Top Ten
October 13, 2017
Maclean’s releases 2018 university rankings
The University of Toronto, Mount Allison University, Simon Fraser University, Bishop’s University, and McGill University have all received best-in-Canada designations in this year’s Maclean’s university rankings report. U of T was named Canada’s Top School by Reputation, while MtA took home the title of Top Undergraduate University. SFU was named Top Comprehensive University, Bishop’s was named Top School by Student Satisfaction, and McGill was named Canada’s Top Doctoral Medical University. A full ranking for each category can be found at the Maclean’s website. Maclean’s
10 ways to get politicians to listen to researchers
“For researchers, seeing that their work and expertise have contributed to the development of society is a source of immense satisfaction,” writes Rémi Quirion, yet “to obtain such results, the research community needs to step up its efforts to ensure that the voice of science is indeed heard by the decision-makers who formulate public policy.” To this end, the author offers 10 tips for researchers looking to make their voices heard by politicians. These tips include establishing trust, leaving the decision-making to others, understanding the decision-maker’s environment, and not leaving facts to speak for themselves. University Affairs
UCalgary gets $2M grant for preservation of music collection
The University of Calgary has received more than 5,500 boxes of music from EMI Canada and a $2M grant that will help a team at the university preserve the rare collection. The records have been accompanied by other artifacts that document EMI’s history from 1949 to 2012. “Now that you have behind the scenes of a record label the amount of research that can be done is going to be really positive for Canadian culture. It’s just an amazing resource for figuring out the identity of Canadians in the last half century,” said archivist Robb Gilbert. Medicine Hat News (CP) | CTV News
Most international students leaving Canada after graduation
Most international students planning to live full-time in Canada after graduation are instead returning home due to confusion about immigration programs and a lack of coordination between provincial and federal governments, report Bala Yogesh and Stuart Neatby. The authors note that this trend is occurring at the same time as Canadian immigration officials are touting international students as Canada’s preferred stream of immigrants. According to a 2015 survey by the Canadian Bureau for International Education, 59% of international students viewed the potential of permanent residency as a deciding factor in their decision to study in Canada. But according to Statistics Canada, between 2004 and 2013, only 25% of international students actually gained permanent residency after their studies. The Province
Why MOOCs have failed as an education “product”: Warner
“How much money will be wasted on this latest fad?” asks John Warner in an article reflecting on the failure of Massive Open Online Courses to disrupt higher education. Warner writes that MOOCs are part of a broader trend in which learning “products” have tried, and failed, to change education over the past two centuries. Warner notes that just as MOOCs have begun to fade, an equal hype has arisen around personalized learning based on adaptive software. Warner argues that the repeated failures of hyped-up educational products lies not with the products themselves, but with the very notion of thinking of education as a “product” rather than a process. Inside Higher Ed
Canada invests over $3.7M in health research at URegina
Researchers at the University of Regina will work to address challenges facing Indigenous youth, people living with Parkinson’s disease, and people who receive mental health care with the support of $3.7M from the federal government. “The University of Regina is a proud leader in health research,” said URegina Vice-President (Research) David Malloy. “The almost $4 million boost from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research means our researchers can continue the critical work of making breakthrough discoveries and finding innovative solutions to some of the biggest health issues of our time.” URegina
Canada aims to create 10,000 student work placements for PSE students
The federal government is investing millions of dollars to help thousands of students find work during their postsecondary studies, reports iPolitics. The 2016 federal budget predicted that its promsied funding would create up to 8,700 job placements over four years, but Labour Minister Patty Hajdu announced Monday that the figure is likely to rise to 10,000 positions. Over half of current undergraduates reportedly have the opportunity to work as part of their studies by the time they graduate, but iPolitics reports that the goal of universities is to reach 100% coverage in the future. “Students are asking for it,” says Pari Johnston, vice-president, policy and public affairs at Universities Canada. “The demand is very high and we’ve seen a real increase in the number of co-ops being offered, which have more than doubled in recent years.” iPolitics
Holland opens new vintage garage performance space
Holland College celebrated the grand opening of a new soundproofed rehearsal studio this week located inside the original structure of an old garage in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The Guardian reports that the garage will help address the pressing need for a rehearsal and performance space for students in the school’s School of the Performing Arts program. “This is based on the original garage,” said Mike O’Grady, vice-president for strategic development at Holland. “We thought it would be appropriate to do a rebuild on the old garage with the stepped parapet design on the front and all of the accessories that go with an old garage.” Charlottetown Guardian
Centennial tops off new Centre for Aerospace and Aviation
Centennial College has announced that it has topped off its Centre for Aerospace and Aviation in Toronto’s Downsview Park. Students, staff, dignitaries, and guests were on hand to sign a steel I-beam before it was hoisted and incorporated into the new hangar that forms the central feature of the college’s $72M new campus building project, which includes the hangar, as well as new classrooms, laboratory space, workshops, offices, and a library. The campus is slated to open in the fall of 2018, and will give Centennial access to working runways for the first time. Centennial
Queen’s launches new doctoral-level program in Rehabilitation and Health Leadership
Queen’s School of Rehabilitation Therapy has received approval to launch a new innovative doctoral-level program. The Doctor of Science in Rehabilitation and Health Leadership (DSc RHL) is the first of its kind at the university. The 36-month executive-style program will allow its students to continue working while completing the degree through a blend of on-campus intensive sessions and online-learning. “This program fills a recognized gap in the rehabilitation and health sector,” says Marcia Finlayson (School of Rehabilitation Therapy Director, Vice-Dean, Health Sciences). “Entry-to-practice educational programs for rehabilitation and health professionals must focus on ensuring that graduates meet key competencies necessary to be safe, evidence-based practitioners.” Queen’s
