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It seems like as industries grow and as our society develops, corporate social responsibility is becoming a large focus of, well, the whole world.

Only a few hundred years ago, the face of the earth was changed by the Industrial Revolution. Cities boomed as innovation lit the sky and provided jobs to many. New technology popped up everywhere and all seemed well until another hundred years later, people looked up at the sky and realized that the sun was hardly visible.

Today, we look not only to businesses, firms and so on to provide us with the tools of tomorrow but also to do it in a sustainable manner. Not only are companies expected to be innovative, efficient and productive, they now have to scrutinize their emissions as well so as to not violate health standards. Do these seem like fair expectations?

Yes. For as we advance, so must our ways and not only should we protect the environment which gives us all we need, but we have the means to do it. Companies just need to worry less about profits and consider the fact that, if they over-pollute the environment, then in the future, there will be no where to make that profit. Just think of it as an investment.

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Staying on our topic, it does seem, as the title suggests, that universities are now aiming higher than ever. However, is this a feasible goal?

As our world continues to expand and develop in all aspects, globalization has become a hot topic. It seems that for one to be successful in any field, globalization is a must. This takes forms in establishing locations around the world, selling products internationally or outsourcing just to name a few. This rapid means of expansion means that universities students have now higher expectations than ever to each emerge with a degree and become a leader. With that being said, funding is becoming a growing issue for universities as these institutions are trying to provide a more diversified and pertinent education to its students.

Taking into account the lack of funding, I do believe that university students today are each capable of innovation for they have to tools to do it. Being a student at UBC, I must disagree with the 53% of people who think what we are learning is not preparing us for a career. At the end of the day, of course there are more expectations of us but that is to be expected as the quality of education increases and thus competition becomes more fierce. In such a situation, all we can aim for is the moon.

original article: http://search.proquest.com/docview/900604443?accountid=14656

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As the cost of education is rising, shouldn’t its payoff rise as well?

According to universities, a bachelor’s degree is worth a million dollars over its holder’s lifetime but about 1 in 5 Canadians with those degrees have earnings that are below the average income.

These days, university has become a must in society. Where a high school diploma could get you 20 years ago now requires a bachelor’s degree. University is not only for the keenest and most outstanding students or the high-achieving scholars anymore but is more commonplace than ever. Kids are expected to attend a university after high school whereas before, it was more of an aspiration that high school graduates had to work for. So with the increase of students flooding into universities each year, knowledge now does not seem to be as valuable as before.

What we forget though is that universities are still businesses, and as businesses, these establishments of knowledge have grown complacent over time. They feel as though people today must attend university to move forward in life but as we all know, that is a far stretch from the truth. What they should do instead is reach out and inform the public, more than ever, of the benefits of a higher education and how it can be a valuable tool in attaining wealth, happiness and satisfaction later in life.

Original article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/when-a-university-degree-just-isnt-enough/article2014732/page2/

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With the world population ever-growing and it expecting to hit 9 billion by 2050, it may seem as though we can ill-afford to keep on reproducing. With our “20 billion chickens and four billion cattle, sheep and pigs”, can the Earth really take too much more punishment from us?

Of course it can! Since the 1960s, the world’s growth population has just about halved while even though our population has doubled in the past 50 or so years, people’s overall standard of living has improved. Respective to the growth of population over the past 13 years, which is by a billion, the number of people living below the poverty line actually lessened by a third.

What I’m trying to say is, even though we should be aware of what we are doing to the earth, we do not have to worry about sustainability of our race for the near future. As more people are added to this world, more innovation is created, and we have actually tripled total harvest in the worlds top 3 crops over the past 60 years. It seems as though that with increased population comes increased prosperity. This leads to many people’s question, sustainability. It is not organic farming that will save us, but it is what will ultimately ruin us. If all people did was farm organically, or old-fashioned, than the land used to produce crops would triple in what is actually is today. What has to be done instead is a further development of technology and science to keep updating our techniques. If those are kept in check, then I’m sure that the world would have no problem in sustaining another billion people while still balance industries with nature.

Original article: http://www.canada.com/There+plenty+room/5450789/story.html

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Oils seems to be all we’re hearing about these days and the trends still does not stop here. In the farm fields of Saskatchewan, another kind of oil boom is happening, canola.

Developed from the a form of genetically modified rapeseed, canola has become Canada’s newest legacy; joining the ranks of maple syrup and the ever-popular “eh”. Now known as a super crop, the seed yields not only more and healthier oil but also doubles as a high-protein fodder. With all these benefits, more farmers are now jumping on the canola band wagon. Canola oil, derived from Canada oil low acid, has shocked the agricultural market and in 2010, the crop yielded 5.6 billion in sales, surpassing the 3.5 billion of wheat.

Along with helping farmers earn a better bang-for-their-buck, canola is also helping create jobs within the country since processing this grain goes through many specialized companies.

Overall, the development of canola back in the 1980s has helped many farmers keep their farmland and do what they do best. Its kept a tradition alive and rejuvenated a slowing trade. Farmers now see growing potential instead of a dying tradition and will keep on growing this super crop while we, as consumers, keep on consuming.

original article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/canola-western-canadas-other-oil-boom/article2173456/