Category: Building Campuses of the Future

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April 17, 2024

ImpAct-Climate Challenge: Inspiring Action, Sparking Change

The latest edition of the ImpAct-Climate Challenge has come to a close and students, staff, and faculty across 55 CICan member colleges and institutes now have a deeper understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the actionable steps we can all take towards combating climate change.

Over six weeks, participants explored themes related to GHGs like energy, food, transportation, waste, and Indigenous stewardship and took on a new challenge—from increasing plant-based meals to eliminating single-use plastics—to lead transformative change. 

An overwhelming 82% of participants reported learning something new through the weekly educational content. More impressively, 90% felt inspired to incorporate these learnings into their daily routines, committing to sustainable practices that reduce their environmental footprint on campus in their personal lives. 

Recognizing Excellence in Sustainability 

Several institutions stood out for their exceptional engagement and efforts to mobilize their communities toward sustainability. To celebrate those with the highest levels of participation, we awarded bursaries to support their continued dedication to climate action. These bursaries are intended to honour students on their campuses who have shown outstanding leadership in sustainability initiatives, further empowering them to lead change. 

Gold Winners – Each receiving a $3,000 bursary

  • Large Institution: Bow Valley College 
  • Medium-Large Institution: Confederation College 
  • Medium-Small Institution: Cégep de Jonquiere 
  • Small Institution: Collège d’Alma 

Silver Winners – Each receiving a $1,500 bursary

  • Large Institution: Algonquin College 
  • Medium-Large Institution: Loyalist College 
  • Medium-Small Institution: Collège Lionel-Groulx 
  • Small Institution: Collège Mathieu 

In addition to the bursary, these institutions will each receive a trophy created out of 100% recycled plastics designed by talented students at Cégep de Vieux-Montréal’s Atelier Écodesign. 

Enhanced Learning and Participation 

This edition also introduced enhancements to integrate the challenge into coursework more efficiently. We provided instructors with resources to incorporate the challenge themes into their teaching and improved the way they could track student participation. These adjustments made it easier for the entire college and institute community to engage deeply with the challenge, amplifying our collective impact. 

The Path Forward 

The impact of this year’s challenge underscores the vital role knowledge and action play in creating a sustainable future. Let’s carry this momentum forward. Together, the college and institute network can make a lasting difference for our planet and future generations. 

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March 8, 2024

By the Numbers: Exploring Women’s Presence in Canadian Colleges and Institutes

Canada has undoubtedly made significant strides in advancing gender equality, yet the journey towards full parity remains ongoing. Access to and representation in post-secondary education is critical here. Alongside global efforts to empower girls and women, Canadian colleges and institutes are at the forefront of cultivating inclusive learning environments, encouraging women’s entrepreneurship and supporting women in Canada in non-traditional fields.

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, let’s explore some data to understand our progress and inspire the work yet to be done!

Celebrating a Decades-Long Trend in Female Enrolment and Graduation Rates

In the early 1990s, a significant shift occurred in Canada as women started earning more degrees than men. Since then, female graduation rates in Canadian colleges and institutes have consistently remained above or around half, marking a lasting and positive trend (Statistics Canada, 2022). The most recent data from 2021/22 reveals women represent 55% of college and institute enrolment and nearly 60% of graduates across various disciplines.

So, we achieved total equality? Not quite.

Despite this trend, men continue to dominate the high-paying, sought-after STEM fields, such as mathematics, computer and information sciences, engineering, and related technologies. And, while 34% of Canadians with a STEM degree are women, they only constitute 23% of Canadians working in science and technology roles (Statistics Canada, 2019). This persistent gender gap underscores the need for targeted interventions that bolster women’s participation and success in these critical areas of study and employment.

Empowering Women on Campus

Colleges and institutes have launched various initiatives to address current statistics and advance women’s empowerment on multiple fronts. For example:

  • Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Nova Scotia Community College, Mohawk College, George Brown College and many others, champion programs to enhance female representation in trades and technology vocations. These initiatives provide women with the requisite training and backing to thrive in traditionally male-dominated sectors. 
     
  • Seneca College, in partnership with College of the Rockies and NorQuest College, offers a Herizons program that breaks down gender barriers to empower women in their careers by providing women-focused support, mentorship, and networking opportunities to empower women in various aspects of their professional lives.
     
  • Sheridan College, St. Clair College, Fanshawe College and Durham College have come together to spearhead initiatives focused on elevating awareness and providing opportunities for women to explore career education, networking, and apprenticeships within the Red Seal skilled trades.   
     
  • Dawson College has several awards and scholarships to recognize its female students’ outstanding achievements and contributions.   
     
  • Collège Boréal has created a training program entitled Mining Potential to promote the presence of young people, women and newcomers to Canada in the mining sector.
     
  • Bow Valley College’s Centre for Entertainment Arts proudly displays a Wonder Woman statue, acknowledging that more women than men are enrolled in the college’s game development program, and that a statue representing female empowerment, fierceness and determination served as a fitting tribute.
     
  • Cambrian College’s Women’s Resource Centre offers its students various services, including seminars and workshops that examine women’s safety, health and wellness, financial and legal issues, substance abuse, and sexuality.

Initiating Change from the Top Down 

Beyond enrolment rates, women are increasingly assuming leadership roles within Canadian colleges and institutes, driving innovation, fostering inclusivity, and shaping the future of higher education. Approximately 40% of CICan’s member presidents are women. Yet, the question arises: how can we surpass the 50% mark?   

Initiatives like CICan’s 50 – 30 Challenge Project are making notable headway. Through our two Knowledge Mobilization and Dissemination Centres and five regional hubs, we provide comprehensive resources and tools to empower participants throughout their equity, diversity, and inclusion journeys. At CICan, initiatives like this have contributed to a management team of 68% women, and two consecutive female CEOs, underscoring our steadfast commitment to gender diversity and equitable representation across all decision-making levels.

Thinking Beyond Enrolment Rates

While we celebrate the progress achieved in post-secondary education, it’s imperative to recognize that our journey towards true gender equality is far from complete. Merely focusing on enrolment rates does not provide the full picture. We must also consider attainment rates and dive deeper into the nuanced challenges women face in fields where gender imbalances persist. By prioritizing empowerment, creating equal opportunities and challenging biases and stereotypes, we can shape a more inclusive future for everyone.

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March 7, 2024

Commuting is Community

Did you know that cars and trucks are responsible for approximately 17% of global CO2 emissions? Transportation is an important part of our lives, yet it contributes substantially to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Vehicles powered by fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, emit mostly carbon dioxide (98%) and small amounts of methane and nitrous oxide. Beyond GHGs, they release pollutants causing air, soil, and water contamination, leading to 7 million deaths a year from car-related air pollution.  

Changing the way we get around is an important part of embracing an eco-friendly future. 

Set your institution up for success!  

For colleges and institutes, transportation falls into the category of Scope 3 emissions. That means emissions that are not directly produced by an institution itself, but are instead emitted by activities it is indirectly responsible for – such as commuting to and from campus.  

Our new guide Commuting and Campuses: A Guide to Sustainable Transportation Solutions can help reduce Scope 3 emissions on your campus. The guide shares valuable lessons learned from across the sector, resources to start new initiatives, and ideas to inspire others to make a bigger impact. 

10 ways to use the guide: 

No matter where you are on your sustainable transportation journey, use this guide to encourage your staff and students to travel in more sustainable ways. 

  1. Organize a commuter survey. Commuter surveys are a method of gathering information about how students and staff are travelling to and from campus, their reasons for choosing certain modes of transportation, and typical travel times, and gauging levels of interest in shifting to more sustainable modes of transportation. 
  2. Optimize your transportation systems. Transportation Demand Management (TDM) is a strategic plan to make the most of your current set upsetupcouraging people to use more efficient modes of transportation. TDM plans can provide strategies for reducing the reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, and improve overall transportation efficiency. 
  3. Support bicycle purchasing. One way to encourage a shift in transportation on campuses is financial support for students and staff who would like to purchase a bicycle. This can be in the form of loans, grants, or subsidies. 
  4. Start a bike share program. Bike share programs are a great way to make bicycles available for shared use to students and staff on a short-term, as-needed basis. 
  5. Invest parking revenues in sustainable transportation incentives. Allocating revenue from things like parking fees can increase available funding for sustainable transportation initiatives. 
  6. Open end-of-trip facilities and protected bicycle parking. End-of-trip facilities are amenities provided at the destination point of a cycling trip. They make commuting by bicycle more attractive, convenient, and comfortable by addressing common challenges and concerns cyclists face.  
  7. Connect to active transportation infrastructure. Connecting or creating active transportation corridors that connect to your campus can help more students and staff use active modes of transportation. 
  8. Minimize trips to and from campus. Providing services on campus or situating the campus in a central location, providing student housing, and offering flexible work and study arrangements can help reduce motor vehicle congestion to and from campus. 
  9. Strengthen relations with government. Building a strong working relationship with decision-makers in your local government means having a government partner who knows your transportation needs and goals. They could also help you discover potential funding sources to support initiatives and help your ideas become reality. 
  10. Celebrate and create awareness. Creating a fun, supportive, and informed culture around sustainable transportation can encourage more students and staff to get out of their vehicles and try out other modes of transportation.  

The guide was developed as part of the ImpAct-Climate program, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada. 

March 4-8 is SDG Week Canada. 

SDG Week Canada is a national collaboration to increase awareness and encourage progress towards to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on college, institute, and university campuses.  

  • In that context, use this guide to advance your institutions commitment to SDG 13 Climate Action!  

SDG Week Canada is organized by the Sustainability Hub at UBC, SDSN Canada hosted by the University of Waterloo, and Colleges and Institutes Canada. 

Your institution can take part by organizing a panel, workshop, or other events on campus. Each event helps create a supportive national environment in which post-secondary institutions work together and across disciplines to advance the SDGs, to better integrate the guiding values of the SDGs across programming, and to build long-term momentum for SDG action across the sector.  

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February 23, 2024

Canada’s research and innovation group chat needs colleges and institutes

What’s on my mind? With Pari Johnston

As our innovation minister likes to say, today’s research is tomorrow’s economy. Last year’s Report on the Federal Research Support System (“the Bouchard Report”) made it clear that Canada needs a more strategic, multi- and interdisciplinary approach to mobilize the federal research and innovation ecosystem to address the country’s – and the world’s – most pressing challenges.

At Nova Scotia Community College’s Centre of Geographic Sciences, it means using topo-bathymetric LiDAR systems to survey land and water surfaces. Then, partnering with 3D Wave Design, an Indigenous-owned and operated 3D animation and communications company, to turn that information into digital storytelling. 

It’s a perfect example of the future of challenge-driven research – mobilizing college and institute applied research expertise, their networks of partners across sectors, and state-of-the-art facilities to develop solutions for Canada’s biggest challenges. 

In the case of NSCC and 3D Wave Design, the resulting maps can help local First Nations communities and governments better model the impacts of climate change – like rising sea levels and fluvial flooding – and identify where to place wind turbines as we transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources.  

The time for colleges-led research is now 

We’re at an important turning point for college-and-institute-led research, with urgent demands to address big public policy questions – things like providing sustainable and affordable housing, ensuring food security, preparing for and preventing large natural disasters, designing cities and spaces that respect our environment, transitioning to clean energies, and taking care of an aging population. Each of these areas is a strategic opportunity for colleges and institutes to be a bigger part of the solution, mobilizing their collective strengths and value-add partnerships in service of Canada’s most pressing problems. 

Take healthcare, for example. At SAIT’s Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems, researchers are working with the Stoney Nakoda First Nations and Alberta Health Services to develop a scalable drone fleet that can support medical delivery and amplify drone signals in remote areas. 

The immediate application of a project like this means that rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities have better, more reliable access to life-saving healthcare. With a wider lens, in a world where natural disasters occur more frequently and with greater intensity – just last year we saw Canada’s worst-ever wildfire season – this type of solution can be scaled to conduct hazard & risk assessments for emergency response, support first responders, and provide real-time intelligence for emergency decision makers. 

Global challenges are shared challenges

College and institute research intensity is growing at a rate of nearly 30% each year. In real numbers, that’s equal to more than 8,000 applied research projects (in 2021-2022) in areas like housing construction and advanced manufacturing, climate-smart agriculture and food production, and social innovation. That impact, relevance, and reach translates into real benefits for Canadians and for the long-term sustainability of Canadian industry. 

The other piece of the puzzle is that wicked problems cross borders. In a context of geopolitical disruption and the imperative of decarbonization, Canada’s open economy is evolving, industries and global supply chains are being redefined, and technologies like AI are accelerating the pace of change and shifting where business is done. 

Being globally competitive is a key driver of Canada’s prosperity, and college and institute applied research generates intellectual property that stays in the hands of Canadian industry partners, a unique advantage. Services like those offers by Durham College’s Office of Research Services, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship work with Canadian SMEs to help protect Canadian IP for Canadian economic benefit. For small businesses and entrepreneurs (the backbone of the Canadian economy), it’s a comprehensive suite of services that builds stronger, better prepared, and more competitive Canadian innovators. 

The recently launched federal Lab to Market program is another opportunity for college and institute networks to be strong partners in helping businesses get Canadian innovations to market at home and abroad. 

And prospects like Canada’s new associate member status in Horizon Europe – the world’s largest research and innovation funding program – present real opportunities for Canada’s colleges and institutes, connecting them with new partners working on shared problems. The same goes for strategic college engagement in the forward agenda of the International Development Research Centre and Canada’s science, technology and innovation agreements with key partners like the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan and the Indo-Pacific. 

A strong return on investment 

As leaders in applied research, we should be proud of where we’ve come and the impact we continue to have across the country. In many ways, the strengths that got us here are the ones that will prepare us for the future. But we can do more if we think differently about investing. 

I’m reminded of the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI) led by Niagara College. It’s a model that brings institutions together – now with nine college and two university members involved – to better serve industry through a single point of access. With expertise ranging from automation and simulation to product testing and process optimization, the network has already worked with more than 300 industry partners on 460 projects in Southern Ontario with aspirations for national reach and scale. 

SONAMI is a microcosm of our larger network – one in which colleges and institutes support each other, share best practices to maximize return on investment, and explore new models that turn competitors into collaborators and play to unique advantages. The immediate impact strengthens businesses in the region; the bigger picture revolutionizes industry for a low-carbon future. 

We need to better tell our impact story

These are just some of the reflections I’ve had coming out of CICan’s National Applied Research Symposium, “Growing Impact”. As a new president, I was inspired to see over 160 college and institute applied research leaders and their partners in Ottawa sharing their visions – and their collaborative ethos – for greater scale and impact. 

We plan to do more to use CICan’s convening power to bring our sector together with other ecosystem partners to think creatively about solutions, to find shared purpose and reimagine research and innovation programming through an impact lens. In other words, to change what we thought we knew or thought was possible. 

Together we can change our impact narrative, so that when governments, research funders, economic modellers and policy makers are looking ten years down the road and planning for research and innovation-driven growth, we are the ones leading the group chat. 

We have too much to share and there is too much at stake.

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November 22, 2023

Building a Better Future: Colleges and Institutes’ Role in Student Housing

Student housing in Canada is in a crisis. Rent is increasing, affordable housing options are dwindling, and colleges and institutes are bursting with students striving to learn and make a positive impact on our economy. The result is that many students live in inadequate, unaffordable, or ill-suited places for their needs. These less-than-ideal living situations can affect not only a student’s academic performance but also their overall health and well-being (source, 2019). And it’s no secret that this crisis, like so many others, disproportionately affects equity-deserving groups, exacerbating existing inequalities and hindering their access to quality education and, thus, meaningful career opportunities.     

Fortunately, colleges and institutes recognize that safe, accessible, and affordable student housing isn’t just nice to have – it’s a must for delivering inclusive, quality education. It is the primary impetus for why we’re rolling up our sleeves and diving headfirst into establishing new partnerships and implementing innovative, practical solutions to fast-track the development, approvals, and construction of new student accommodations. For example: 

  • Cegep de Rivière-du-Loup is collaborating with the Kamourask School Commission on a student residence project and has developed a directory which contains all the housing offers available to students.   
  • Niagara College is tripling its on-campus housing as part of its new master plan, which also includes renovations and improvements for the existing on-campus residences. 
  • Humber College, Loyalist College, and Georgian College have all formed partnerships to connect students who need affordable living spaces with older adults with available space. 
  • Vancouver Community College plans to redevelop its East Vancouver property to include a new educational space and a series of residential towers of up to 25 storeys that could include more than 3,300 homes. 
  • Conestoga College is using revenue from international student tuition fees to build, buy, lease or renovate buildings in the Kitchener region for its students. The college recently purchased a 12-storey building in downtown Kitchener to use as a student residence and bought a five-story building just blocks from the college’s Waterloo campus. 
  • Selkirk College has launched a student housing project to build a 112-bed project on the Castlegar Campus and a 36-unit project on Nelson’s Silver King Campus to result in better learner outcomes and strengthened communities. 

And our role doesn’t stop at student housing solutions; we are also addressing labour shortages in the very industries responsible for building the housing people in Canada need, offering a diverse range of hands-on learning experiences and specialized programs in the trades. Our comprehensive array of over 300 pre-apprenticeship programs is helping the next generation of trades workers gain practical skills and experience in fields like carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and more. Of these, 80 programs are designed to support traditionally underrepresented groups, including women and Indigenous communities. For example, Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Continuing Education Indigenous Strategy has partnered with the Joseph A. Remai School of Construction to deliver Green Building Awareness training to Indigenous people.    

Even more noteworthy is that these programs are creating a positive impact even before students earn their diplomas. Take, for example, the innovative partnership between Mohawk College and CityHousing Hamilton (CHH). In this collaboration, sixty-three students from the Construction Engineering Technician – Building Renovation program at Mohawk College are gaining valuable work-integrated learning experience as they complete a 112-hour service-learning project that is helping to provide affordable housing units for people who live and work in Hamilton’s diverse community. There is also Holland College, which has partnered with the Government of Prince Edward Island and the Construction Association of PEI to engage students from Carpentry, Construction, Electrical, and Plumbing programs to create 32 tiny homes for Islanders on the social housing registry.  

Yet, despite this remarkable work, the reality remains that the housing crisis extends beyond the immediate student population, shaped by a multitude of factors that lie beyond the control of colleges and institutes. It’s why we’re advocating for a holistic approach to addressing student housing needs as an integral part of the comprehensive response to Canada’s overarching housing crisis. We recommend the Government invest $2.6 billion over three years to establish a new Student Housing Loan and Grant Program, which will provide the financial support to help colleges and institutes build 40,000 student beds across the country. We also recommend that the government work to ensure students’ unique housing needs are reflected in federal housing policies, data collection, and programs. 

You can learn more about our recommendations in our statement published on National Housing Day.