Latest news with #Concordia
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Romania expects small growth hit from new US trade deal
By Luiza Ilie and Jason Hovet BUCHAREST/PRAGUE (Reuters) -Romania said on Monday a 15% U.S. import tariff on European goods would mean a small hit to central Europe's second-largest economy, while export-reliant Slovakia hailed the U.S. trade deal as a "good result". Sunday's framework trade agreement between the United States and the European Union staved off the threat of a trade war, which has loomed over the region's economies, among the EU's most dependent on trade. Romania's largest employers' association Concordia - which represents 20 industries accounting for 30% of Romania's output - told Reuters it estimated the tariffs could now shave up to 0.2% off the country's growth. "Economic growth in the euro zone will be affected, with estimates from international institutions showing a possible reduction in the growth rate by 0.3%-0.4%, which would mean a reduction in economic growth in Romania by 0.15%-0.2%," Concordia macroeconomist Iulian Lolea said. He said a firmer euro against the dollar also made European goods less competitive in the American market. Romania's economy grew just 0.8% last year, its slowest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic, and government efforts to rein in the EU's highest budget deficit from unsustainable levels could also dent growth prospects. The trade deal sets a 15% baseline tariff on imports, including cars, a mainstay of central European exports, which had faced 27.5% in customs duties before. That level is nonetheless still sharply up from a pre-existing 2.5%. The Czech Automotive Industry Association said the 15% levy was not low but "the threat of further escalation has been averted and a certain degree of predictability has been restored". Romanian Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said Sunday's deal eliminated some uncertainty weighing on transatlantic trade. Prime Minister Robert Fico of Slovakia, whose country's share of goods exports as a percentage of national output is the highest in the EU, called the trade deal a "good result", while waiting to see details on energy and military purchases. "We will all be interested in what the EU's commitment to buy U.S. energy for $750 billion and higher investments in American arms entails," Fico said. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban sharply criticised European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen for what he said was a poorly negotiated deal. "This is not an agreement ... (President) Donald Trump ate (European Commission President) Von der Leyen for breakfast." (Writing by Gergely Szakacs Editing by Giles Elgood)
Montreal Gazette
18-07-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
After two turbulent years, McGill University eyes a rebrand
McGill wants a fresh start. The Montreal university is preparing to overhaul its public image after two turbulent years, seeking outside help for a brand repositioning, The Gazette has learned. Despite its standing as one of the world's top universities, McGill has lately been rocked by a series of conflicts and challenges. Clashes with the Quebec government. Hesitation and confusion among out-of-province and international students. Criticism from both pro-Palestinian and Jewish students. Tensions with Indigenous groups. And growing financial strain. In a recent call for tender seeking a branding agency, McGill says it wants to 'reposition how McGill is perceived by key audiences (students, government, donors, public) over a multi-year period.' The new 'positioning/messaging must be as effective in French as it is in English' and should 'illustrate how we are a true bridge between generations, between research and community, between Quebec and the world.' The estimated cost of the contract spans a wide range, from $707,000 to $6.7 million. McGill expects to select an agency in September and launch a multi-year branding campaign one year later. In a statement to The Gazette on Thursday, McGill said it carries out marketing each year to support student recruitment and share knowledge. The public tender, it said, is part of a periodic review to ensure its marketing is as effective as possible. Harold Simpkins, an emeritus marketing professor at Concordia University, said McGill has frequently been in damage-control mode over the past two years. 'Instead of consistently promoting their strengths — the success of their graduates or the breakthroughs of their faculty — they've been on the defensive,' he said. McGill has to refocus attention on its position as 'a leading university — leading in terms of thought, in terms of the quality of the professionals who graduate.' Simpkins said many of the crises McGill has faced were beyond its control, including 'attacks by the Quebec government.' Premier François Legault has singled out McGill and Concordia, another English university. His government aims to reduce their enrolment, arguing that non-French-speaking students from outside Quebec and abroad pose a threat to the province's French-speaking majority. The universities went so far as to sue the province over a series of measures that targeted them. 'It's definitely not a good look to be at war with your province,' said Ken Steele, an Ontario-based consultant who advises universities on branding and strategy. He said McGill president Deep Saini 'may have the toughest job in Canadian post-secondary education, mostly due to the CAQ government,' which 'seems hell-bent on undermining' and 'starving' English universities, particularly McGill. Among other things, the Coalition Avenir Québec government dramatically increased tuition fees for out-of-province students at McGill and Concordia, with the French language minister blaming anglophone students for anglicizing Montreal. Steele said the government is 'making Quebec unpopular for students (from other places), like (American) detentions at the border have made U.S. travel unpopular for Canadians.' He added: 'Academics elsewhere in Canada have been openly musing why McGill wouldn't simply relocate out of Quebec, to a province that actually wants it.' Universities usually undertake brand repositioning exercises 'to address external or even internal misperceptions,' Steele said. In this case, however, McGill already has 'one of Canada's strongest brands.' Founded in 1821, McGill has 36,000 students and is one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities. It was recently ranked as Canada's top university in the QS World University Rankings, a globally influential assessment. Domestically, Maclean's latest rankings named McGill the leading medical-doctoral university. Steele said the university's 'big challenge may be positioning Montreal and Quebec as welcoming for anglophones. It's a bigger brand challenge than merely positioning the university.' In the tender document, McGill includes a list of 'primary audiences' for its branding: prospective students (local, national, international), current students, faculty, researchers, staff, donors, alumni, government, opinion leaders, the business community and the 'general public in Quebec.' Simpkins said securing the backing of Quebec's business community — and of French-speaking Quebecers more broadly — is critical. Francophone business leaders have been largely silent about the government's treatment of English universities, even though their companies heavily rely on the institutions for employees, he said. Many Quebecers appear to hold negative views of McGill, he added. 'Your average francophone Quebecer sees McGill as a threat or as being snobby or anti-French.' They think money spent on McGill should instead be spent on French universities, he added. Yet McGill is one of Quebec's best-known brands internationally. Simpkins said the university could try to 'get Quebecers to stop just focusing on Quebec, to take a broader perspective.' Healthy English universities can help attract quality students and faculty to the province, with well-rounded graduates ending up filling key jobs, he said. Many may not realize that 20 per cent of McGill's students have French as their mother tongue. Simpkins said McGill should 'communicate consistently all of the francophone success stories that have come out of McGill,' including its well-regarded law and medical schools. 'There are thousands of francophone success stories.' Without francophones on board, he said, 'it becomes a much more difficult political sell for the government to support McGill.' McGill's rough two years Once best known for its international academic prestige, McGill University has, since 2023, found itself in the spotlight — not for accolades, but for controversy and crises. Quebec government Since the fall of 2023, Premier François Legault's government has targeted McGill and Concordia, accusing them of undermining the French language. The Coalition Avenir Québec government has framed the issue as a broader clash between anglophone institutions and Quebec's francophone majority. The government hiked tuition for out-of-province students, introduced a new international student funding framework, and announced French proficiency requirements. The measures blindsided McGill and Concordia and attracted national and international attention, largely because of McGill's global reputation. McGill and Concordia went to court, calling the measures unconstitutional and unsupported by any data from Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry. A judge partially agreed. Out-of-province students Quebec initially announced it would almost double tuition for out-of-province students at McGill and Concordia — from $9,000 to $17,000. It later scaled back the increase to $3,000, or 33 per cent. Even so, the new rate priced Quebec's English universities out of the national market. The move triggered confusion and dismay across Canada, with media quoting frustrated students vowing to study elsewhere. Many ultimately opted not to apply to McGill or Concordia, feeling unwelcome and deterred by the higher fees. In April, a court ruled the tuition hike was 'unreasonable,' giving Quebec nine months to revise the fee structure. McGill and Concordia saw the decision as a reversal of the increase. But Déry disagreed, saying the judge objected not to the hike itself, but to 'the path we've taken and the reasons invoked for the increase.' International students For international students, the new rules focused on a government clawback and a new minimum annual tuition rate of $20,000, though in many cases, actual tuition didn't increase. Coming amid the outcry over out-of-province tuition hikes, the changes caused confusion and hesitation among prospective students worldwide, leading to a drop in applications. More recently, new federal and provincial limits on foreign enrolment further hampered international recruitment. French requirement In the fall of 2023, Quebec announced French proficiency requirements for non-Quebec students at McGill and Concordia. Starting in 2025, 80 per cent of newly enrolled undergraduates would need intermediate-level spoken French by graduation, with financial penalties for universities that fell short. The move prompted uncertainty and pushback, with concerns that students from outside Quebec might need an extra semester. A graduation test initially seemed possible, but Quebec confirmed in February 2025 that none would be required. The rule's future is uncertain. In April, a court ordered it scrapped. Two months later, Déry said she would 'continue discussions' with McGill and Concordia. Israel and Gaza Within hours of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed 1,200 — mostly civilians — McGill faced controversy when a student group praised the assaults as 'heroic,' prompting a university condemnation. In the following months, McGill became a protest hot spot, drawing international attention as pro-Palestinian activists camped on its front lawn for 75 days. They condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza and accused McGill of complicity for refusing to sever ties with Israel and divest from companies supporting its military. Jewish students also lashed out at McGill. In April 2025, a Jewish undergraduate sought approval for a class-action lawsuit alleging McGill failed to take 'meaningful disciplinary action' against campus antisemitism since October 2023. Mohawk Mothers For years, the Mohawk Mothers, a group of Indigenous women, have criticized McGill's handling of searches for possible unmarked graves at the former Royal Victoria Hospital and Allan Memorial Institute site. McGill and Quebec are redeveloping the area in an $870-million project called the New Vic. As work accelerated over the past two years, the Mohawk Mothers accused them of rushing archeological digs and violating a court-approved investigation agreement. McGill and Quebec maintain they are committed to uncovering the truth. The group has kept attention on the issue through protests, press conferences and legal action. Financial troubles McGill's shaky finances have raised concerns. In February, the university announced plans for up to 500 job cuts to address a $45-million deficit, but ended up laying off about 60 employees. McGill has since warned of 'more hard decisions this year — including cuts and potentially more staff reductions.' It has almost 13,000 employees. The university, whose annual budget is about $1.1 billion, blames factors such as the out-of-province tuition hikes, provincial grant reductions, tuition clawbacks and limits on international student admissions. Despite the fiscal pressure, McGill's $2-billion endowment keeps it far from financial ruin.
Digital Trends
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Check out these Nintendo Switch Mario game deals — up to 30% off
Whether you're playing on the Nintendo Switch or you've already upgraded to the Nintendo Switch 2, you should try as many of the Mario games that are available on the consoles as possible. The massively popular series has grown way beyond its platformer roots, and we've found offers from Amazon on three titles that showcase just how far Mario and his friends have come. Don't worry if you own the new console, as the Nintendo Switch 2 is backwards compatible with titles that were released for the original Nintendo Switch. The discounts on these Nintendo Switch deals may disappear at any moment though — you may lose your chance at the savings if you delay your purchase to tomorrow! If you're interested in one or all of these Mario games for the Nintendo Switch, you should proceed with your purchase right away to make sure that you get them for a lower price than usual. Warioware: Get It Together! — $35 $50 30% off Warioware: Get It Together! features more than 200 microgames that are lightning-fast for frantic fun. You can play the game by yourself or with friends. You'll choose your character, each of which has unique abilities that will help you complete the minigames in different ways. Warioware: Get It Together! is on sale at 30% off, for a $15 discount. Mario & Luigi: Brothership — $50 $60 17% off Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an adventure RPG set on the high seas, with Mario and Luigi going on a journey through a world known as Concordia on Shipshape Island — part ship, part island. Explore areas, meet new friends, use various moves to get past obstacles, and launch attacks in turn-based combat. Mario & Luigi: Brothership is 17% off, for savings of $10. Mario Party Superstars — $53 $60 11% off In Mario Party Superstars, up to four players can play more than 100 minigames as they go through game boards to collect as many stars as they can. Players can play on the same system, in local wireless, or online, with the minigames possibly free-for-all, 2 vs 2, or even 3 vs 1. If you're interested in Mario Party Superstars, buy it while an 11% discount slashes its price by $7.
National Post
19-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Joe Oliver: Having silenced critics, university admins think they can do no wrong
Article content There is no suggestion that it might actually be a problem, which is remarkable given the widely known facts, which were extensively outlined in Harvard's 311-page report from its 'Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias.' Article content The presidents of McGill and Concordia in Montreal both acknowledged that antisemitism is a ' significant problem ' at their universities. A class-action lawsuit has been launched against McGill for creating an antisemitic environment. The University of Toronto has been accused of having 'a long and sordid history of failing to protect Jewish learners, faculty and staff.' Article content As a grateful alumnus of McGill and Harvard, I take no pleasure in identifying their failings, but I'm struck by how different the environment was when I attended classes in the 1950s and '60s. Back then, there was tolerance for diverse views, and it was unthinkable that students would be threatened or demonized based on their religion, ethnicity, race or country of origin. Of course, most students are not harassed now, but Israelis and Jews appear to be the exception. Article content Administrators and faculty at Harvard (and other universities) have trouble accepting how they are perceived by the public: elitist, privileged, subsidized by taxpayers, charging high tuition, bloated by administrative staff, captured by DEI and other racially discriminatory admissions and hiring policies, and frequently advocating ideas that defy common sense. Operating in a groupthink bubble can lead to responses that underestimate and devalue criticism. Article content The indoctrination of a woke mindset has implications beyond pampered university campuses. The division of society into the oppressed, who are perpetually victims, and oppressors, who are settler-colonizers and always the guilty party in any conflict, churns out students who loath western history and civilization and have contributed to the worst outbreak of global antisemitism since the defeat of Nazism 80 years ago. Article content Article content
Malaysian Reserve
13-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Concordia Shanghai Breaks Ground on Visionary New Rittmann Center
State-of-the-art facility will transform student life through the arts, athletics, and wellness. SHANGHAI, June 13, 2025 /CNW/ — Concordia International School Shanghai is set to break ground on a major redevelopment of the Rittmann Center, expanding the iconic facility into a modern, 13,710-square-meter multi-purpose hub designed to support student excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, and wellness. Named after former Head of School Dr. David Rittmann, the Rittmann Center was first completed in December 2007, with a purpose to enhance the school's creative arts education. More than five times the size of the current building, the new Rittmann Center marks one of the largest facility investments in the school's history. Designed to serve students across all divisions, it embodies Concordia's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and holistic education. The new center will house: An eight-lane, 25-meter competition pool with spectator seating for 240 A professional-grade theater with seating for over 500—a major upgrade from the current 330 Purpose-built music classrooms for band, choir, and strings Six dedicated practice rooms, three ensemble rooms, and a 170m² drama studio Four expansive art studios filled with natural light and designed for creative exploration Two underground floors and four above ground, maximizing space while maintaining a compact campus footprint A green roof and infrastructure built to meet LEED II certification standards, continuing the school's focus on sustainability Architects from Ennead have worked closely with the school to shape a building that's not only functional but inspiring, incorporating advanced acoustic treatments, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and student-centered design principles to support 21st-century learning and performance. 'The Rittmann Center has long been a space where students shine,' said Dr. Eric Semler, Head of School. 'This new facility will take that to the next level—empowering students to explore their passions, build confidence, and thrive in a community that celebrates their talents.' Construction will begin after the end of the 2024–25 school year and is expected to be completed by July 2027. To minimize disruption to learning, the school has implemented: Phased construction scheduling tied to school breaks Sound barriers, vibration dampeners, and dust suppression systems Dedicated traffic flow systems to avoid student movement areas 'This is more than a building project – it's an investment in our students' future. It's about creating an environment where future generations can learn, perform, and grow,' added Dr. Semler. About Concordia International School Shanghai Founded in 1998, Concordia International School Shanghai is a co-educational day school that offers a comprehensive American-style education to students from Preschool through High School. Located in Jinqiao, an international community in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, we are dedicated to cultivating the unique gifts of our students in any areas they are passionate about. Our approach focuses on nurturing every student through a journey of personal and academic growth, offering innovative academic programs, enriching extracurricular activities, and instilling strong character and values.
