McKenna Institute Blog
Research's Big Impact in our Small Province
Candice Pollack
Posted: Nov 20, 2025
Category: Columns
New Brunswickers are known to be resourceful, collaborative, and driven by purpose. With that spirit, we have become experts in making a difference with limited resources. It’s that grit that fuels our province’s research and innovation community, where small teams are tackling big problems and producing results that reach far beyond our borders. New Brunswick receives among the...
Read the full postBridging the Digital Divide Through Community Student Ambassadors
Lynne Faught
Posted: Sep 24, 2025
Category: Columns
With the right support, New Brunswick’s rural communities can thrive in the digital age. This summer’s introduction of the Crabtree Digital Student Ambassador Program proved just how critical that support can be. The program was a partnership between the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Management and the McKenna Institute with the generous philanthropic support of the...
Read the full postBridging Computer Science and Entrepreneurship
Sonya Hull
Posted: Jul 23, 2025
Category: Columns
In today’s digital world, the ability to code is just the beginning. At University of New Brunswick (UNB) Fredericton’s faculty of computer science, students are learning how to turn opportunities and problems into products and ideas into impact. The Barrett Chair in Entrepreneurship for Digital Transformation, led by Dr. Kenneth Kent, is redefining how computer science students...
Read the full postPowering Digital Healthcare at the Digital Innovation Summit
Adrienne Oldford
Posted: Jun 20, 2025
Category: Columns
On June 16 and 17, leaders from across New Brunswick gathered in St. Andrews for the fourth annual McKenna Institute Digital Innovation Summit, hosted by the Hon. Frank McKenna, founder of the McKenna Institute and Dr. Paul Mazerolle, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of New Brunswick. This year, we themed the summit around digital healthcare, and the message could not have been...
Read the full postEmbracing Opportunities in Northern New Brunswick Schools
Joey Savoy, Craig Duplessie, Tyson Theriault, & Jamie O’Toole
Posted: Apr 23, 2025
Category: Columns
Bringing technology into education isn’t always easy — it takes time, support, and a willingness to learn new things. In Anglophone North School District, we’re working to create more space for teachers and students to explore what digital tools can do in the classroom. That means trying new things, building skills, and learning alongside each other. A big part of that has...
Read the full postHow New Brunswick’s Education Strategy Can Grow With AI and Digital Transformation
Frank McKenna
Posted: Mar 18, 2025
Category: Columns
Education systems worldwide are navigating a transformative moment, and New Brunswick is no exception. The rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence, evolving global workforce demands, and shifting student engagement levels present both challenges and opportunities. Furthermore, with the geopolitical battles and the U.S.’s massive pivots—especially in big tech and...
Read the full postStaying Ahead with Free Digital Education
David Itoafa
Posted: Jan 23, 2025
Category: Columns
In today's fast-paced digital world, having a strong digital skills foundation is no longer optional—it's essential. With the rapid advancement of digital tools and AI technologies, staying ahead means continuously learning and adapting. That’s why the McKenna Institute has partnered with IBM to deliver over 10,000 courses in fields ranging from project management, IT, data...
Read the full postBuilding a Digital Future for New Brunswick's Classrooms
Abby David
Posted: Jan 16, 2025
Category: Columns
In today’s classroom, digital tools are changing the way that we learn and evolve. Its importance cannot be understated: technology in the classroom offers new ways to engage students, enhance creativity, and make learning more interactive and accessible, which is essential as student attention spans continue to shorten. But how do we work together to ensure classrooms not...
Read the full postMcKenna Institute: Building a future-ready digital economy
Adrienne Oldford
Posted: Jan 8, 2025
Category: Columns
Three years ago, former New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna founded the McKenna Institute at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) with the vision of convening industry, academia, and government to advance New Brunswick’s digital economy. In those three years, our approach has evolved to reflect a deeper, more integrated vision of growth. We understand that fostering a thriving digital...
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