UBCNews - Education

The Canadian economy has faced more than its share of ups and downs over the past year. While market predictions remain slow for 2026, experts are eyeing the outlook for business majors with cautious optimism.

Industry leaders expect 2026 to be a year of transformation, but believe sectors such as finance and technology, among others, will end the year strong. Degrees like the Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management remain a solid investment. Experts at International Business University, a leading business school in Ontario, explain why.

In times of economic challenge, companies need professionals who can effectively lead teams, analyze data, and make strategic decisions. A quality BCOM in Business Management program helps students develop capabilities in areas critical to business success, such as business analytics, strategic planning, financial analysis, and operations management.

However, the learning must be more than theoretical, according to recent reporting from RBC Royal Bank. Students with hands-on learning are coveted in the corporate world. A quality BCOM pathway will include real-world mentorship as well as opportunities for hands-on application.

The BCOM is valuable, IBU representatives explain, because of its versatility and ability to position graduates for ongoing professional development. The degree opens the door to profitable opportunities in sectors like marketing, finance, operations, and human resources. And that's just the starting point.

Students who complete undergraduate degrees in BCOM and other areas typically achieve higher median employment earnings over time compared to those with college diplomas or certificates, according to Statistics Canada. Specialization in growing areas such as digital marketing, financial planning, or international commerce increases opportunities even more.

If you're interested in any of these career paths, a BCOM may be a good choice for you, according to faculty members at International Business University:

Account Manager, Business Analyst and Consultant, Management Advisor

A BCOM is a viable degree in its own right, and a pathway to even more specialized learning if desired. Whether you're a high school student, a more mature learner, or currently pursuing another educational or career path, a BCOM degree is a solid investment in yourself and in your future. Visit the link in the description to check out your opportunities in Ontario today.

Welcome back, everyone. Today we're tackling a question that's on the minds of university administrators everywhere: Are audiovisual technology investments actually worth it? I mean, we're talking about millions of dollars going into lecture halls, collaborative spaces, and digital signage. So, what's the real return on investment here?

YORK & LEEDS, UK - Muddy Boots Nursery, the award-winning childcare provider known for its pioneering outdoor ethos, is delighted to announce an enhanced curriculum of nature-led learning for children across its Yorkshire locations. Following a triumphant period that saw the group named "Best Small Nursery Group" at the NMT National Nursery Awards, the provider is renewing its commitment to outdoor adventures at its settings, including its popular nursery in Morley. For more information visit: https://www.muddybootsnursery.co.uk/muddy-boots-morley

As a Nature-led Focused Nursery’s York & Leeds sites continue to grow in popularity, Muddy Boots has solidified its reputation as a leader in early years education. The group’s philosophy—“Muddy Boots isn’t just a name, it’s a daily way of life”—is central to their approach, ensuring that children from six weeks to five years old benefit from fresh air, exploration, and the natural world every single day.

Championing Nature-Led Learning for Children

The benefits of outdoor play in early childhood are well-documented, from improved physical health to boosted confidence and creativity. Muddy Boots takes this further by integrating nature-led learning for children into the core of their daily rhythm. Whether it is searching for bugs, building dens, or simply enjoying stories under the canopy of trees, the curriculum is designed to foster a sense of wonder and resilience.

"We believe in as many outdoor adventures as possible," says the management team at Muddy Boots. "Our aim is to provide early years childcare that families can be completely confident in. By immersing children in nature, we are not just teaching them about the world; we are helping them grow into their unique selves in an environment that feels like a home-from-home."

Spotlight on Morley and York

Families searching for a premier nursery in Morley have welcomed the group’s focus on high-quality, outdoor-centric care. Located on Albert Road (just off Dewsbury Road), the Morley site offers a safe, stimulating environment where children are encouraged to explore. The setting mirrors the high standards found at the group’s York locations in Poppleton and Acomb, ensuring a consistent level of excellence across the region.

The group’s success is built on more than just outdoor facilities. Muddy Boots prides itself on its "family-from-family" feel, a culture supported by their unique "Friday Pulse" initiative. This tool gives staff a meaningful voice, ensuring the team remains happy, engaged, and able to provide the best possible care. As the team often notes, "happy teams create happy nurseries, which always results in happy children."

Award-Winning Care for Local Families

The expansion of their outdoor learning initiatives comes on the heels of significant national recognition. In addition to the NMT "Best Small Nursery Group" win, Muddy Boots was celebrated as a finalist for "Best Service Award" at the BizX Awards and "Best Nursery" at the Little Vikings Awards. These accolades underscore the trust parents place in Muddy Boots to deliver exceptional care.

Parents staying connected with their child’s daily adventures benefit from the Famly App, which provides real-time updates on meals, naps, and activities—giving busy parents peace of mind while their children thrive outdoors.

About Muddy Boots Nursery

Muddy Boots Nursery provides exceptional private day care for children aged 0-5 years in York and Leeds. Founded in 2012, the group is renowned for its focus on outdoor adventure, emotional well-being, and a "home-from-home" atmosphere.

For more information or to book a show-round at the nursery in Morley, Poppleton, or Acomb, please visit https://muddybootsnursery.co.uk/

Pigtails & Crewcuts: Haircuts for Kids - Teaneck, NJ, the children’s hair salon built just for kids and families, announces the publication of two new online resources designed to make haircut decisions easier for parents: a Boys Haircuts Guide and a Girls Haircuts Guide.

Created for families with children ages six months to 12 years old, these guides help parents quickly identify popular styles and how to explain what they want when scheduling an appointment.

Read more: https://pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/teaneck-nj

Parents know the result they’re hoping for—something cute, manageable, and age-appropriate—but may not know the right words to describe it. The new guides solve that problem by pairing an overview of each style with a simple how to ask for it section, ensuring parents and stylists are aligned from the start.

Boys Haircuts Guide features today’s most requested looks, from classic scissor cuts and easy clipper cuts to modern favorites like fades, faux hawks, hard parts, and styles that work especially well for curly hair.

Girls Haircuts Guide includes popular choices such as bobs and lobs, side bangs, and special occasion styles like braids and buns—plus fun add-ons like fairy hair and more.

Each guide also includes helpful notes on the type of hair that each style is best for, maintenance recommendations, and easy styling tips parents can use at home.

“These guides were created to remove the guesswork for parents,” said Shana Adler, owner/operator of the Teaneck and Montclair salons. “When families can point to a style name and description, it makes the experience smoother—especially for little ones who may be nervous about haircuts.”

The guides are available now as part of the salon’s online Style Book experience and are optimized to help families searching online for terms such as “kid’s haircuts near me,” “boys fade,” and “girl's bob with bangs.”

About Pigtails & Crewcuts

Founded by parents to create a stress-free haircut experience, Pigtails & Crewcuts is a national children's hair salon franchise with over 85 locations. Besides haircutting services, the salons offer a custom line of kid-centric hair products, accessories, and gifts.

Pigtails & Crewcuts: Haircuts for Kids - East Memphis, TN, the children’s salon created for kids and families, today announced the publication of a new online resource: the Ear-Piercing Guide for East Memphis Parents.

Written for families with kids ages six months to 12 years, the guide helps parents make confident decisions about timing, safety, aftercare, and what to expect from a kid-focused ear-piercing experience.

Read more: https://pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/memphis-tn

The guide was created in response to one of the most common questions parents ask: “How do I choose the safest, least stressful way to get my child’s ears pierced?”

The new resource answers that question with clear explanations covering readiness, hygiene standards, jewelry options, and how to support a calm, positive experience for kids who may feel nervous.

“Our goal is to help parents feel informed and reassured,” said Maura Parks, owner of Pigtails & Crewcuts East Memphis and Germantown. “Ear piercing is a big milestone for many families. The guide explains what matters most—safety, sterility, quality jewelry, and gentle support—so the experience feels special for kids and straightforward for parents.”

What the Guide Covers

The Ear-Piercing Guide includes:

- How to decide when the time is right, including factors like a child’s comfort level and ability to follow after-care routines.

- What a kid-centered piercing appointment looks like—from selecting earrings to documenting the milestone with a keepsake photo moment.

- A clear overview of the salon’s process, including having both ears pierced at the same time by a trained team to minimize stress and speed the moment.

- Aftercare essentials, including use of a cleaning solution spray and practical tips to support healing.

The guide also highlights additional services available at the East Memphis salon such as:

· earrings included with the piercing appointment (surgical grade stainless steel and 14k gold options)

· use of the professional ear-piercing Studex System 75

· a keepsake card and photo

· a team that has completed over 8,000 piercings to date

The Ear-Piercing Guide is now available online for parents, caregivers, and anyone researching children’s ear piercing in the East Memphis area.

About Pigtails & Crewcuts

Pigtails & Crewcuts is a children's hair salon franchise with over 85 locations. Parents created this franchise to offer a stress-free haircutting experience for the whole family. Besides hair care services, Pigtails & Crewcuts offers a custom line of kid-centric hair products, accessories, and gifts.

Welcome, come join the dance! Today we're discussing Why Ongoing Professional Development Matters for Dance Teachers.

In instruction that combines physical instruction, creative expression, and education, well, our skills cannot remain static. Research from leading dance education bodies consistently shows that teachers who engage in continuing professional development are better equipped to support student safety, learning outcomes, and long-term engagement.

Dance education evolves alongside changes in pedagogy, wellness research, and business practices. Without structured opportunities to learn and exchange ideas, even experienced teachers can find themselves relying on outdated methods or navigating challenges in isolation.

Dance teachers often balance multiple responsibilities at once: instruction, choreography, student wellbeing, scheduling, and, in many cases, business management. Over time, this workload can leave little room for reflection or skill renewal.

A common challenge within the profession is professional isolation. Many instructors work independently or within small studio teams, limiting exposure to new teaching approaches or operational strategies. This isolation can contribute to burnout, plateaued growth, or uncertainty when navigating changing student expectations, evolving safety standards, or financial pressures.

In addition, formal training often emphasizes technique and artistry while offering limited preparation in leadership, communication, and studio operations. As a result, gaps can emerge between artistic expertise and the practical demands of sustaining a teaching career.

High-quality professional development in dance education extends beyond technique refreshers. It addresses the full scope of a teacher’s role and adapts to different career stages.

Key elements often include:

Updated pedagogy that reflects current research in movement science and injury prevention

Professional gatherings play a distinct role in dance education because they combine formal learning with informal knowledge exchange. Conferences and educational events create space for conversations that rarely happen in daily studio life, including discussions about sustainable workloads, staff management, student retention, and long-term career planning.

Within these settings, experienced educators often serve as mentors, while newer teachers contribute fresh perspectives shaped by recent training. This reciprocal learning model strengthens the profession as a whole and helps normalize continuous improvement rather than perfection.

Dance Teacher Web contributes to this ecosystem by focusing exclusively on education and business development for dance professionals. Its programming reflects the reality that strong teaching skills and strong operational skills are increasingly interconnected in today’s dance landscape.

Ongoing development supports more than immediate skill acquisition. It reinforces professional confidence, adaptability, and resilience, qualities that are essential in a field shaped by physical demands and economic variability.

Teachers who prioritize learning tend to build stronger studio cultures, communicate more effectively with families, and adapt more smoothly to industry shifts. Over time, these benefits compound, supporting both individual wellbeing and organizational stability.

As dance education continues to evolve, structured professional development remains one of the most reliable ways to ensure that teaching practices, business decisions, and artistic standards grow together rather than apart. Thanks for listening and let us know how you plan to get more involved in your dance community.

Click the link in the description to learn more.

National School Chaplain Association has published a new blog entitled Chaplains Guide School Celebration: Religious Freedom Day Jan 16, 2026, Discover the history and current relevance of the annually commemorated day and why NSCA Certified School Chaplains are a perfect choice to make available and facilitate voluntary participation in the National Religious Freedom Day celebration, lessons in civics and activities.

This topic is of particular interest to schools, teachers, students, parents, religious rights groups, churches, and civic leaders because this nationally recognized day is the perfect time to encourage all influencers to educate and celebrate the foundations laid that continue to anchor society. The implications are historically and continually relevant.

Religious freedoms, especially at school, are not always fully understood or expressed. Every citizen, religious or not, is touched by this topic. View full article at https://www.nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/blog/y3upmr930t8d2jntayx7id08irb4v7

The article includes several interesting pieces of information, including the uniquely endorsed credentials of the NSCA Academy. Their Chaplains are specifically prepared for the school environment. They are spiritually qualified, and well versed in governmental policies, as well as the pre and post constitutional implications.

One of the most important pieces of information extracted from the article is that students can learn why the day is commemorated and why it matters. Celebrating the anniversary of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom is an honor and a foundational precedent for all, especially for future generations.

'The National School Chaplains Association assures schools, educators and parents that the balance is protected between voluntary free expression of religion without coercion or infringing on the rights of others.

In discussing the article's creation, author Dorothy Kozar, Editorial Contributor and Speaker at the National School Chaplain Association said: “The very core of human existence is the expression of faith. This basic right is to be recognized, remembered and preserved.”

Regular readers of National School Chaplain Association will notice the article takes a familiar tone, which has been described as 'Nonconfrontational, but compels a fresh look and deeper perspective for a call to action.'.

National School Chaplain Association now welcomes comments and questions from readers, in relation to the article, as they are intent on inviting everyone to look at all sides of the issue. The reason is simply because Learning from each other is an opportunity to become better together! Dialog dispels misconceptions and opens the door to accomplishing something important that would otherwise be lost.

Anyone who has a specific question about a past, present, or future article can contact National School Chaplain Association via their website at https://www.nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org

View full blog on National School Chaplains Association Website, under news and media tab https://www.nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/blog/y3upmr930t8d2jntayx7id08irb4v7.

A Five-Year Journey Focused on ASCP Exam Success

Founded in 2020, MLSi Academy was created to address a critical gap in high-quality, practical study materials for aspiring medical laboratory professionals preparing for the ASCP MLS, MLT, and Molecular Biology exams. Many candidates struggle to find resources that are not only exam-aligned but also structured for efficient learning.

From day one, MLSi Academy’s mission has been clear: simplify preparation, reduce stress, and provide candidates with tools that mirror the objectives and format of ASCP certification exams.

Building a Trusted Global Learning Resource

Over the past five years, MLSi Academy has grown into a trusted educational resource for students and professionals across multiple regions worldwide. By maintaining a single-focus approach on ASCP certifications, MLSi Academy designs structured learning pathways, targeted study materials, and exam-style question banks that help candidates maximize study efficiency while avoiding information overload.

Unlike general exam prep providers, MLSi Academy’s niche focus allows it to deliver content specifically tailored to the ASCP exam blueprint, ensuring learners are well-prepared for each section of the exam, from hematology and chemistry to molecular biology.

Launching a Centralized Online Store

In December 2025, MLSi Academy completed the rollout of its centralizedonline store. This expansion consolidates access to all ASCP exam prep resources, including:

Live online courses led by expert instructorsSelf-paced programs for flexible studyDigital study guides optimized for exam readinessStructured question banks and practice examsThe unified platform provides learners with a streamlined, user-friendly experience, complete with progress tracking, performance analytics, and personalized study options tailored to individual learning needs.

“Our goal has always been to simplify ASCP exam preparation by keeping resources organized, focused, and aligned with the exam,” said the MLSi Academy team. “The new platform allows us to support students more efficiently while maintaining the high educational standards we’ve built over the past five years.”

Looking Ahead: Continuous Innovation in ASCP Education

MLSi Academy continues to refine its learning systems and expand its structured educational resources for ASCP candidates. By integrating the latest exam patterns and learning technologies, MLSi Academy empowers medical laboratory professionals worldwide to prepare confidently, improve exam performance, and achieve certification success.

Whether you are preparing for the MLS (ASCP) exam, MLT (ASCP) certification, or Molecular Biology ASCP test, MLSi Academy offers tools and guidance to simplify your study journey and boost your confidence.

Explore MLSi Academy’s ASCP Resources

For comprehensive ASCP exam prep, visit MLSi Academy or explore the official online store at shop.mlsiacademy.com. Access live courses, digital study guides, and question banks all in one centralized platform.

Iman Motors, a trusted family-run used car dealership in Underwood QLD, is addressing the growing demand for reliable and affordable transportation in the Logan and Brisbane southside regions. The dealership has announced a new focus on providing high-quality used 4x4s, vans, and family cars, supported by flexible finance solutions and comprehensive warranty options.

For many local tradies and small business owners, a dependable work vehicle is essential. Iman Motors understands this need and has curated a diverse inventory of quality used 4x4s and vans designed to meet the rigorous demands of daily work. Each vehicle undergoes a thorough inspection process to ensure it meets stringent safety and performance standards before being offered for sale.

"We believe that everyone deserves access to a safe and reliable vehicle, whether it's for work or family," states a representative from Iman Motors. "Our goal is to remove the stress from the car-buying process by offering transparent pricing, flexible finance, and peace of mind with our warranty programs. We're committed to serving the Underwood and wider Logan community with integrity."

Families in the region will also find a wide selection of pre-owned family cars that combine safety, comfort, and value. From spacious SUVs to economical sedans, the inventory at Iman Motors is regularly updated to provide options for every lifestyle and budget. The dealership's commitment to customer satisfaction extends beyond the sale, with ongoing support and clear communication.

Navigating the used car market can be challenging, but Iman Motors aims to simplify it. Their team is dedicated to assisting customers through every step, from selecting the right vehicle to securing suitable financing. This customer-centric approach has established Iman Motors as a reputable used car dealer near Logan.

To explore the current inventory of used cars in Underwood, including a variety of used 4x4s Underwood and used vans Underwood, interested buyers are encouraged to visit the Iman Motors showroom at 24 Ferguson Street, Underwood QLD, or browse their selection online.

For more information on available vehicles, finance options, and warranty details, please visit https://imanmotors.com.au/.

"It Could Have Been Me" by Lina Skalam Earns Kirkus Reviews and Booklist Recognition for Bridging Cultural Gaps and Teaching Empathy

As millions of children worldwide face displacement due to conflict and crisis, author Lina AbdulKarim offers young readers a compassionate lens into the refugee experience through her acclaimed children's book, "It Could Have Been Me."

The story follows 10-year-old Yasmeen, who reluctantly accompanies her father to the local masjid to meet refugee families. There, she encounters Sumoud, a refugee girl her own age, and discovers that despite their vastly different circumstances, they share common dreams, fears, and the universal desire for friendship. Through their bond, Yasmeen confronts a profound realization: her comfortable life is not guaranteed, and with different circumstances, she could have been in Sumoud's position.

"This beautiful book bridges a gap between cultures that has seen little attention from the publishing world despite the scale and immediacy of the conflict it addresses," praised Kirkus Reviews, calling it "a compelling and empathetic introduction to displacement and mutual aid."

Booklist recognized the book as an Editors' Choice, noting how "Abdulkarim highlights the plight of refugee families juxtaposed with the privileges living in America can provide, giving younger readers touching insight into the importance of community, kindness, and helping others."

With over 70 million displaced people globally—half of them children—"It Could Have Been Me" arrives at a critical moment when educators and parents seek age-appropriate resources to discuss complex humanitarian issues.

The book is available now through major retailers and LinasKalamBooks.com.