Top Ten
January 26, 2018
Lakehead receives $1M from Simcoe County
Lakehead University has received a $1M donation from the County of Simcoe as part of the County’s annual pledge to improve access to postsecondary education in the region. Simcoe County Warden Gerry Marshall noted the vital role that postsecondary education facilities hold in the region, producing graduates who live, work, and contribute to the community. “Lakehead University has been the region’s university for over a decade, and we particularly appreciate the County’s consistent, generous, and exceptional support,” said Lakehead Interim President Moira McPherson.
Trent launches first instrumental chemical analysis program of its kind in North America
Trent University has launched two new Instrumental Chemical Analysis graduate programs, the first of their kind in North America. Students will graduate with a theoretical understanding of how modern chemistry instruments work, as well as the practical skills needed to operate them. “With its expertise in analytical chemistry and its high-end instrumentation, Trent has a unique opportunity to offer prospective students,” said Trent Chemistry chair Andrew Vreugdenhil. “These programs will prepare students for careers in government labs, industry or academic research.”
UQAT announces creation of community digital creation space
Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue has announced the creation of Espace Lab, a new community digital creation space. The space aims to democratize digital creation and technology by providing privileged access to state-of-the-art expertise, equipment, and infrastructure for the purpose of research and development of digital arts and cultural projects. In particular, it aims to serve social innovation by providing expertise in areas such as augmented reality, virtual reality, experiential design, and digital manufacturing. Espace Lab was funded through contributions from the Fondation de l’UQAT, the ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, and the town of Rouyn-Noranda.
Questioning our assumptions about students in a culturally diverse classroom
Professors often make “soft assumptions” about their students based on differing cultural backgrounds, which can range from the presumed strictness of their upbringing to their willingness to speak in class, writes Eboo Patel. Yet how, the writer asks, should a professor move from trying to proactively address these differences to looking at the needs of the individual student? To help answer this question, Patel offers a thought experiment, asking teachers to write down their immediate assumptions about the students in their classroom, and then consider whether they would be willing to show this writing to those students. Thinking twice about acting on such assumptions, Patel concludes, can help an instructor to be more receptive to student needs in a diverse classroom.
MRU hockey star charged in break-in, attack on MRU professor
A Mount Royal University student and the former captain of its hockey team has been charged with attacking an MRU professor after breaking into her Calgary home last weekend, reports CBC. The man is facing charges of assault with a weapon and break-and-enter. MRU has stated that the business student is currently suspended and not allowed on the university’s campus. The university has also stated that there is no indication that the professor and student ever met prior to the incident, and that the university-based connection “appears to be a coincidence.”
Capilano to launch new “Cap Core” initiative beginning Fall 2018
Capilano University has announced that it plans to restructure how its degree programs approach their students’ electives starting this fall with a new program called Cap Core. Cap Core is divided into three sections - Foundation, Integration and Professional Practice - and students spend half of the 30-credit program studying courses from outside of their area of study. “We really wanted to put together a program of courses that were more intentionally designed and selected, and made available to students so that they would be able to see the connection between the courses they were taking for their major or main study and the courses they were taking as electives,” said Julia Denholm, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and one of Cap Core’s primary designers.
UMontréal establishes office in Beijing
Université de Montréal has opened an office in Beijing that will allow UMontréal to continue to forge partnerships in China and South-East Asia. The office will also oversee the institution’s activities in South-East Asia, including teaching, international cooperation, research, and alumni relations. “This new office will allow us to build on our partnerships in the country and foster student and faculty exchanges,” said UMontréal rector Guy Breton. “This move will strengthen UMontréal’s role as the leading Francophone university in China.”
Concordia Edmonton partners with University of Joinville
Concordia University of Edmonton and the University of Joinville, located in Santa Catarina, have announced a new partnership with a focus on research collaboration in artificial intelligence in health research. “Univille is honoured to have Concordia University of Edmonton as a partner,” said Joinville President Sandra Aparecida Furlan. “We believe that this is the first step of a fruitful cooperation, starting with the Interdisciplinary Research Cluster on Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence.” The federal government has reportedly designated Edmonton as one of the centres of excellence in AI in Canada, and Concordia Edmonton states that it is committed to providing the resources needed to make the project successful.
BrandonU, ACC create Western Canada’s first undergrad program in Public History
Brandon University and Assiniboine Community College have announced the creation of a joint Public History program, reportedly the first of its kind in Western Canada. Students in the program will take general history and specific public history courses through BU. At ACC, they will gain practical experience through the college's media arts programs through film, television, website, and video game design and development. The new program also gives students a total of four new options to earn a degree, including 3+1 options that combine three-year degrees from BU with a fourth year at ACC to develop media skills.
Chemical explosion prompts evacuation of UAlberta research building
Edmonton fire crews arrived on the scene of an explosion caused by nitric acid this Wednesday afternoon on the main University of Alberta campus. The explosion occurred in the university’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Research building. Firefighters got a call about alarms ringing in the building at 1:40 pm and arrived within six minutes, according to Edmonton Fire Rescue Services spokesperson Maya Filipovic. By that time, 200 people had been evacuated from the building. Three people were in the room where the explosion happened, but all three were wearing proper protective equipment and were able to get out of the room safely.
