How Nova Scotia’s universities are shaping tomorrow together
Universities are places of learning, but they go beyond the classroom: they are also engines of economic growth. They drive research and innovation, build our workforce, shape policy, advance healthcare, and fuel small business success in communities across Nova Scotia.
Dr. Andy Hakin is President of St. Francis Xavier University, Chair of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents, and Vice Chair of the Atlantic Association of Universities. For Hakin, collaboration among institutions is key to driving impact. “Nova Scotia’s universities play a vital role in shaping the skilled workforce of tomorrow,” he says. “By working together, our institutions can more effectively attract students from across Canada and around the world—strengthening both our economy and our communities.”
The mission to link higher learning to regional prosperity will take centre stage at the Halifax Chamber’s Fall Dinner on November 12, where university presidents and researchers will share their “big ideas for big impact.”
Saint Mary’s University: Curiosity meets community
For Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Michael Khan, the role of universities in the economy comes down to three words: talent, ideas, and partnerships. “At Saint Mary’s, more than half of our students come from Nova Scotia, and they graduate ready to strengthen our local economy,” says Khan. “At the same time, we welcome students from over 100 countries who bring new perspectives and connections.”
That mix of local and global drives innovation in Halifax. “At SMU, we connect faculty and students directly with businesses, non-profits, and government,” says Khan. “Research-driven ideas lay the foundation for enterprise growth, fueling innovation and productivity across every sector. That turns discovery into impact.”
This approach is embodied by Ossama Nasrallah, Saint Mary’s alumnus and 2022 Young Alumni of the Year, who arrived in Halifax as an international student and stayed to build a business. “For me Saint Mary’s University was like a launchpad,” says Nasrallah. “I arrived in Halifax in 2014 with big dreams and SMU welcomed me with open arms. From the Saint Mary’s Language Centre to the Sobey School of Business for my Bachelor of Commerce and MBA, every step was supported by faculty, mentors, and peers who believed in me.”
That foundation led Nasrallah to entrepreneurship and community leadership through his ventures like Harbour Watercraft and Nova Glamping. “International students bring more than tuition dollars—they bring ambition, innovation, and a global perspective,” says Nasrallah. “Many of us stay after graduation, start businesses, create jobs, and invest in the local economy. The more we support international students in staying and thriving here, the stronger Nova Scotia’s future becomes.”
For Dr. Khan, alumni like Nasrallah are the proof of concept. “When we invest in people, the return is shared prosperity,” he says. “Our graduates are building companies, solving challenges, and shaping communities right here in Nova Scotia.”
Dalhousie University: Research that strengthens systems
Dr. Kim Brooks is President and Vice-Chancellor of Dalhousie University. For Brooks, universities are one of the strongest engines of growth in Atlantic Canada. “We educate the people who will lead and staff our hospitals, schools, and businesses—and whose skills allow Nova Scotia to attract innovative companies to set up and expand operations here,” she says. “As large employers are magnets for talent and investment, universities strengthen the ecosystem around us.”
That impact of education extends beyond the classroom. “We bring new ideas and discoveries into the region—ideas that translate into new companies, products, and ways of working,” says Brooks. “The graduates we produce will be essential to the success of emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and defence and security.”
Brooks points to Dr. Ruth Lavergne, Canada Research Chair in Primary Care, as an example of research making a tangible difference in Nova Scotia. “Dr. Lavergne’s work shines a light on one of the most urgent challenges facing our region: access to family doctors,” says Brooks. “She explores how practice models, payment systems, and administrative structures affect care, and she studies innovative approaches like inter-disciplinary primary care teams. Her research has real impact—helping more people find a family doctor, reducing burnout for providers, and improving equity and access across our health system.”
For Dr. Lavergne, collaboration and evidence are at the core of creating impact. “A key role for post-secondary institutions is training the workforce we need,” she says. “This includes clinicians across professions ready to work in teams, as well as administrative and technical professionals ready to make sure systems and technology support connected, coordinated care.”
Dr. Lavergne’s research looks beyond medicine to the underlying systems that support it. “When we look at care for immigrant and refugee populations, we learn a lot about what makes a system inclusive and effective for everyone,” says Lavergne. “It comes down to communication, respect, coordination, and community connection.”
She believes collaboration is essential for lasting change. “Where change happens is in the connections that let us learn from experience and perspectives we might not otherwise encounter,” says Lavergne. “That means bringing together community members, clinicians, and people planning services and setting policy directions.”
For Nova Scotia’s economy, the connection between care, data, and policy creates a healthier, more resilient workforce. “More coordinated systems can help clinicians focus on care and collaboration instead of paperwork,” says Lavergne. “Efficiently and equitably meeting primary care needs while investing in the social and economic drivers of health is key to stronger, more resilient communities.”
Mount Saint Vincent University: Inclusive education, inclusive growth
At Mount Saint Vincent University, President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Joël Dickinson believes economic inclusion begins with educational access. “The biggest economic impact for universities is in the citizens we help educate,” says Dickinson. “It isn’t just about preparing people for the workforce; it is about educating people in a way that inspires them to make an impact.”
At MSVU, that means breaking down barriers to education and the amplifying voices that have been underrepresented in research and policy. “Access to education is central to economic inclusion,” says Dickinson. “When we make education accessible, the economic impact isn’t just for that student, it’s for their entire family and generations to come.”
That philosophy is reflected in the work of Dr. Heather Dicks, Postdoctoral Fellow with the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging, whose research explores the experiences of healthcare workers in long-term care. “The staff working in long-term care homes represent the single most important resource in these homes,” says Dicks. “They are the people that are there every day ensuring the residents can live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. The importance of these staff members cannot be understated.”
Dicks’ research connects the wellbeing of workers to the quality of care they are able to provide. “We need to build a policy and funding framework that enables workers to feel supported in their roles,” says Dicks. “As Pat Armstrong said: ‘the conditions of work are the conditions of care.’”
That connection between research and real-world change drives her approach to making data more accessible. “We cannot just hide our findings behind paywalled academic journals—we need to make it accessible to everyone,” says Dicks. “We have a responsibility to share this information with the public and bring them into the conversation.”
Across institutions, a shared vision is emerging: universities as partners in progress, linking knowledge with impact. “Good academic research has the capacity to create an actionable roadmap for how to move Nova Scotia in the right direction toward a more prosperous future for us all,” says Dicks.
Dr. Hakin agrees. “As a united sector, we have a proven ability to meet workforce demands in critical areas such as healthcare, life sciences, education, clean energy, and natural resources,” he says. “When this is combined with our collective strengths in research, creativity, and innovation, we unlock powerful opportunities to drive economic growth and productivity for Nova Scotia.”
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