We live in a time of unprecedented change characterized by ever-increasing challenges facing higher education.

Evolving cultural and social environments, heightened demands for a postsecondary education, rising costs and expectations surrounding the role of universities, funding uncertainties and reluctance to accept change are some of the many obstacles facing postsecondary institutions. If Canadian universities are going to compete successfully in today鈥檚 global knowledge-based society, it is crucial they address these challenges.

At a recent conference in New 91亚色, I presented my views on the leading drivers affecting this change to the presidents of some of world鈥檚 foremost universities. In my opinion, these drivers are: internationalization, online learning, demographics, challenges to university autonomy and society engagement.

We live in a world where internationalization is not just a concept, but a reality. Societies have become increasingly interdependent; global economies and cultural interactions are the norm. For Canada鈥檚 future leaders to effectively contribute to this society, international experience is essential. As such, it is important that universities adopt internationalization as part of their mandate. This can only be achieved with both strong leadership from the top and grassroots involvement from all members of the university community.

Equally important is a broad, international curriculum that brings world perspectives into the classroom, which would offer international content combined with language study, and encourage student mobility with study and/or work terms abroad. Partnerships with foreign institutions so students can earn joint and/or dual degrees should also be explored and developed.

The information technology revolution saw the emergence of the so-called millennial generation. This new generation has access to vast amounts of information, demands more services via the web and expects everything to materialize instantaneously. The traditional model of teaching and the role of the instructor are being transformed, so models of course delivery will have to transform with it.

With the evolution of e-learning comes the need to expand access and share curricula with other institutions nationally and across the globe.

This will present a major learning opportunity, and a more efficient deployment of resources. In order to maximize this potential, a new credit transfer regime will need to be developed.

The growing recognition that a future career requires a post-secondary degree represents another challenge.

The Ontario government has implemented a goal of 70 per cent post-secondary attainment. During a time of budgetary constraint, small classes being taught by faculty who spend 40 per cent of their time teaching and the rest dedicated to research is no longer feasible.

Already, universities throughout North America are resorting to part-time teachers. A team of respected academic experts has offered several alternatives, including creating a new stream of faculty focused on teaching with limited research functions, and undergraduate-only universities. Ultimately, the current system will be difficult to sustain.

Now, more than ever, universities have a moral and social obligation to be directly engaged in social and economic development. This obligation extends beyond the core responsibility of simply educating citizens, and includes facilitating the transfer of knowledge from faculty and students to society.

But there are numerous issues to note. While universities must develop structures and policies that facilitate effective knowledge transfer, the impetus to create new products and services is the responsibility of the private and public sectors.

Additionally, the focus of the commercialization of the results of university research has been in the science, technology and medical fields, while it should also include deployment of new knowledge in the humanities, social sciences and arts.

Recognizing the last point, a number of universities have been developing 鈥渒nowledge mobilization鈥� units to facilitate the use of new knowledge by social agencies, government departments, industry and local communities.

Universities have stood the test of time because of their ability to adapt to the needs of society.

If Canada鈥檚 students are to become the leading thinkers in our global society, then universities will have to address the challenges, as they have done throughout the centuries.

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin

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91亚色 had several different presentations at Discovery 2010. Professors , George Zhu, , Costas Armenakis, , Hugh Chesser and Baoxin Hu from the Department of Earth & Space Science & Engineering had several displays, including an underwater robot, a nanosatellite, computer vision and a Mars rover.

Professor Regina Lee and her students, also from the Department of Earth & Space Science, showed off their Mars rover and the massive trophy they won for placing first in the 2009 University Rover Challenge in Utah (where the land apparently resembles the surface of Mars 鈥� who knew?). The group also placed second in the 2010 competition this month.

Professor kept crowds happy playing his iPhone app, 鈥溾�� which debuted at . 91亚色鈥檚 digital media display also featured the projects funded by the Ontario Media Development Corporation (, led by Professor Nell Tenhaff in the Faculty of Fine Arts) and the Ontario Research Fund (the , led by Professor John Tsotsos in the Faculty of Science & Engineering).

Meanwhile, , a partner in the 91亚色-led 3D FLIC project, drew crowds who didn鈥檛 mind sharing 3D glasses to experience their stunning 3D television footage.

, a Regional Innovation Network for biotechnology in 91亚色 Region for which 91亚色 is a founding partner, was also represented by Janet Leclair and Sana Mulji Dutt.

Among the event鈥檚 highlights were the awards ceremonies, including the , innovation awards and many awards for Ontario鈥檚 best researchers, students and companies.聽 Amongst these was the award for . The winning team, lead by Armen Bakirtzian, included a 91亚色 MBA candidate, Ara Hasserjian.

Discovery 2010 provided an excellent introduction and overview for Sarah Fuller who joined 91亚色 May 17 as associate director, research agreements and intellectual property where she

will lead 91亚色鈥檚 technology commercialization group. If your research involves non-academic partners (such as community, government, industry) or if you are required to transfer research funding, information or materials to another institution, Sarah can be reached at extension 20579 or by e-mail at sfuller@yorku.ca.

So what鈥檚 next for now? 91亚色 is actively supporting industrial collaborations for faculty and students. Through expert services, industry liaison and technology commercialization under the Office of the Voce-President Research & Innovation, 91亚色 will help connect your research to industrial partners. Companies can also explore working with 91亚色 researchers and grad students.

For more information, contact David Phipps, director, Research Services and Knowledge Exchange at 416-736-5813 or dphipps@yorku.ca.

By David Phipps, director, Research Services and Knowledge Exchange.

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Researchers at 91亚色鈥檚 Centre for Research in Mass Spectrometry (CRMS), Mount Sinai Hospital and the University Health Network have identified protein biomarkers that may aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer, which聽affects the lining of the uterus. The researchers hope that a partnership with the private sector will expedite clinical testing and eventually move their discovery from the research bench to patients鈥� bedsides.

Endometrial cancer is the most common form of cancer in the聽female reproductive tract. In 2009, 4,400 Canadian women were diagnosed with endometrial cancer, making it the fourth-most-common cancer among Canadian women after breast, lung and colorectal cancers.

Although 85 per cent of diagnosed women show a five-year survival rate from endometrial cancer, and the overall survival rate is 79 per cent, those numbers have remained static for the last 20 years. Currently, endometrial cancer is often detected when unusual uterine blood discharges prompt a diagnostic investigation. These discharges can sometimes be the first signal that cancer is present, yet they may appear after the cancer has already progressed to a more advanced stage. Hysterectomies, with or without lymph node dissections, are currently the primary treatment; patients may also receive adjuvant therapy (radiation or chemotherapy), depending on the disease鈥檚 type, stage and grade.

Enter protein biomarkers聽鈥� biological substances associated with a particular disease that can ideally be detected in the blood to aid the disease鈥檚 diagnosis and/or prognosis.

鈥淲e have identified several proteins that are present in much higher concentrations in endometrial cancer cells compared to normal cells,鈥� says Professor Michael Siu (right), director of the聽, 91亚色鈥檚 associate vice-president research, science & technology, and professor in the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science & Engineering. 鈥淭hese differences in protein expression have been verified in the lab on a couple of hundred patient samples; early results for testing in blood are very encouraging.聽By working with the private sector, we hope to be able to expedite clinical testing of the panel of biomarkers and develop a diagnostic kit for endometrial cancer.鈥�

Siu鈥檚 research team includes Dr. Terry Colgan, head of gynecological pathology and cytopathology at , and聽Alex Romaschin, formerly with the and now a scientist with the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital.

Over the last five years, the team has published eight papers on endometrial cancer biomarkers in prestigious international journals and a number of additional articles are in various editorial and reviewing stages. Siu鈥檚 team has attracted over $1.3 million in external research funding for this endometrial cancer research, as well as an additional $1.8 million in funding for biomarkers of other cancers.

Siracor, a private-sector company founded by biotechnology entrepreneur Joel Cheng, has licensed the intellectual properties of the endometrial cancer biomarkers. Siracor is 100 per cent Canadian-owned, but has a global view and reach. 鈥淓ndometrial cancer affects women all over the world,鈥� says Cheng. 鈥淏y developing kits that will expedite the detection of the disease and at an earlier stage, Siracor hopes to be a part of the scientific solution that will lessen this cancer鈥檚 impact worldwide.鈥�

91亚色鈥檚 technology transfer service leads the patenting and licensing of the endometrial cancer biomarkers in collaboration with its counterparts at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University Health Network. It鈥檚 part of聽ongoing efforts to make sure research is not kept on the shelf.

鈥淭echnology transfer is a specialized service 91亚色 offers to all researchers whose findings have commercial potential,鈥� says Stan Shapson, 91亚色's聽vice-president research & innovation. 鈥淪trong basic research discoveries can lead to important applications, as we hope will be the case in this instance by improving endometrial cancer detection and treatment options. Through careful collaboration with industry, 91亚色 is using initiatives such as this to maximize the benefit of our research findings to patients and their families.鈥�

By David Phipps, director, Research Services and Knowledge Exchange, and Elizabeth Monier-Williams, Research Communications Officer

Republished courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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