Top Ten
May 28, 2019
Conestoga to lead Canada-wide pre-apprenticeship initiative
Conestoga College has received a $6.9M investment from the Government of Canada to deliver Conestoga’s Welding Pre-Apprenticeship program at partner institutions across the country. The Increasing Canada’s Prosperity through Skilled Trades project will see Conestoga’s 33-week program delivered at 19 locations across Canada over the next three years. The program is tuition-free for recipients, includes a paid work placement, provides a head-start on apprenticeship certification, and prepares students for in-demand careers. "We look forward to working with our partners here in the local community and across Canada to provide opportunities for more students to gain the skills and knowledge to launch skilled trades careers," said Conestoga President John Tibbits. Conestoga| CBC (ON)
UNB faculty troubled by professor's comments
More than 30 professors at the University of New Brunswick have penned a letter against sociology professor Ricardo Duchesne for his comments on the Council of European Canadians, a blog he reportedly co-founded. According to Global News, Duchesne is alleged to have written about a "Chinese silent invasion" and espoused theories that immigration is a conspiracy to commit white genocide. Duchesne has disputed accusations that he is a white supremacist and said that he is entitled to academic freedom. UNB is currently reviewing the allegations but has not said if it will launch a formal investigation, adds Global. Global (NB)
Canada must look to more nimble solutions to drive its innovation agenda: Rowe, Dong, Landon
"In Canada, the absence of a national innovation strategy means that it is very difficult for entrepreneurs to get clear signals about government priorities and the opportunities that flow from them," write Andrea Rowe, Linying Dong, and Jonathan Landon. The authors cite qualitative research from Ryerson University showing that a number of systemic factors need to be addressed to make sure Canada’s innovation systems produce successful ventures rather than asking governments to pick winners. Toronto Star (ON)
Med schools collaborate with Indigenous Health Network to boost First Nations, Inuit admissions
Canada’s 17 medical schools are working with the Indigenous Health Network to boost admissions for First Nations and Inuit students. Marcia Anderson, Chair of the IHN, said that greater numbers of Indigenous students have enrolled in medical school over the last ten years, although the majority of them have been Métis. Inuit and First Nations students still face significant barriers to applying, she added. These barriers include the fact that on-reserve schools are chronically underfunded, urban First Nations do not have the same access to education as non-Indigenous populations, and resources and financial support to prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test are hard to access. CBC adds that the new initiative responds to the TRC’s calls to action 23 and 24. CBC (National)
King’s launches program in refugee studies
King’s University College is launching a certificate and diploma in Refugees, Migration and Forced Displacement through its Social Justice and Peace Studies department. A King’s release states that students will have the opportunity to participate in work placements with organizations that serve refugees and newcomers throughout Southwestern Ontario. "In addition to attracting students and alumni working with immigrant communities, this program will also be of value for those interested in policy, law, education, healthcare, environment and other fields," said Allyson Larkin, an Associate Professor of Social Justice and Peace Studies. King's (ON)
University of Regina loses appeal against Paralympian Miranda Biletski
The University of Regina has lost its appeal to overturn a jury’s decision that found the school liable for an accident at its swimming pool. According to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Paralympian Miranda Biletski was paralyzed after she hit the bottom of the pool following a dive in 2005. A jury awarded Biletski over $9M in damages, plus an additional $1.5M for prejudgment interest and a claim by the Saskatchewan Minister of Health following the trial in 2017. The StarPhoenixadds that in the appeal, the university argued that comments made by Biletski’s lawyer, as well as the lawyer for Biletski’s swim club, played to the jury’s sympathy for Biletski's injury and were inflammatory. Saskatoon StarPhoenix | Hamilton Spectator (CP) (SK)
UWindsor CHARGEs ahead with electric vehicle lab
The University of Windsor’s Centre for Hybrid Automotive Research and Green Energy has partnered with several industry leaders to develop new innovations for electric vehicles, reports the Windsor Star. "The question is are industry, academia and government doing what needs to be done to be ready for this shift to electric?" asked Narayan Kar, head of the CHARGE lab. The Staradds that the lab has attracted nearly $7M in research investments over the last five years, and that industry partners have provided materials and engines for experimentation in the lab. Windsor Star (ON)
Moss: 25 tips for increasing your chances of publication
When it comes to getting work published in a scholarly journal, "what readers seem to value as publishable scholarship often shares certain features" across various subfields, writes UBC Professor Laura Moss. Moss draws on her experience as the editor of Canadian Literature: A Quarterly of Criticism and Review and provides 25 tips for researchers to help improve their chances of being published. Moss’ recommendations include not mistaking peer review for workshopping a problem in an article, understanding the journal’s expectations and audience, ensuring that the paper's content and copy are well honed and polished, and engaging with the peer readers’ feedback after the paper is returned. Inside Higher Ed (International)
Western announces new interdisciplinary Centre for the Science of Learning
Western University has announced the launch of the new Centre for the Science of Learning, which will help bridge the gap between education researchers and classroom teachers. "There’s a clear research-to-education gap, whereby researchers do work in laboratories, teachers do work in schools – and the two very infrequently meet," said Education professor Daniel Ansari, who is leading the new Centre. "Often, you have a one-way street of communication. University researchers will swoop in for an hour or two, do a professional-development session, and then leave again. Then, teachers have all this information, but what are they going to do with it now and what is their perspective?" Western (ON)
Eastern College to provide spaces for students of defunct 3D animation school
CBC reports that students who were locked out of Atlantica College last week will have the option to finish their 3D animation program at Eastern College or get a full refund of any tuition they have already paid. Atlantica closed suddenly last week, after creditors seized all of the private college’s workstations. Atlantica students told CBC that the workstations were included in their tuition, and that they were supposed to take them home after graduation. EC President Stuart Bentley said that the college will provide new workstations to the students if needed. CBC adds that private colleges in New Brunswick are required to contribute to a fund that ensures students may complete their training in the event of a sudden closure. CBC (NB)
