October 21, 2021
The College of the North Atlantic has received a pledge of $974K from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to develop electric vehicle specialized training programs. The college will develop training modules that will teach professionals the role-specific skills and knowledge they need to work with electric vehicles and charging stations. The modules will provide current automotive service technician journeypersons with an understanding of electric vehicle maintenance, electricians with the necessary skills for installing and maintaining electric vehicle charging stations, and first responders with the knowledge to manage situations in which an electric vehicle is present. The training modules will be developed with assistance from stakeholder focus groups comprised of individuals from key industries.
CNA (NL)
Colleges and Institutes Canada has released a new report on how member institutions can support Canada’s immigration targets and immigrant and international student labour outcomes. CICan explains that immigrants need specialized supports in order to best contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity. Institutions can play a key role in providing supports such as training opportunities and foreign credential recognition. CICan recommends that institutions take the necessary steps to help develop a national employment pipeline for skilled newcomers, develop employer-recognized national micro-credentials in the skills and knowledge areas newcomers often lack, and develop and implement new permanent residency streams for international student graduates. “Collectively,” says CICan president Denise Amyot, “Canada’s public colleges and institutes are … ideally positioned to support a truly national approach to integration and settlement services.”
CICan |
CICan (Executive Summary) (National)
The Government of Saskatchewan has announced that it is investing $3M in the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship program. The investment will be matched by the scholarship funds raised by postsecondary institutions. The scholarships target areas in which students are doing innovative work, such as mining, energy, biotechnology, agriculture, environment, engineering, medicine, and science programs. “We appreciate the Government of Saskatchewan’s continued support for our students to pursue research and academic programs that are vital to the province and beyond,” said University of Saskatchewan President Dr Peter Stoicheff. “Initiatives like this strengthen our partnership, and together we can advance Saskatchewan’s innovation agenda to benefit the citizens of the province.”
SK (SK)
Statistics Canada has released a new study on attainments and labour market outcomes of First Nations, Métis and Inuit women with bachelor's degrees or higher. The study found that over half of Indigenous women possessed a postsecondary qualification in 2016, and that 14% had a bachelor’s degree or higher (up from 9% in 2006). Postsecondary qualifications at or above the bachelor’s degree level were found to be associated with higher rates of employment: 92% of Indigenous women who graduated with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2015 were employed, as opposed to 78% of women with postsecondary credentials below the bachelor’s level.
StatCan (National)
Bow Valley College’s Centre for Entertainment Arts is launching an Advanced Game Development Diploma. The program will prepare students for in-demand roles within the gaming industry, and will provide local training focused on the specific labour market needs of the Calgary area. “We are thrilled about getting into the gaming and immersive technology space, providing students the skills they will need to be job-ready in this exciting industry,” said BVC President Dr Misheck Mwaba. “Economic forecasts show strong growth in the video game sector. We see the need for more Canadian talent and are proud to start developing that pipeline.” The program will start in Fall 2022.
BVC (AB)
Acadia University and Queen’s University are planning to discipline those students
who attended large gatherings that broke public health restrictions and drew police, reports CBC and
The Globe and Mail. Acadia has said that it is planning to discipline any student who broke the law, and is considering disciplinary action that could include sanctions, discipline, suspension, or expulsion. Queen’s is taking action under the Student Code of Conduct against students who had misogynistic signs displayed at the front of their houses. “[T]hey compromise the right of all members of the university to enjoy a living, learning and working environment that is free from fear, intimidation and anxiety,” said Queen’s Principal Patrick Deane. Students have also been warned by Kingston’s mayor that officers will continue to fine, ticket, and penalize those breaking rules.
CBC (Acadia) |
CBC (Kingston) |
The Globe and Mail (Queen’s) (NS | ON)
The Université de Sherbrooke has announced that it is launching the SanDi (santé digitale) project, which will focus on innovations to transform community health in Mali. The one-year project will focus on deploying digital health tools such as smart glasses for remote consultations with specialists and connected tablets that are powered by solar energy. It will focus on strengthening Mali’s health system and infrastructure, as well as supporting health establishments and government institutions in Mali. The project will also study the implementation of these technologies and promote solar energy. The project recently received funding of over $974K from the Programme des Nations Unies pour le développement.
UdeS (QC)
Ryerson University has announced a new policy for those who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who are not vaccinated and who do not have a vaccine exemption will not be allowed to participate in classes on-campus or in off-campus in-person activities. Students, faculty, staff, contractors, and visitors will be required to comply with the new policy, and those with exemptions must participate in the rapid antigen testing program. The change comes as Ryerson transitions to prepare for broader reopening in the winter semester.
CBC (ON)
Trent University has partnered with Ameresco Inc to install energy efficiency upgrades on campus, such as an on-site Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The upgrades will allow Trent to store energy overnight and use it during the day at times when the Ontario energy grid typically turns to gas-fired generation. The savings from the BESS will fund both its installation and future upgrades to Trent’s electrical infrastructure. “This project is an exciting next step in Trent’s ongoing commitment to environmental and sustainable initiatives on campus,” says Trent acting VP of Finance and Administration Tariq Al-Idrissi. “Our renewed Energy Performance Contract with Ameresco builds on previous energy saving projects such as converting the campus lighting to LEDs, implementing smart ventilation systems and using solar energy.”
Trent (ON)
Instructors need to be sensitive to the needs of students who are disconnected from others and from their postsecondary institution, writes Mischa Willett. Willett encourages instructors to foster a deeper connection with their students by telling their story in order to be more approachable, and to pursue students who have dropped out or are missing classes and let them know their contributions are valued. Willett also encourages instructors to motivate students to participate in “medium-impact” practices such as poetry readings, plays, and guest speakers that can enrich their postsecondary experience, and to help students forge connections with each other to facilitate their success.
The Chronicle of Higher Ed (Editorial)
rtraction