How will new policy changes shape Canadian education with Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes

On this episode of the EdUp Canada podcast, hosted by Michael Sangster, explores the transformative role of skills and training in shaping successful careers. The episode features Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes reflecting on Canada's educational sector. Hughes and Sangster discuss   the challenges in the education sector, such as government changes affecting the international student program  maintaining student experience quality and academic integrity,   and fostering resilience in students.   The conversation also covers the concept of relentless welcome, diversity in student populations, ensuring truth in advertising for international students, and the potential damage to the reputations of educational institutions. Hughes shares her career journey and her greatest mentor, emphasizing the impact tutors can have on student lives. They both remain optimistic about the education sector's future despite the difficulties faced.     01:26 Discussion on International Student Program Changes  01:43 Exploring Strengths and Weaknesses of the Education Sector  02:10 Transforming Higher Education  02:18 Impact of Government's Announcements on Education  04:11 Challenges and Opportunities in the Education Sector  04:45 Importance of Academic Integrity  05:24 Preparing Students for the Future  06:31 Addressing Mental Stress in Education  07:33 Innovations in Learning Spaces and Pedagogies  08:23 Challenges and Opportunities in the Education Sector  08:54 Investments in Education and Technology  09:39 Addressing Truth in Advertising in Education  10:01 Reputation and Integrity in the Education Sector  13:57 Personal Career Path and Mentorship  17:33 Reputational Issues in Post-Secondary Education  23:02 Toronto Film School: A Case Study  31:14 Closing Remarks and Future Directions    Bio: Yorkville University’s Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes, PhD, is a globally recognized academic innovator who is passionate about the transformational power of post-secondary education to change lives and improve society. As President and Vice Chancellor of Canada’s largest private university, she has played a pivotal role in committing Yorkville to mentoring the next generation of ethical, highly skilled and socially conscious business leaders, psychotherapists, educators, and creative storytellers and designers. Under Dr. Christensen Hughes’s visionary leadership, Yorkville – which boasts campuses in Vancouver, BC, Toronto, ON, and Fredericton, NB – has become a hub for innovative approaches to accessible education, with distinctive capabilities in the creation of an exceptional student experience, high-demand and career-relevant programs, leading student recruitment, and high-quality faculty.  Dr. Christensen Hughes’s published work includes the co-edited books Academic Integrity in Canada: An Enduring and Essential Challenge (2022); Taking Stock 2.0: Transforming Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2022); Taking Stock: Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2010); and Curriculum Development in Higher Education: Faculty-Driven Processes and Practices (2007). Her most recent journal articles have focused on the need to better align university rankings and faculty research with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.