The competition is an initiative organized by the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), in partnership with the Government of Ontario. The province-wide competition is being overseen by the IDeA Working Group, comprised of representatives from engineering and design Faculties at several Ontario universities.

Students will vie for $3,000 in prizes, with entries that must address barriers to accessibility in five categories: attitudinal, physical/structural, information and communications, technological, and systemic.

“Ontario universities are strongly committed to the important goal of leading the country towards greater accessibility,” says Alastair Summerlee, chair of COU and president of the University of Guelph. “Tapping into the innovative capabilities of our students is an excellent way to build awareness and to advance ideas that lead to a more accessible world.”

91��ɫ students can find rules and registration information . The deadline for contest submissions is March 31. Students interested in submitting their idea or concept should review the rules and criteria, register and then submit the concept by e-mail to ideas@yorku.ca by the end of the business on March 31.

Submissions will first be evaluated by 91��ɫ and then successful candidates will move on to a second round of judging conducted by a panel of experts in the five categories. Evaluations will be based on innovation, cost-effectiveness and practicality. Judges will also place a premium on entries whose format itself demonstrates consideration to accessibility issues.

The winner will be announced at an event at the Ontario Centres of Excellence Discovery Conference in May 2012.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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Do you want to increase your awareness about what to expect when teaching in another country? If so, why not join university students, pre-service teachers, teachers, principals and other educators who are interested in learning more about teaching abroad by enrolling in the Preparing to Teach Internationally Program.

Offered over five days this spring, Preparing to Teach Internationally is a professional development initiative offered by the International Education Office in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Education.

Designed to help participants gain insight into education, as well as a better understanding of themselves as educators, the program provides the skills participants need to make informed decisions about what to expect when embarking on an international education role. At the end of the program, successful candidates will receive a professional development certificate from the Faculty of Education.

Preparing to Teach Internationally is open to all university students from 91��ɫ and beyond, along with educators who are considering teaching in an international setting, including teaching English as a second language. Some of the topics explored in the program are: international education systems and schools; issues and politics; skills and strategies required to teach in an international setting; and how to plan and prepare for the role.

Registrations are now being accepted for the spring session, offered April 28, May 5, 12, 26 and June 2, in five-hour classes on 91��ɫ’s Keele campus. The deadline for registration is March 31. Registrations can be submitted online by way of the website.

For more information, visit the website, or contact the International Education Office at 416-736-2100, ext. 20052, or by e-mail at international@edu.yorku.ca.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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"We are seeking to provide perspective and commentary on issues and initiatives in our external environment that are relevant to our researchers," says Haché. "It's important to highlight and create awareness about new opportunities and proposed policy and procedural changes that may affect the University research community."

Right: Robert Haché

First in this series is a review of the (R&D), a report on federal support released in October 2011. The report, commissioned by a federally appointed expert panel chaired by Michael Jenkins, executive chair and chief strategy officer of Open Text Corporation, reviewed national programs that support business innovation in Canada.

The panel was comprised of a distinguished cadre of business and academic experts. It proposes a number of fundamental changes to the way that government supports business-facing research and development. If adopted, the recommendations are expected to present expanded opportunities for 91��ɫ researchers with respect to research funding and some new challenges. 

Highlights of recommendations in the report include:

• Development of a new granting council, called the Industrial Research Innovation Council (IRIC), to support funding and delivery of business-facing R&D programs. This council would provide a common service platform for a reduced number of larger, more flexible support programs, including the National Research Council's (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP).
• Changing the model under which the National Research Council operates into a grouping of large-scale, sectoral collaborative R&D centres involving business, the university sector and the provinces.
• Assigning responsibility and accountability to a single designated minister of innovation to build consensus and innovation partnerships with the provinces and territories.

To view the full commentary, click here.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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