September 23, 2020
Canada and Colombia have strengthened the ties between their respective higher education organizations. An agreement between Universities Canada and the Asociación Colombiana de Universidades will support further dialogue and coordination in areas that include student mobility, research collaboration, and joint programming between universities in the two countries. An agreement between Mitacs in Canada and Minciencias in Colombia includes a five-year commitment to support over 60 undergraduate students’ participation in Mitac’s Globalink Research Internship and Colombia’s Nexo Global summer research programs. “In a world of closing borders and global anxiety,” said Universities Canada President Paul Davidson, “international relationships have become more important than ever."
Universities Canada (National)
Saskatchewan’s eight regional colleges have received funding that will support the delivery of a variety of education and skills training programs. The $24.2M will be divided amongst the colleges for Adult Basic Education (ABE), Essential Skills for the Workplace (ESWP), and Skills Training Allocation programming. “The Government of Saskatchewan has been working with our industries to deliver real training opportunities that make sense for our labour market and those careers in demand,” said SK Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison. “The programs our regional colleges will deliver with this funding, from basic skills programs to language training, will support individuals as they pursue further education and move into employment opportunities in Saskatchewan.”
SK (SK)
Canadian colleges are especially connected with their communities, writes Stacy Lee Kong. The article describes how colleges across Canada are involved with their often small communities through education and industry connections. Kong says colleges also play an important part in allowing students to come to Canada and learn the skills they need to fill local employment needs, as college programs are often tuned-in to the needs of local employers. “College is hard-wired to the community,” says Mark Frison, president of Assiniboine Community College. “We’re hand-in-glove with how things work in the economy and the social fabric of the community.”
Maclean’s (National)
The University of Windsor and the University of Dallas have partnered to offer graduates of UWindsor’s Odette School of Business (OSB) MBA and Master of Management programs the opportunity to complete an online cybersecurity skills certification. This certification is internationally recognized, and instructs students in data protection, compliance and legal issues, and operational cybersecurity management or network security. OSB’s MBA program director Kent Walker says that few Canadian institutions offer similar programs, and that none offer a completely online certification. “Our students will have an opportunity to acquire a piece of their education that is very much in demand, but not available to many other Canadians, so we’re really excited about the possibilities this offers,” said Walker.
UWindsor (ON)
Mount Allison University has announced new academic opportunities in a variety of program areas aimed at providing an interdisciplinary education for its students. The many new offerings include joint majors, degree minors, and embedded certificates in topics such as Geocomputing, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Cognitive Science. “These kinds of developments are a direct result of faculty and staff members listening to students and answering their calls for academic innovation,” said Mount Allison President Jean-Paul Boudreau. “We are pleased to announce these new areas of study and look forward to announcing more additions in the future.”
Mount Allison (NB)
Assiniboine Community College has announced the addition of three new two-year diploma programs within its School of Business: Media & Communications, Digital Art & Design, and Web & Interactive Development. ACC says that the three new programs will replace its existing Interactive Media Arts programs. Students will work with local industry partners on real projects and complete the program with a major Capstone project. “We’ve heard from industry and are excited to provide concentrated options for learners, based on updated labour market needs” said Jana Sproule, Chair of Media and Office Technology at ACC. “Students can feel confident that these new programs will align with the skill sets industry is looking for.”
ACC (MB)
The University of Calgary has partnered with The51 to establish a Financial Feminism Investing Lab pilot, which will help women-led businesses access women-led capital. Women found or co-found 30% of Alberta’s tech startups, but Shelly Kuipers, co-founder of The51 said that “there is a lack of opportunity for women to mobilize as leaders in investing.” The Financial Feminism Investing Lab is a non-credit program that will work alongside UCalgary’s entrepreneurship network. It will enable students to gain an understanding of the social and economic factors that influence women’s access to capital and the value of investing in organizations founded by females. “Through this pilot project we are looking to activate the future of female capital,” said Kuipers.
UCalgary (AB)
Times Colonist says that 25 people were ticketed for not maintaining physical distance and for alcohol-related offenses at the University of Victoria. Over 100 young people had gathered near the library and Saanich police spokesman Const. Markus Anastasiades says that “the officers observed a complete lack of any physical distancing as well as many openly consuming liquor.” The UVic Office of Student Life stated that it will review the sanctions students who were fined for violating social distancing rules will face.
Times Colonist (BC)
Three years after eCampusOntario negotiated a province-wide Lynda.com deal for every student, instructor, and staff member of Ontario colleges and universities, the contract has come to an end. York University reports that the license will expire on September 21st, following “failed negotiations” between the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities and LinkedIn Learning. York has stated that it will be independently pursuing a contract to maintain LinkedIn Learning access for students, faculty, and staff.
York |
eCampusOntario (2017 Announcement) (ON)
CBC reports that a ransomware attack in March at Simon Fraser University exposed the data of 250,000 accounts, including those of students, faculty, staff, retirees, and alumni. SFU provided figures this week for the data breach, which included 37,000 students, 35,000 alumni, 6,500 staff and 1,250 faculty, and around 160,000 accounts without email access that belonged to former SFU members. No banking or financial information was compromised, according to the article, but the information breached included student and employee identification numbers, full names, birthdays, course enrolments, and encrypted passwords. SFU Chief Information Officer Mark Roman said that the school did not have to pay a ransom given that the breach was a copy of old data.
CBC (BC)
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