November 25, 2020
The Future Skills Centre (FSC) will be investing $4.3M in two Atlantic Canada partnerships. The Atlantic Colleges Atlantique will receive $3.45M for its College Transformation des Collèges project, which focuses on skills gaps in early childhood education that need to be addressed by the college system. The University of New Brunswick’s NouLAB will receive $900K for its “Early Childhood Education Lab” project, which evaluates and enhances the training received or sought out by early childhood educators. “By focusing on challenges that exist at the level of a single profession and at a wider level in our educational systems, respectively, the projects are primed to deliver findings that we hope can be applied to other entities both within and beyond Atlantic Canada,” said FSC Executive Director Pedro Barata.
FSC-CCF (Atlantic)
Okanagan College has launched an Applied Bachelor of Arts: Community Research and Evaluation degree. Students in the four-year baccalaureate degree will develop skills in applied research and field experience, and graduates will be able to pursue a variety of careers in roles such as program administrators, analysts, or consulting. Additionally, a partnership with the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s School of Social Work will guarantee 15 qualifying graduates of Okanagan’s Applied Bachelor of Arts to transition to UBCO’s Master of Social Work programs. “This new degree is yet another example of how the College is responding with innovative programming that is training graduates to meet skills gaps and serve employers in our region’s communities and beyond,” said Okanagan President Jim Hamilton.
Okanagan (BC)
The Rideau Hall Foundation and Indspire have announced a three-year collaboration on the Teach for Tomorrow: Indigenous Educator Apprenticeship Program. The program provides Indigenous students with college-level courses in order to smooth the transition through high school to university at the University of Winnipeg. The program began in 2019 and, through the partnership, will expand to a second location. “Indspire is excited that the Rideau Hall Foundation has committed to help grow the Teach for Tomorrow program,” said Indspire President Mike DeGagné. “This program will help Indigenous people to become educators in their communities, serve as role models to younger First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students and help them succeed in the classroom.”
Nation Talk (National)
Mount Allison University has announced that it is taking a number of actions to respond to concerns about sexual violence prevention and support. The university has created a Sexual Violence Prevention Working Group that will develop a more effective framework for prevention on campus, including campus-wide education, support for and understanding of survivors, and the handling of harassment and assault cases. The university will also initiate a third-party review of its sexual violence prevention model, resources, policies, and procedures. Additionally, it will commit to increasing staff resources, creating an Advisory Council that will be chaired by Memorial University President Vianne Timmons, and making immediate changes to its sexual assault intake and counselling services. MtA’s Board of Regents has also announced that it will establish an ad hoc committee on sexual violence prevention.
MtA (NB)
Conestoga College and Algoma Manor have partnered to deliver the PSW FAST-ONSITE program, which will train personal support workers to address critical care needs. Conestoga instructors will deliver courses online, and students will participate in clinical placements through local health-care organizations. The 20-week program will prepare 50 students to work in long-term care homes. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of Algoma Manor to bring health-care education and training to the local community,” said Veronique Boscart, Executive Dean of Conestoga’s School of Health and Life Sciences. “We look forward to working in partnership to address the region’s care needs through this innovative education initiative.” The cost for participants will be covered by the Canada-Ontario Job Grant.
Conestoga (ON)
Those facing major career changes should try a choice-based exercise to help gain perspective on their options, writes Rebekah Layton. The author describes how when individuals are faced with two seemingly opposing options, imagining a third option can illuminate what is attractive about the first or second choices or show that a different path is best. Layton gives three examples of how those faced with major changes can use this approach to find a career path that works for them. “When in doubt, immerse yourself in imagining your future,” writes Layton. “Explore the possibilities ahead and gain some understanding of what each future would be like. Take the time to envision yourself going through each door (or window).”
Inside Higher Ed (International)
The University of Ottawa has formed a new anti-racism action committee, which will replace its advisory committee on anti-racism and inclusion. UOttawa president Jacques Frémont says that a recent
public clash between instructors and students over the use of a racial slur has created “deep internal divisions that have strained relationships and, in some cases, friendships, not only among faculty but also among our support staff.” The university is dissolving the advisory committee on anti-racism and inclusion and replacing it with the action committee on anti-racism and inclusion as a step toward community healing. The new committee will have responsibilities such as examining school programs and practices to understand their contributions to systemic racism.
CBC (ON)
The Canadian Federation of Students and Don’t Forget Students have submitted a petition to the House of Commons demanding emergency pandemic relief. The petition proposes a plan for pandemic relief and stimulus that will utilize the remaining funds from existing grants, include graduates in EI and the new CRB program, extend a freeze on student loan interest and payments until May 2021, and expand the Canada Student Grant to increase funding for institutions. “While students are struggling to pay rent, the federal government has started collecting on student loans again,” said Member of Parliament for Victoria, Laurel Collins. “It’s time for the government to live up to their promises and start listening to students."
Newswire (National)
A new survey, commissioned by OCUFA, indicates that most university students and professors believe that the online learning experience is negatively impacting postsecondary education. According to a survey, 62% of students and 76% of faculty indicated that online learning has a “negative impact on education quality.” Students stated that they felt online learning negatively impacted their ability to learn material, while faculty indicated they found online learning impacted their teaching abilities. “This poll illustrates to universities — it’s a wake-up call — students do not like it,” said Nipissing University English Professor Gyllian Phillips. “They do not like remote instruction, faculty do not like it. It’s not as effective as in-class.”
The Star |
OCUFA (ON)
The University of New Brunswick and Bishop’s University are responding to campus COVID-19 cases. UNB has announced that community members at its Saint John campus may have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case. The article says that individuals are in self-isolation, and that public health has contacted those who may have been exposed. Bishop’s has suspended most on-campus activities after fifteen members of the university community tested positive. Two cases have been detected in Bishop’s residences. All classes have pivoted to remote delivery, residences are being monitored closely, and the university stated that it will re-evaluate the situation to plan for the end of the semester.
CBC |
CBC (QC | NB)
rtraction