RRC Polytech rises to 11th place in ranking of Canadian research colleges

RRC Polytech has jumped three spots to the 11th place ranking as one of Canada’s top research institutions, as announced by Re$earch Infosource’s annual ranking of the country’s top 50 research colleges. The college completed 93 applied research projects in the 2021 fiscal year. They ranked third for research partnerships nationwide and first in the prairies in the Spotlight on College Research Activity – Medium Tier.

“Partnerships are at the heart of everything we do at RRC Polytech,” says Jamie Wilson, Vice-President, Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development at RRC Polytech.

“We work with industry every day to come up with innovative, sustainable solutions to business problems. Thanks to the support from our partners in the community, industry and government, we can continue to make positive change here in Manitoba and throughout the country.”

Assiniboine celebrates the grand opening of the Centre for Creative Media

Assiniboine Community College celebrated the grand opening of its newest learning space, the Centre for Creative Media. The learning space is a 10,050sq.ft. multi-functional space that includes a classroom for students working on post-production alongside a dedicated screening area with a high-end projector and sound system.

“Assiniboine’s Centre for Creative Media will have a unique and positive impact on Manitoba’s vibrant digital media industry,” said the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan. “The Centre will create opportunities for students to connect with professionals and develop industry-relevant skills as they prepare to enter the workforce. Through this federal investment, we are supporting new partnerships between industry and academia made possible by the Centre for Creative Media.”

“A dedicated creative space allows students to train on some of the most up-to-date technology in the industry,” said Jana Sproule, Chairperson of Media and Office Technology at Assiniboine. “It will provide students with the necessary skills and confidence to succeed in a fast-paced and evolving industry.”

UCN Focuses New Team to Lead Reconciliation Efforts

The University College of the North (UCN) has taken its next steps toward reconciliation by establishing the Department of Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation. Dr. Ramona Neckoway has been appointed as Associate Vice President. She will lead the new department in efforts in reconciliation, creating opportunities to increase access to Indigenous language training and revitalization, pursuing research in Indigenous languages and culture, and helping to ensure that UCN continues to be a leader in reconciliation in post‐secondary education.

“The new department will help to guide UCN’s curriculum with respect to inclusion of Indigenous content, worldviews, and Indigegogy,” said Dr. Dan Smith, UCN’s Vice‐President Academic and Research. “Dr. Neckoway has an exciting and ambitious agenda that will see UCN’s approach to reconciliation informed by Indigenous knowledge, research, culture, language, and community engagement.”

Taking learning to the streets

Assistant professor Dr. Sandy Pool of the Department of English, combined with the Master of Arts in Cultural Studies encourages students to experience Winnipeg through the eyes of artists, activists, and cultural leaders.

“The purpose of taking learning to the streets is to introduce students to new understandings of human geography, art, and architecture, and partake in a social-justice-oriented performance of ‘placemaking’ in the city,” said Pool. “The students went on a variety of different themed walks – everything from mudlarking walks to mushroom walks, along with queer tours of museums and archives.”

SoTL Support Fund promotes innovative teaching and learning

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Support Fund provides opportunities for UM professors, instructors, and librarians to engage in projects that increase knowledge in pedagogy and learning. This year, up to 17 awards will be provided to fund faculty projects that seek to investigate student learning and optimize educational experiences in post-secondary environments.

“At UM, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of teaching and learning.,” says Diane Hiebert-Murphy, UM’s Provost and Vice-President (Academic). “The fund presents a wonderful opportunity for instructors to conduct research that will have a meaningful impact on the learning experience of UM students.   We have been fortunate to support many innovative teaching and learning projects over the past three years, and I am eager to see what comes next.”

Applications for this year’s SOTL program opened January 23, 2023 and will close March 31, 2023. Learn more about how to apply here.

BU at the Public Library returns

After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BU at the Public Library Speakers Series has returned. The speakers series will feature Brandon University (BU) faculty, staff, students and community partners. The talks are designed to highlight the exciting research and work happening at BU with the larger Westman community.

“We’re very proud of the research that our students and faculty do at Brandon University,” said BU Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Kofi Campbell. “This research is important and very relevant to our region.”

Campus Manitoba is a consortium of Manitoba’s public universities and colleges. Through collaborative projects and shared services, we facilitate student mobility and expand access to post-secondary programs for students in Manitoba. In addition to campusmanitoba.ca, our websites include ecoursesmb.ca, setyourcourse.ca, and openedmb.ca.

Looking for more news? Read December’s Post-Secondary News Roundup here.