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.