Top Ten
December 12, 2017
Conestoga launches Magna Centre for Supply Chain Excellence
Conestoga College has launched a new applied research, education, and training centre with the support of $800K from Magna International. Magna will invest the funds over the next four years to support the establishment of the Magna Centre for Supply Chain Excellence, which will work with government, business, and industry partners to address Canada’s shortage of skilled supply chain specialists, develop innovative and practical solutions for real-world challenges, and leverage innovation and resources across a global network of partners and associated groups. “The contributions of our industry partners play an essential role in Conestoga’s efforts to foster innovation, address industry needs, prepare students for successful careers, and support economic growth across our dynamic region,” said Conestoga President John Tibbits. Conestoga
U of T grad student responds to racist incident with event to promote racial literacy
“Parents need to learn to have the ‘race talk’ with kids,” writes Shree Paradkar, reflecting on recent incidents at the University of Toronto in which students refused to stop using the N-word on social media with a Black international student. U of T graduate student and residence advisor Kevin Lunianga has organized an event in response to the incidents, offering a forum for students to discuss the use of racist epithets. His event is part of an effort to increase what Paradkar calls “racial literacy,” or an understanding of race-related issues that should be considered equally important to reading literacy. Toronto Star
Students “not always right” when determining whether higher ed has good value: Pooley
When it comes to measuring the value of higher education, students “are not ‘always right’ and the value of higher education is not for them alone to decide,” writes Will Pooley for Times Higher Ed. The author argues that higher education brings a number of benefits to society as a whole that become invisible when considered through the lens of whether a student receives “good value” from their degree. The reason this discussion happens at all, Pooley adds, is because of rising tuition fees, since placing more of a financial burden on students encourages the belief that higher education is a personal investment for personal gain rather than a social investment for social gain. Times Higher Education
Confederation launches digital media production program
Confederation College has launched a new program that will train students for careers in digital and social media. Program Coordinator Michele McManus tells CBC that graduates could work anywhere from traditional media outlets to new media companies and corporate marketing departments. Confederation faculty reportedly crafted the program by drawing on an alumni survey and focus groups with industry to determine where today’s media producers will have the best employment prospects. “I hope that they, within the next three to five years, are communication directors, social media marketers, cinematographers—that they're creating documentaries that impact people and change people's lives,” said McManus. CBC | Confederation
Campus free speech debates reflect the changing mission of higher ed: Wright
Debates over free speech on campus are “indicative of another serious crisis: a fight over the fundamental purpose of universities,” writes Angela Wright. The author cites research suggesting that students from more affluent backgrounds are more likely to think of university as a “finishing school” where they can freely debate ideas, while traditionally underrepresented students tend to view university as a way to escape poverty and support their communities. “University administrators must learn how to create programs and implement policies that reconcile these differing purposes,” concludes Wright. “And they must determine whether it's possible and practical to be both a finishing school for students who are affluent, and an avenue to social justice for those who have been historically underrepresented.” CBC
UMoncton opens artificial intelligence centre, establishes collaboration with Côte d'Ivoire
The Université de Moncton has announced the launch of its Centre d’Intelligence Artificielle by the student community of the Department of Computer Science. The centre will bring together students through the development of software and artificial learning, including the application of Deep Learning, computer vision, and robotics. The university also announced that it has explored opportunities for collaboration with the Ministry of National Education of Côte d'Ivoire, and that it will see scholarship holders from the Ministry of National Education of Côte d'Ivoire pursue their undergraduate and/or graduate studies at UMoncton this coming January. UMoncton (1) | UMoncton (2)
How universities can better support grad students who are parents
For many, graduate studies is a challenging quest. … Having a child while completing your studies can make things even more challenging,” writes Brittany Jakubiec. The author cites survey-based research that she performed with 100 graduate students across Canada, and noes that these students faced a number of challenges that are common to all graduate students, such as a lack of quality mentoring and funding opportunities. The author adds, however, that graduate students who are parents also face unique challenges, such as negotiating the guilt that comes from wanting to be a good parent and a good student at the same time. University Affairs
TELUQ introduces the Institut Jacques-Couture
Université TÉLUQ has announced the launch of the Institut Jacques-Couture. The new institute will support innovations in teaching, research, and community services related to the theme “Accueils, Échanges, Sociétés.” The institution will benefit from the creation of the institute by bringing the Quebec society together and participating in a number of activities that will lead to its transformation, explained Martin Noël, TELUQ directeur general. The institutional release explains that the institute was named after the late QC MP and Minister Jacques Couture, whose life was marked by the constant pursuit of social justice and a dedication to social, humanitarian, and political matters. UQuebec
MUN Building a Healthy Tomorrow Campaign surpasses $5M
Memorial University has reached the $5M mark in its Healthy Tomorrow Campaign, which will support students, simulation and educational technology, and research at the school. “This milestone is good news for the people and communities we serve,” said MUN Faculty of Medicine Dean Margaret Steele in a news release last Thursday. “Thanks to the many donors, our learners, faculty and researchers will have access to the tools and support they need to be the best they can be. Their generosity will help us with our vision to improve the health of the people and communities we serve through excellence, integrated education, research and social accountability.” The Telegram
CASA supports inclusion of student-friendly measures in FINA recommendations
The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations says that it is pleased to see a number of measures to address important student issues included in the annual report of recommendations for the upcoming federal budget released by Canada’s Standing Committee on Finance (FINA). CASA says that it is particularly pleased with the committee’s recommendations to address student mental health, textbook costs, and barriers to Indigenous education. “It’s encouraging to see so many of the solutions that students have been advocating for this past year being echoed by the government’s Finance Committee,” said CASA Executive Director Michael McDonald. “We eagerly await Budget 2018 to see if they will be adopted, as these measures would make a positive difference in many students’ lives.” CASA
