November 2, 2022
Lethbridge College has become a Principal Member of the Metaverse Standards Forum. The forum was founded earlier this year to foster the development of interoperability standards for an open and inclusive metaverse. In its role as a Principal Member, the college will offer oversight on and support forum projects. “Just as standards were developed to allow various devices to access the Internet and websites to connect to each other, the metaverse – as it evolves – requires a similar approach,” said Lethbridge VP – Research and Partnerships Dr Kenny Corscadden. “As a proven leader in the field of virtual and augmented reality, we are excited to be part of this organization and look forward to playing an important role in the progression of metaverse standards.”
Lethbridge (AB)
Conestoga College has celebrated the formal opening of its presence in Milton and the launch of its IELTS testing centre in the city, reports
InsideHalton. The new IELTS testing centre is “just the first step” for Conestoga in the town, according to President John Tibbits, as the college is continuing to develop its Milton campus with an expected opening date in early 2024. The future campus will have a health-care programming focus, and Tibbits estimated that it would house “probably 6,000-7,000 students.” Milton Mayor Gord Krantz told
InsideHalton that Conestoga is expected to play an important role in the city’s future, as “a very prosperous community is a really well-educated community.”
InsideHalton (ON)
Two business schools in Canada have celebrated their EQUIS accreditation. At Saint Mary’s University, the Sobey School of Business recently secured EQUIS accreditation, which is valid for a three-year period. Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business successfully renewed its EQUIS accreditation, which is valid for a five-year period. SFU Beedie Dean Dr Ujwal Kayande and Sobey Dean Dr Harjeet Bhabra each commented on the benefits of the accreditation, particularly the provision of an international benchmark comprised of the best business schools around the world. EQUIS accreditation is held by less than 2% of all business schools and is offered by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Global.
SMU |
SFU (NS | BC)
The University of Alberta has launched a new massive open online course (MOOC) to teach the public about key issues related to energy and the energy transition. “21st Century Energy Transition: How Do We Make It Work?” is a six-week course that provides an overview of a wide variety of energy topics, including energy transitions, energy sources and production, energy storage, and energy transition. The course includes both local and global perspectives as well as discussions about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. “What we hope to do with this MOOC is provide a place where people can go and understand, ‘this is why we use oil and gas,’ ‘this is why it’s great to do hydroelectricity or solar,’ just how they all fit together,” says UAlberta Adjunct Professor Brad Hayes.
UAlberta |
Edmonton Journal (AB)
Students need to be taught to slow down and de-stress by doing “nothing,” writes Beckie Supiano in a recent article for the
Chronicle of Higher Ed. Supiano describes how a liberal arts university in the United States implemented a course called “Doing Nothing” that intended to nurture deep thought and creativity by offering students intentional down time. The interdisciplinary class focuses on helping students develop strategies to manage stress, slow down, and take time away from their phones. The class covers stress management techniques and topics such as sleep hygiene, mindfulness, and Tai Chi. Course instructor Constance Kassor encouraged others to consider how they could integrate stress-management skills into their classes. “[P]art of our job is to educate the whole student,” notes Kassor. “It’s not just about cramming as much content as possible into their brains.”
Chronicle of Higher Ed (Acct. Req.) (Editorial)
The University of Saskatchewan has launched a new Precision Agriculture Certificate program. The program will prepare students from the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, the College of Engineering, and the Department of Computer Science to become ag tech leaders. Students will learn how to manage crops and identify factors that drive crop yield variability using precision agriculture technologies such as satellite imagery, global positioning and information systems, and big data. “With this new certificate program, we continue to equip students with the critical thinking skills they need that will go beyond when a certain technology may become obsolete,” said USask Agriculture and Bioresources Dean Dr Angela Bedard-Haughn.
USask |
PaNOW (SK)
McGill University’s McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC) has received a $5M endowment from philanthropist Charles Bronfman to create the
Conversations series. The annual series will feature conversations between Canadian and international experts about Canada’s opportunities, challenges, and role in the world. These conversations will cover fields such as economics, social policy, and government, and will be broadly accessible online for citizens, policy makers, and the media. “This gift is a game changer for MISC and a key contribution to McGill’s public engagement profile,” said MISC Director and McGill Professor Daniel Béland. “Mr Bronfman’s major and timely injection of support will allow us to enhance our presence and reach as large an audience as possible through media partnerships and other outreach initiatives.”
McGill |
Montreal Gazette |
MSN (FR) (QC)
Great Plains College has partnered with the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) to add cybersecurity programming to its course offerings. The online courses will be tailored to a variety of skill levels, from beginners to professionals, and will lead to industry-recognized certifications. “We’re proud to be the first post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan to partner with EC-Council to make cybersecurity training more accessible, and ultimately helping meet Saskatchewan employers’ need for highly trained professionals in this field,” said Great Plains Region Manager Fritz Eckstein.
Great Plains (SK)
College of the North Atlantic has revealed the name of its new $20M training facility: The Centre for Heavy Equipment & Transportation Technology. The new building’s unique look includes tinted windows and an open design with foyer lighting inspired by heavy equipment tires, and the facility features a ‘sandbox’ for heavy equipment. “We wanted our students and employees to take pride when they walk in the doors and see all the really innovative things offered in the building,” said CNA President Liz Kidd. “We also wanted it to be something the town would be proud to have in its community. While the structure itself is about bricks and mortar, the education opportunities within it, as a result of advanced technology, extend globally.”
CNA (NL)
The University of Prince Edward Island’s plans for a medical school have taken an important step forward this week, as Charlottetown’s planning board has forwarded a public consultation request to the city council. If the request gains approval, UPEI would begin to consult with the public to gauge their interest and perspective on the project. The school of medicine would be housed within a five-storey building with a simulation- and clinical-learning centre; a medical, psychology, and ADHD clinic; and spaces for students, faculty, and administration. The first students would be expected to begin studying at the new medical school by Fall 2024.
CBC (PEI)
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