November 1, 2021
Five ON postsecondary institutions have formed a consortium to launch the Environmental and Related Technologies Hub (EaRTH District) in the eastern Greater Toronto Area. Durham College, Centennial College, the University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario Tech University and Trent University, will collaborate on developing sustainability and working with the public and private sectors and Indigenous communities. Each institution’s unique expertise and resources will be leveraged to support joint research initiatives, new academic programs and pathways, and access to resources. “Through this collaboration, we look forward to driving environmental technologies to spark new partnerships, and foster the economic health of our regions and beyond,” said Trent President Dr Leo Groarke.
Centennial |
Durham (ON)
The Government of Nova Scotia has announced that it will be guaranteeing jobs for all nursing graduates within the next five years, with plans to extend the offer into the future. The move aims to address the nursing shortage that Nova Scotia is experiencing. Premier Tim Houston has said that the decision takes effect immediately, and added that first-year nursing students will be offered jobs and information about available opportunities and educational programs. “Nova Scotia is probably never going to be the jurisdiction that has the highest pay,” said Houston. “If we can't pay them the best, then we can at least treat them the best.”
CBC |
The Star (NS)
Academics should continually be checking their scholarship and digital presence to ensure that their work and name is not being used by unscrupulous publishers, writes Guillaume Cabanac. Cabanac says that malpractice and mix-ups are common across academia, and that academics should develop a “hygiene routine” of searching their name and affiliation online to see if they are listed on editorial boards or conference committees that they are not associated with. The author recommends checking if an academic has been named as a support or contributor to a paper without their consent or knowledge, and copying in the appropriate university representatives when contacting the publishers of such work. Cabanac also suggests setting alerts so you are notified of citations or links to your researcher profile.
Nature (Editorial)
The Tanenbaum Open Science Institute (TOSI) at McGill University’s The Neuro, the University of Calgary’s Hotchkiss Brain Institute, and the Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation have established a new partnership focused on enriching Open Science. Fueled by a $2M donation, the partnership will help to bring together researchers from many different faculties and drive forward research on the brain and mental health. “It’s difficult for people working in isolation to make significant impact,” said HBI Director David Park. “We need to work together and collaborate if we’re going to make rapid advances in brain and mental health and, ultimately, improve people’s lives.”
UCalgary (AB | QC)
Algonquin College, Carleton University, La Cité, Queen’s University, and the University of Ottawa joined the Kanata North Business Association and local businesses in celebrating the opening of Hub 350. Hub 350 is a coworking space and networking hub that houses 540 companies and their 24,000 employees. It is intended to serve as the district’s innovation activity centre and will foster connections between several different industries. The connections to the five postsecondary institutions will allow for co-op placements, recruitment, and specialized training. “Our partnership with the KNBA at Hub350 is another step forward in helping leverage the College’s broad range of expertise and provide our learners with the real-world experiences and connections they will need to find success,” said Algonquin President Claude Brulé.
CBC |
Algonquin (ON)
The association étudiante de l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (MAGE-UQAC) has chosen to change the theme of its Halloween party, which initially had a Day of the Dead theme. The
Journal de Montréal says that the decision was made because of concerns around cultural appropriation and causing offence. The leadership apologized after reviewing the situation and requested that those attending the party be careful about their choices of costumes. QC Minister of Education Jean-François Roberge has denounced the decision, saying that it was “self-censorship.”
Journal de Montréal (1) |
Journal de Montréal (2) (QC)
Medicine Hat College has launched a Sport & Event Marketing and Management diploma. Students in the program will learn how to present professional sports entertainment events and coordinate private functions, activities, and e-sports. The two-year program will be delivered in a hybrid model using HyFlex. Students will learn skills such as project management, business analysis, marketing, communications, and fund development. “We have been working closely with industry to ensure this program gives our learners a distinct career advantage,” said MHC dean of the School of Business and Continuing Studies Timothy Spielman. “Not only will they receive on-the-job training through work integrated learning, they can be confident that the knowledge they attain at MHC is highly sought after in the field of sports and event planning.”
MHC (AB)
The University of Winnipeg has announced that Professor Mirjana Roksandic has discovered a new species that is believed to be a direct ancestor of humans: the Homo bodoensis. The new classification is anticipated to be used to describe most humans who lived in Africa around half a million years ago, as well as some from southeast Asia. Species who lived in other regions will be reclassified as Neanderthals. Roksandic said that the use of the new terminology will help researchers use more accurate and clear language to define primates and will facilitate consistency in discussions on the topic.
Winnipeg Free Press (MB)
St Francis Xavier University has partnered with the Antigonish Farmers Market to create new opportunities for nutrition students. StFX’s Department of Human Nutrition will use the market’s commercial kitchen space for teaching and entrepreneurial activities, and will purchase many cooking ingredients from the market. By using the kitchen, students will learn about a variety of topics such as large-scale production, portion preparation, dietary requirements, local producers, and growing seasons. “This is the start of a great partnership with many mutually beneficial learning and research opportunities between the commercial kitchen, local farmers, food producers and StFX human nutrition faculty and students along with the entire StFX community,” said StFX lab instructor Brenda Hanlon.
StFX (NS)
Aurora College says that its transition into a polytechnic university will not leave Northerners behind, reports CBC. Some MLAs are reportedly concerned that students graduating from schools in small communities have already been left behind by the system and will not be ready to pursue education at a polytechnic. Aurora College President Andy Bevan promised that the institution would prioritize “pathways that meet students where they are” so that all learners would have a chance to build their skills. Bevan also responded to concerns voiced by MLAs by affirming that he would be able to commit to more regional level programming. “We will work hard to get [more resources],” said Bevan. “We also think we can do better with the resources we have.”
CBC (NWT)
rtraction