Top Ten
August 8, 2018
Saudi Arabia orders students out of Canadian schools
Saudi Arabia has ordered thousands of students studying in Canada to attend school elsewhere, reports the Toronto Star. According to a spokesperson for Saudi Arabia’s Education Ministry, the country is "working on preparing and implementing an emergency plan to facilitate the transfer of our students to other countries." Bessma Momani, a professor at the University of Waterloo, told the Star that most of the students are in Canada through the King Abdullah scholarship program. The program was revoked by the Saudi Arabian government, who also ordered students to leave the country. Inside Higher Ed states that the diplomatic dispute began last week, when Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Foreign Affair’s Minister, criticized the Saudi government for arresting several civil society and women’s rights activists. Toronto Star | Inside Higher Ed
Okanagan gets funding from Canada, BC for trades facility
Okanagan College has received an investment of $2.6M from the Government of Canada and $2.8M from the Government of British Columbia for a new Trades Training Centre. The centre will offer a purpose-built training space, including a welding shop and a multi-use space for carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and pipefitting programs. It will also house the Women in Trades training program and create space for specialized programming. “Our Vernon Trades Training Centre is going to be critical in making sure there are enough skilled tradespeople to meet our industry partners' labour demands and keep the region's economy strong and vibrant,” said Okanagan President Jim Hamilton.
Northern Lakes campus moves to temporary home
Northern Lakes College has announced that it is moving to a temporary new campus as its High Prairie Central Campus is closed for substantial construction. “In the coming weeks, this campus will be demolished to make room for a modern new campus that is tailored to meet the learning needs of our students,” said Northern Lakes VP of Corporate Services & CFO Robert LeSage. “Until the new campus is completed, a building has been leased temporarily to provide office and classroom space beginning this fall.” A Northern Lakes release states that the High Prairie students will be placed in the temporary facility for the next three years. Northern Lakes
UWindsor partnership to provide accelerated logistics certification, reduced tuition
The University of Windsor and Supply Chain Management Association Ontario have agreed to provide graduates of UWindsor’s Master of Management, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management Program with an opportunity to pursue a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) designation at an accelerated pace for a reduced fee. “Our MoM graduates will be able to pursue their SCMP designation much faster—a big help in their career path.” stated Zhenzhong Ma, Academic Director of the Master of Management Program. According to a UWindsor statement, eligible students will be exempt from five SCMP components with a subsequent tuition reduction of nearly $5K. UWindsor
Canada partners 1,200 paid interns with small businesses, non-profits
The Government of Canada has announced that it will provide 1,200 graduates with paid internships. A news release states that graduates will be paired with small businesses and non-profit organizations that will provide on-the-job training in digital skills and problem solving. “As the economy changes and becomes increasingly knowledge-based, digital skills have never been more critical,” stated Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. “Our government is proud to deliver a program that will help 1,200 Canadians gain meaningful work experience and develop digital literacy required for the middle-class jobs of tomorrow.” Canada
Helping first-generation students thrive
Colleges and university need to make first-generation students feel supported, but not coddled, writes Ross O’Hara. The narrative of the first-gen experience as a burden continues to persist, according to O’Hara, and this narrative can be reversed by showing students how their experience can be perceived as a strength. Additionally, first-gen students might not always know where or how to seek academic help, a problem that can then manifest as poor time management or an inability to engage with faculty. The author cites a pilot project that gave 137 first-gen students the opportunity to develop their skills through an intensive, six-week program. Finally, O’Hara states, first-gen students transitioning into college can benefit from mentorship from older students. Psychology Today
Carleton implements work-integrated learning for autonomous vehicle sector
Carleton University has partnered with the Information and Communications Technology Council to provide work-integrated learning opportunities in the autonomous vehicle sector, states a Carleton release. “We are on the cusp of a new era of transportation that offers tremendous opportunities to realize socio-economic gains for Canada. This is a critical collaboration to nurture and inspire tomorrow’s innovators and industry leaders in a space that is destined to reshape Canada’s competitive advantage in a global economy,” ICTC President and CEO Namir Anani said. According to an ICTC report, the autonomous vehicle sector will produce 34,000 new jobs over the next five years. Carleton
Minister concerned about cannabis dealer’s proximity to CEGEPs
Sébastien Proulx, Quebec’s Minister of Education, has expressed concern about a cannabis vendor that has proposed to open a location near three CEGEPs and a university, reports Journal de Montréal. Proulx stated that he will file a request to move the proposed site. A spokesperson for the vendor stated that although cannabis suppliers must be located at least 250 metres from primary and secondary schools, the law does not extend to postsecondary institutions.
CBU discusses Indigenization of Strategic Plan
An open forum held by Cape Breton University highlighted both the importance of indigenization and the ways that it could be integrated into its Strategic Plan, reports CBC. Former Misipawistik Cree Nation Chief Ovide Mercredi, the forum’s keynote, stated that the university’s curriculum and administration must make Indigenous people feel like they belong there. "If that's what indigenization now means, then I support it .... We don't need a fancy term to do the right thing,” he said, adding that changes in governance and faculty are also crucial. Rod Nicholls, a faculty adviser for CBU’s Strategic Plan, told CBC that the university also needs to provide better access to Indigenous services and more rigorously integrate Indigenous knowledge into courses. CBC
Navigating life events as an academic
Life outside the academy never stops, and managing these external pressures on top of growing professional demands can leave academics feeling overwhelmed, writes Victoria Reyes. Reyes recommends being open with mentors and department chairs about when your personal life may impact your work, being your own best advocate, and taking life one day at a time. Finally, Reyes emphasizes the need to find someone to confide in and accepting that some professional commitments might need to be given up while prioritizing where to focus your energy. Inside Higher Ed
