Is Somalia the Next Afghanistan?
History is repeating itself in the Horn of Africa. AIMS Security and Defence Intern Alex Wilner outlines how the recent rise of Somalia’s Islamic Courts Union (ICU) is strikingly similar to the path pursued by the Taliban in its march to power in the 1990s. The danger for Canada, Wilner argues, is that both fundamentalist groups have ties to international terrorism. Might Canadian soldiers head to Somalia in the coming decade?
Australians can find public education reform in Canada
AIMS Fellow in Public Education Reform is making news in Australia. Given that 75 per cent of Australian voters rate education as very important in determining who gets their vote, it's clear that the politicians will use education as an issue in next year's election. This article in The Australian talks about what needs to be done to improve public education in that country and uses McBeath's work as an example.
In our view: It’s government’s duty to remain proactive but also to avoid unnecessary extravagance
In this editorial that appeared in Fredericton's Daily Gleaner, the paper uses a comment from AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill to make the point that it is time to aggressively recruit students for that province's post-secondary institutions.
Universities must take business approach to forge ahead
Although a large number of people continue to obtain a post-secondary education, many post-secondary institutions are grappling with the challenge of a declining population, the reality of a changing learning environment and an economy that is demanding a different type of worker. In this article in Fredericton's Daily Gleaner, AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill talked to reporter Mark Taylor about post-secondary institutions and where he thinks post-secondary education is headed.
Premier prepared to play cash card to attract business
NB Premier Shawn Graham says 'there are a number of tools and instruments that we can use to provide financial assistance' to businesses that want to establish operations in New Brunswick. However, as AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill suggests playing the cash card isn't always a good thing.
Think-tank gets access to grades, attendance rates in compromise
After battling it through the Freedom of Information commissioner and the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, AIMS agreed to a compromise to obtain partial historical records about student performance in schools under the Halifax Regional School Board. This story in the Chronicle-Herald explains that it's only considered a partial victory.