Top Ten
May 22, 2018
QC boosts university funding, deregulates foreign tuition
Hélène David, Quebec’s Higher Education Minister, has announced a $1.5B funding boost for QC’s university network over the next six years, in addition to $6.3M for smaller universities. According to the Montreal Gazette, the investment amounts to an 11.3% increase from 2016-17. The Gazette also states that the province has deregulated international tuition, a move that will impact five to six thousand foreign students. However, the province also announced a $22.8M fund supporting international students who attend Francophone colleges. David stated that QC hopes to boost international enrolments in Francophone institutions by 15%. Montreal Gazette | La Presse
Confederation kicks off $5M campaign for TEC Hub
Confederation College launched its $5M “TEC Campaign” with a $200K contribution from TBaytel, a Confederation release states. According to CBC, the TEC Hub—short for Technology, Education, and Collaboration—will house the college’s engineering technology and aerospace manufacturing programs, as well as providing space for skilled trades training. “We have the funding to build the building, and we are moving our existing equipment into the building as well,” said Confederation President Jim Madder. “But [the campaign] will allow us to buy new equipment, to renew and upgrade our existing equipment.” Madder told CBC that the Hub will be complete this summer, with classes scheduled to begin in September. Confederation | CBC
RDC announces Justice Studies Diploma
Red Deer College has announced that it will launch its new Justice Studies Diploma Program in September. According to an RDC release, the program will cover a diverse array of topics that include the Canadian justice system, theoretical approaches to crime and criminal behaviour, and communication and conflict resolution. Torben Andersen, Dean of Arts and Sciences, added that the program will emphasize “knowledge and understanding of Indigenous peoples and their experiences with the justice system.” The program will also include a second-year practicum. RDC
McGill, KINOVA announce partnership
McGill University has partnered with KINOVA to foster collaborative projects that involve medical, surgical, and assistive robots, states a McGill release. Martha Crago, McGill’s Vice-Principal of Research and Innovation, explained that KINOVA will engage closely with two interdisciplinary research groups at the university - CIM and the Steinberg Center - on the projects. “At the core of successful partnerships are shared values, such as that of McGill and KINOVA to bring innovative solutions to society through research,” she added. Keith Blanchet, Director of Innovation at KINOVA, stated that “collaborations such as this are key to KINOVA’s growth and will enable the research community to tackle the global challenges facing us.” McGill
YorkU welcomes $25M toward Markham Centre Campus
York University has received a $25M contribution from the York Regional Council toward the new Markham Centre Campus. The campus, which will include a collaboration with Seneca College, has an approved budget of $253M for design and construction. “York’s new campus will be an integral part of Markham’s city centre and an innovative education hub for students, families and businesses across the fast-growing York Region,” said YorkU President Rhonda Lenton. “York Regional Council’s generous commitment brings us closer to realizing our shared vision for this new state-of-the-art campus.” York Link | YorkU
CEGEP student residence building destroyed by fire
A fire at CEGEP de la Gaspésie et des Îles destroyed a student residence last week and forced the evacuation of 280 students. The residence in question was physically attached to the school itself, which led to a shutdown of campus for the day, as well as the cancellation of scheduled exams. “A lot of our employees have stayed on site to help, so certainly all our teams are there to help the students,” said communications officer Marie-Christine Fortin. While police did not know the cause of the fire at the time of publication, Police spokesperson Sgt Claude Doiron explained that “the building will probably be a total loss.” CBC
Time for a First Nations university, says ON Regional Chief
“It’s time” for the Government of Ontario to seriously consider introducing a full, First Nations-led university, says Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day. “We're now at an impasse, I believe, where all of what mainstream universities can offer our First Nations has pretty much run its course,” Day explained. “We have seen issues of racism, discrimination and systemic barriers that I believe will continue to occur because the foundation of mainstream education is not founded in Indigenous value systems and worldviews.” Day pointed to First Nations University in Saskatchewan as an example of what he would like to see in the province. CBC
UManitoba budget includes tuition hikes for international undergrads
The Winnipeg Free Press has learned that international student fees at the University of Manitoba will jump by over $1K in the 2018/19 academic year. According to the Free Press, the university has hiked fees to balance its budget in light of cuts in the provincial Operating Budget, although it has not made cuts to any programs. MB universities have also been permitted to increase fees by as much as 6.6% for the upcoming year, while the province has cut university and colleges grants by 0.9%. Winnipeg Free Press
UBC debuts $5M refurbished ballpark
The University of British Columbia has debuted its $5M refurbished ball park, which features artificial turf, big-league dugouts, and a new grandstand. The park's main tenants are the UBC Thunderbirds, but coach Terry McKaig reportedly has his sights set on the complex becoming a focal point for sports on a provincial and national level. “I honestly think this saved the program,” said McKaig. The Vancouver Sunadds that the new facility and training centre may help keep Canadians who would otherwise leave to play baseball at an NCAA program. Vancouver Sun | UBC
USherbrooke receives $600K from BMO for teaching innovations
According to a Université de Sherbrooke release, BMO Financial Group has donated $600K to the school's Faculty of Education. USherbrooke states that the donation will support research and training initiatives, including research on literacy acquisition, online teaching materials, and an internship program. "We are proud to be able to count on such a major partner as BMO Financial Group to implement tangible actions that will directly affect students. I cordially thank this major donor and longstanding partner of the Université de Sherbrooke," said Normand Legault, Chair of the Promising Futures, Shared Passions Major Campaign. USherbrooke
