Top Ten
November 27, 2018
UBC receives $2.5M for cannabis professor
The University of British Columbia has named M-J Milloy as the first Canopy Growth Professor of Cannabis Science. CBC states that Milloy will lead clinical trials that investigate cannabis’ potential for treating opioid addiction. "To have the resources and the security and the freedom to investigate this idea — and hopefully produce evidence to help address the overdose crisis — it's why I became a scientist," Milloy said. According to the Vancouver Sun, Milloy’s current research focuses on how cannabis use can help opioid users stay on treatment programs. Canopy Growth contributed $2.5M to UBC for the research position and the province kicked in an additional $500K, a UBC release reports. CBC | Vancouver Sun | UBC
Concordia investigative journalism program welcomes news organizations
The French-language newspaper Le Devoir and the Regina Leader-Post have joined a collaborative investigation headed by Concordia University’s Institute for Investigative Journalism. A Concordia release states that eight university journalism departments and eight news organizations are participating in a joint investigation. The project’s editor, Robert Cribb, stated that the subject of the investigation is confidential, but that it involves over 100 contributors. Concordia adds that a previous project by the Institute, “The Price of Oil,” which included over 50 journalists and students, produced more than 70 publications and broadcasts that investigated government oversight of the oil and gas industry in Saskatchewan and Ontario. Concordia
Okanagan, SD23, Chinese school district sign agreement
Okanagan College, School District 23, and the Education Bureau of Tianhe District in China have established a partnership that will facilitate exchanges and cultural development between the three groups. “The signing among the Central Okanagan School District, Okanagan College, and Tianhe is going to not only boost the synergy on research and development of high quality international education programs,” explained Tianhe Education Bureau Director Dongbiao Zeng, “but it will also help teachers and students from both countries to blend in each other’s education culture, in order to set up a new strategic education cooperation pattern.” Okanagan
UTM, Amgen Foundation partner to bring biotech education to local classrooms
The University of Toronto Mississauga and the Amgen Foundation are partnering on the delivery of the Amgen Biotech Experience Canada in the GTA and Mississauga region. According to a release, the initiative complements the current Ontario curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 and helps high school science teachers to implement real-world biotechnology labs in their classrooms. “ABE allows students to actively engage in learning with equipment and techniques with which they would never have interfaced otherwise,” said secondary school teacher Greg LeBreton. “The students also genuinely enjoy learning from the material. It is engaging, relevant and cutting-edge.” Newswire
BC must invest in local talent: SFU president
While the Government of British Columbia has recently increased its investment into the postsecondary sector, writes Simon Fraser University President Andrew Petter, it needs to do more to address the province’s shortage of qualified health care and technical workers. Petter notes that high housing costs and competition for spaces have made the region less attractive for candidates who have started to pursue career options elsewhere. To address this challenge, Petter states, SFU has developed program proposals in health innovation and creative technologies, all while opening up an additional 1,000 spaces at its Surrey campus. BC can no longer rely on talent from elsewhere, he concludes, so both the province and the higher ed sector need to boost their commitment to the local population. Vancouver Sun
Niagara celebrates opening of Performance clinic
Niagara College has opened Performance, a new clinic that houses a pediatric Fine Motor Skills Development program for the local community. The clinic houses top-of-the-line equipment and offers work opportunities to students from the college. “Our new Performance clinic is a big leap forward,” explained Niagara Community and Health Studies Dean Carolyn Triemstra, “enabling us to use our College’s expertise and state-of-the-art equipment in new ways to serve our college community and beyond, as well as enhance learning opportunities and employment opportunities for our students and graduates.” Niagara College
UoGuelph OpenEd launches admission pathway for English Language Learners
Open Learning and Educational Support at the University of Guelph has launched the Integrated Admission Pathway. The pathway offers a supported environment where students will participate in a combination of selected degree-credit and English language instruction courses that can be applied towards a student’s degree program. “The creation of this new pathway aims to prioritize English language training, while providing better support for our international students on campus,” said OpenEd Director Michelle Fach. “We are pleased to roll out a newly-designed pathway that aligns with the University of Guelph’s Strategic Mandate Agreement to build international capacity for growth and change.” UoGuelph
Universities proposing new joint pension plan
Queen’s University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Guelph are partnering to propose and launch a new jointly sponsored pension plan for the Ontario university sector. If approved, the University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP) would follow the structure of other successful pensions, such as the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. It would see the three universities merge their pension plans with the opportunity for other universities to join the combined plan. “Traditional defined benefit pension plans face significant sustainability pressures,” stated Donna Janiec, Queen’s Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration). “Some form of change is both necessary and inevitable.” Queen's
Horizon College and Seminary signs MOUs with two institutions
Saskatoon’s Horizon College and Seminary has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Church of God in Western Canada, reports the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. An additional MOU with Ambrose College, the Christian and Missionary Alliance institution in Calgary, is being finalized. Horizon President Jeromey Martini told the StarPhoenix that the partnerships will enable students to train in different denominational contexts. “We think partnerships like the one playing out at Horizon College and Seminary are the wave of future,” Martini said. “In the 1900s, autonomy was the thing. Everyone wanted to do their thing on their own. Now, it’s all about collaboration.” Saskatoon StarPhoenix
HEQCO finds many graduating students below adequate on literacy/numeracy measures
The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario has released the findings of two large-scale trials measuring literacy, numeracy, and critical-thinking skills in entering and graduating postsecondary students. Through the Essential Adult Skills Initiative, researchers found that one-quarter of graduating students scored at ESO Levels 1 and 2, which are considered below adequate for today’s work world. The Postsecondary and Workplace Skills Initiative found little difference between the critical-thinking abilities of incoming and graduating students. Both initiatives found wide variation among programs. HEQCO
