Top Ten
August 22, 2018
YorkU Equity in Education Hub will work to improve fairness in schools through identity-based data
York University’s Faculty of Education has launched the Equity in Education Hub, an online repository that “will shine a light on the lived experiences and schooling realities in Kindergarten to Grade 12, largely in the Greater Toronto Area.” The hub will house research reports that include identity-based student data in order to study how certain student experiences and outcomes are connected to demographic data. “Our goal is to offer an ongoing and comprehensive collection of information to help understand what’s happening in the GTA schools in terms of access, engagement, achievement and well-being, that considers both historical and contemporary contexts,” said YorkU Professor Vidya Shah, who is leading the hub project. “Researchers, academics, community members, students and parents will contribute to and benefit from this resource collection.” YorkU
Dawson receives $75M investment in infrastructure
Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard recently announced that between $75M and $95M will be invested in Dawson College's infrastructure, reports Global News. The investment will be preceded by a $1.5M study on how best to address the “lack of space” at the college, as Couillard stated that English CEGEPs have suffered from neglect. “It’s going to be a significant project… grouping all health care programs together under one roof,” said Couillard. “It’s been long since people waited for that. We knew it was needed and we’re answering needs of this community.” Montreal Gazette |Global News
McGill, Kahnawà:ke partner on Indigenous-focused Bachelor of Education program
McGill University’s Office of First Nations and Inuit Education and the Kahnawà:ke Education Center have partnered on the launch of the Bachelor of Education First Nation and Inuit Studies program. CBC reports that this marks the first time that the intensive program will be offered in the community. The program’s graduates will be certified to teach kindergarten and elementary students anywhere in Quebec. “It's so important that they have all of the course requirements needed for teaching but equally it's important that they have a clear understanding of how to teach through our own world view and perspective as Indigenous people,” said Robin Delaronde, director of the education centre. CBC | McGill
Concordia Edmonton receives funding injection for cybersecurity, IT programs
Students at the Concordia University of Edmonton are benefiting from over a quarter-million dollars in program and equipment funding as they prepare for in-demand careers in computer and information technology. The university reports that the new funds will support its strategic goal of increasing spaces for technology-related programming and training students to work in the burgeoning Alberta tech sector. “The need for security professionals will continue to expand along with the unprecedented growth of the network-connected devices and systems affecting every area of our lives,” says Sergey Butakov, Associate Professor of Concordia Edmonton’s MISSM program. Concordia Edmonton
Okanagan welding students fired up for new welding centre
Students training as welders in British Columbia’s South Okanagan region have a new facility in which to hone their skills. Okanagan College has opened a new $2.2M, 465-square-metre welding facility at its Penticton campus, which the college reports is one of the most and advanced facilities of its kind in the province. “In building this facility, we had several goals,” said Okanagan President Jim Hamilton. “We set out to provide the highest quality learning environment for our trades students and apprentices in the South Okanagan, to build a space that would help to meet the needs of employers in the region, and to further reduce our carbon footprint in Penticton.” Okanagan
Offering effective support to colleagues in distress
Most academic staff understand that they have a responsibility to be collegial and supportive toward their colleagues and students, writes Allison M Vaillancourt, but many might not think of “calling out intimidating behavior, dealing with sexual coercion, or persuading a colleague to seek treatment for substance abuse” as part of this responsibility. The good news, Vaillancourt writes, is that there is a range of options for supporting members of the academic community, which include both taking direct action and calling on outside resources. The author outlines some of these options and describes how they could be used to address five different problem scenarios. Chronicle of Higher Education
UMoncton receives $1.3M for campus infrastructure
The Université de Moncton has received funding of over $1.3M for improvements at its Moncton campus. The funding will specifically go towards improving the road infrastructure and the water and wastewater infrastructure on campus. A UMoncton release adds that this will create jobs during the construction period, improve the quality of life for the university’s community, and protect the local ecosystem. Roger Melanson, New Brunswick’s Minister of Post-Secondary Education, pointed to UMoncton as an important driver of development for the province and added that the NB government is proud to contribute to its growth. UMoncton
TWU must go farther to create supportive environment for LGBTQ2S+ community, say critics
A week after Trinity Western University announced that it would no longer require students to sign its controversial community covenant, critics argue that the move does not go far enough to create a welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and two-spirited (LGBTQ2S+) people. TWU graduate Aline Bouwman notes that the change does not apply to faculty or non-student staff at the school. Margot Young, law professor with the University of British Columbia, also notes that “I think that’s concerning from the perspective of somebody who teaches at a law school that the teaching of inclusivity and human rights will be framed by a Biblically based paradigm that condemns the full sexual diversity of humans.” CBC | The Tyee
ACAD, OCADU partner on online courses
The Alberta College of Art + Design and OCAD University have partnered on the launch of a complement of online courses focused on elevating learners’ professional and personal development. The collaboration also marks ACAD’s first virtual offering. “ACAD’s School of Continuing Education and Professional Development is delighted to be launching our first ever online course offerings in partnership with OCADU,” said Nicole Hamilton, Executive Director of ACAD’s School of Continuing Education + Professional Development. “This type of flexible delivery speaks to the new mandate in ACAD’s school of continuing education, which includes broader appeal with working professionals.” ACAD
Northern designated as fire college training centre
Northern College and the Ontario Fire College have entered a partnership that will see Northern become a Regional Training Centre for fire and emergency services, reports the Timmins Daily Press. The agreement will allow Northern to deliver OFC course offerings and training to Ontario’s fire service personnel through a new Northern College Regional Training Centre. The centre will be based at the new Integrated Emergency Services Complex (IESC). “We are very pleased to work in partnership with the Ontario Fire College to continue to provide access to high qualify, safe, and effective fire service training and education opportunities in our community,” said Northern President Fred Gibbons. Timmins Press
