Top Ten
January 26, 2019
Dal opens new STEM spaces for African Nova Scotians
Dalhousie University has opened a new learning centre, offices, and Makerspace that prioritizes African Nova Scotians in STEM disciplines. According to the Chronicle Herald, the Makerspace features a 3D printing room, soldering stations, wet lab, and collaboration workstations. The Chronicle Herald adds that Imhotep’s Legacy Academy, the university-community partnership that hosts the spaces, hires STEM university students of African heritage to teach and mentor high school participants, and that the initiative has introduced over 2,000 African Nova Scotian students to STEM in the last three years. “Our successful model of engaging community, university, mentors, students and others can be a model for others wishing to expand their participation in STEM education,” said ILA President and Board Chair Pemberton Cyrus. Chronicle Herald (NS)
UVic, SFU, Heiltsuk Nation collaborate to launch website
The Heiltsuk people, Simon Fraser University, the University of Victoria, the Hakai institute, and Greencoast Media have launched “Húy̓at: Our Voices our Land,” a website that illuminates thousands of years of Heiltsuk Nation voices and history. The website is the result of over eight years of collaboration between the partners and grew from the community’s desire to present their connection to their lands and seas for their own communities and others. “With this publicly accessible website, we’re sharing our inseparable connection with our homelands as it holds true for all First Nations up and down the coast,” said Heiltsuk Chief Marilyn Slett. SFU (BC)
Don’t. Call. It. Liberal. Arts.
If one gathered all the brightest minds in the marketing business and asked them to come up with the worst possible name for the life-changing education offered by universities, it would probably be “liberal arts,” remarks one expert in a recent article by Colleen Flaherty. The reason, the article continues, is because too few people understand what the term means, thinking that it refers to either politics or art. The article adds that “soft skills” is an equally poor term that likely does more harm to the liberal arts than good. The article highlights a number of initiatives that are looking to recast the kind of universal education that liberal arts advocates are trying to promote. Inside Higher Ed (International)
Professor takes URegina to court over FOI request
The Regina Leader-Posthas learned that a University of Regina professor is taking the university to court over a Freedom of Information request related to her research into Canada’s oil and gas sector. Emily Eaton, who works in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, asked the university to disclose information related to external research funding for fossil fuel projects in 2017. According to the Leader-Post, URegina denied her FOI despite a recommendation from Saskatchewan’s Information and Privacy Commissioner to release the data. The university stated that it is entitled to withhold access to the funding details per the Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Regina Leader-Post (SK)
UoGuelph to launch analytics centre focused on consumer data
The College of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph is set to launch the Marketing Analytics Centre, a research centre that focuses on marketing analytics and consumer-driven big data. “Future business success will be dependent on how marketers leverage their customer’s digital footprint,” said Tanya Mark, the Centre’s Director. “Our centre will give industry and policy-makers the insights and expertise to stay relevant and competitive in this hyper-competitive digital age.” A UoGuelph release adds that the Centre is the first in Canada to use business analytics to explore consumer behaviour in the food and health industries. UoGuelph (ON)
CFS-NS alarmed by ON tuition shakeup
The Star Halifax reports that student organizers in Nova Scotia have expressed concern that the recent changes to Ontario’s tuition structure could “hurt students studying in Nova Scotia and attack student rights.” Aidan McNally, Chairperson of the NS chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students, stated that the shakeup in grants funding could put students from ON who attend NS institutions at risk, while the funding reduction could also deter applicants from ON because NS has one of the highest tuition rates in the country. The Star Halifax adds that 6,050 undergraduate and graduate students from ON attended NS institution in the 2017-18 academic year. Star Halifax (NS)
SMU partners with Halifax, eBay for retail initiative
Saint Mary’s University and The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services have partnered with the City of Halifax and eBay for Retail Revival, an eBay program designed to help small and medium-sized retailers engage with e-commerce and global trade. A release explains that the initiative will feature a dedicated customer service support team, digital tools and subscriptions, promotional marketing from eBay, and additional education and resources from participating partners focused on small business and exporting. “This partnership represents a great opportunity for both our region and university,” said SMU President Robert Summerby-Murray. SMU (NS)
Sault, Algoma establish diploma-degree pathway agreements
Sault College and Algoma University have signed a set of pathway agreements that will allow graduates to complete a diploma program at Sault and a bachelor’s degree at Algoma within four years. Students can earn both a Police Foundations diploma and a Law and Justice Honours degree; a Business or Business Accounting diploma and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree; or a Natural Environment Technician, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Technician, Adventure Recreation and Parks Technician, or Forestry Technician diploma and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (Honours) degree. “This unique partnership supports learning and highlights our joint commitment to providing diversity and opportunity in post-secondary education,” said Sault College President Ron Common. Sault Online |Algoma |SooToday (ON)
UBC, Langara sign on for Food, Nutrition and Health program
The University of British Columbia and Langara College have signed an agreement that enables students to complete a Food, Nutrition, and Health Transfer diploma program at Langara before directly entering UBC’s Food, Nutrition, and Health Program. A Langara release adds that students who complete the diploma can apply to the 3rd year of UBC’s Dietetics program or pursue a Food Science, Food Market Analysis, or Nutrition Sciences degree program. “This was a collaborative effort between UBC and the Nutrition and Food Service Management Department,” said Monica Molag, Langara Department Chair of the Nutrition and Food Service Management program, “and we are so pleased to offer our students a pathway to the Food, Nutrition and Health program at UBC.” Langara (BC)
Canadore launches Indigenous cultural safety initiative
Canadore College has launched “Biigiiweyan,” a seven-week Indigenous interprofessional cultural safety training program for students and health care professionals. A release states that the program will cover topics such as colonization; Indigenous worldviews, healing, and wellness practices; respect, relationship, reconciliation, and accessing health resources and services; spiritual wellness practices; and cultural safety, advocacy and transformational change. “The program explores Indigenous approaches to healing and wellness and supports healthcare post-secondary students and current practitioners in connecting with Indigenous health services and practices in our community,” said Patricia Chabbert, Canadore’s Business and Indigenous Relations Manager. NationTalk (ON)
