbani, UNB’s dean of computer science and the Institute’s director. Global News | BetaKit
Kiizhik school denied provincial funding for off-reserve students
Kiizhik Gakendaasowin, an Anishinaabe immersion school that opened in 2015 and recently launched a satellite campus, has been denied provincial funding for off-reserve students by the Ontario Government unless it enters into “reverse tuition agreements” with local school boards. “Kiizhik does not discriminate between on-reserve and off-reserve students. It was founded on the belief that all Anishinaabe caregivers within our homelands are entitled to educate their children in accordance with our language and traditions,” said Charlene Mandamin, Chairperson of Bimose Tribal Council, which owns Kiizhik School. “However, when off-reserve students choose to attend Kiizhik, our school doesn’t automatically receive tuition because of provincial legislation. It’s frustrating because these parents and caregivers pay education taxes to Ontario like everyone else.” CBC reports that the school boards in Kenora have not been willing to strike a tuition agreement, leaving the school with a $1M shortfall after two years. Mandamin asserts that the school is determined to continue with its unique programming. CBC | Bimose
Northern opens virtual reality training facility
Northern College recently celebrated the opening of a new virtual training facility at its Timmins campus. The facility offers the college’s students the chance to pursue virtual technology training in the areas of construction, maintenance and electricity; industrial, mechanic and millwright; heavy duty equipment technician; general carpentry; and automotive technician. The facility includes hi-tech, multi-lensed, 3-D video cameras, swivel chairs, a monitor, and virtual reality glasses, which students can use to access various training modules that give them a 360-degree view of the workplace. “The virtual reality training will help introduce students to the skills of their trades in a safe environment by acquiring the basic skills they need to know before moving to the use of the actual equipment,” says Christine Heavens, Northern’s executive director of community, business development and employment services. Northern
After lengthy debate, NU organizations demand withdrawal of Bill 37
After months of debate and consultation, several groups have called for the end of Bill 37, an Act to Amend the Education Act, and the Inuit Language Protection Act. Nuntasiaq Online reports that when MLAs met to review the bill behind closed doors, only one of the 40 written submissions received by the committee expressed support for the proposed amendments. “With the submissions we received, it was immediately obvious there was no support at all for Bill 37,” said Committee Chair Tom Sammurtok. “So we decided, let’s put out the notice that we’re not prepared to support this.” NU Education Minister Paul Quassa stated that the standing committee’s decision went against the guiding principles of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, namely that of collaboration. “There is a process to follow when a bill is put forward to the Legislative Assembly, and it is very disappointing that standing committee has not provided the public with an opportunity to understand the pros and cons of their decision,” said Quassa in a statement. Nunatsiaq Online (1) | Nunatsiaq Online (2) | Nunatsiaq Online (3) | APTN News
Marketing, advancement must preserve their traditionally close relationship: IHE contributor
Maintaining close connections between marketing and fundraising departments has become a challenge as PSE marketing teams have taken on increasingly diverse responsibilities, writes Kristi Eaves-McLennan for Inside Higher Ed. The author notes that as schools depend more on tuition revenue, marketing teams might be pulled away from their traditionally close relationships with advancement departments in order to develop marketing strategies designed to enroll and retain more students. To ensure that the “development office—and donors—don’t get brushed aside,” however, Eaves-McLennan outlines three key ways that marketing and advancement teams can preserve a strong connection. These strategies are: synergize research; integrate messaging; and share information (and ideally, a staff member) between the departments. Inside Higher Ed
Rural groups say they may have to cancel programs without NB-funded student workers
Community groups in rural areas of New Brunswick say that they might have to cancel their summer day camps due to a formatting change in an NB student employment program. The Student Employment Experience Development program (known as SEED) distributes 2,000 vouchers province-wide to students who apply, and these students can then apply to approved businesses and organizations to have half their wages covered by the province. Until spring of last year, MLAs disbursed SEED jobs to non-profits at their own discretion. Yet since that time, the province has switched to a lottery system. NB Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Donald Arsenault says that 6,500 students applied for vouchers this year and that it is up to the employer to attract students, adding that “if your business model as an organization is all based on having one summer student, well, maybe you should revisit your model.” CBC
SaskPolytech union voices concern over staff layoffs, management hires
The union for employees at Saskatchewan Polytechnic has expressed frustration over what it sees as a valuing of management positions over front-line ones, reports Global News. The union says that the polytechnic has increased managerial positions rapidly over the last three years—moving to 150 from 113 in the 2015-16 academic year. SaskPolytech says the layoffs were part of an operational review, and the school confirmed that it had posted four managerial positions on its career website. SaskPoytech Associate Vice-President of Human Resources Terrence Carswell said the layoffs were less about finances as they were about responding to the labour market, adding that “the environment changes on a regular basis and we want to make sure we’re remaining current and also moving forward with the resources we need.” Global News
YorkU receives $2M from BMO Financial Group to support global leadership positions
York University has received a $2M gift from BMO Financial Group to create new academic leadership opportunities at its Glendon School of Public and International Affairs. The gift will specifically support the BMO Financial Group Directorship, which will be created from the existing BMO Financial Group Visiting Professorship in Public Affairs; and the BMO Visiting Fellows program, which has existed since 2013. “We are very grateful to BMO Financial Group for this generous gift, which will help us to develop dynamic new learning experiences to meet the emerging needs of tomorrow’s policymakers,” said YorkU President Mamdouh Shoukri. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact this funding will have, not only in the York and Glendon communities, but in our global community as well.” YorkU
Entering the “real pool” of executive job candidates
“If you want to be a chair, dean, provost, or even president, you must ace every step of the hiring process, or you will not advance to the next,” writes David Perlmutter for the Chronicle of Higher Education. In order to advance, the author adds, a candidate needs to learn how to get their name “into the pool that matters.” Perlmutter offers specific advice on how to navigate an executive hiring process that has been contracted to a consultant, who will usually begin with a slate of “usual suspects” for the job. Second, Perlmutter recommends using frequent networking opportunities to position oneself as a favourite candidate before a search has even been launched. The author goes on to list several other tips for those looking to land a major executive role at their institution. Chronicle of Higher Education
