World

First Forensic Body Farm Is Coming To Canada This summer

Published

6 years ago

June 21, 2019

The new Forensic body farm facility is going to hit Quebec this summer. It will allow scientists to look into human decomposition while being in a Northern climate.

The facility is the brain child of Shari Forbes. She doesn’t like to boast about her work. Forbes is a forensic expert in thanatology, which is the study of death. Her work includes studying human bodies that are decomposing and examining the pattern in which insects eat the flesh of dead bodies, and whether they lay their eggs in a certain pattern.

As a forensic expert in thanatology, the study of death, she spends her days focused on decomposing human bodies — examining how insects eat flesh, when they lay their eggs, and even how cadaver dogs pick up a corpse’s odour.

“I’ve certainly learned to have a strong stomach,” she told As It Happens host Carol Off. “It’s required in this kind of research.”

Forbes is helping establish Canada’s first forensics body farm, an outdoor facility where human bodies are left to decay and scientists study the process. It will open this summer in Bécancour, near Trois-Rivières, Que.

The research done there will help forensic investigations Canada scientists understand decomposition, and will ultimately help investigators better determine time of death in homicide investigations.

World

Swiss International University Granted TAG-EDUQA Accreditation Under AROQA Quality Framework

Published

11 hours ago

June 22, 2025

Jenny Jackson

Swiss International University (SIU), an institution of higher learning that is recognized internationally for its unique strategies in teaching, is pleased to announce its provisional recognition with TAG-EDUQA. This award belongs to a small number of universities that have achieved the high level of academic quality required by the Arab Organization for Quality Assurance in Education (AROQA). The milestone supports SIU’s mission to provide affordable, high-quality education to students in the United States and around the world.

The accreditation was headed by HH Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, the distinguished Arab business figure and a leading reformer in education, who is also the chairman of TAG-EDUQA. Further elevating the importance of accreditation news, the Secretary-General of the Arab League is Honorary President of TAG-EDUQA, indicating the regional and global recognition of this accreditation.

This achievement demonstrates SIU’s commitment to academic quality, value, and the experience of students. It is a major move in the university’s strategic vision to expand its footprint throughout the Arab region and in the wider world of education. The accreditation by TAG-EDUQA is a testament to the academic integrity of the programs at SIU, and it will further internationalize the recognition of the degrees and diplomas offered by the university.

Derya Briand, Academic Program Director at SIU, is delighted: “This successful outcome, at the first attempt, is an outstanding achievement, surpassing our expectations. It supports the high academic standards that we have now, and it ensures that the next generation of students will receive the benefit of that quality. Our ongoing pursuit of NEASC accreditation also demonstrates our commitment to being part of a global community while integrating the values and ideals of local educational institutions.”

The accreditation is a key element of SIU’s strategy to develop academic programs at the University and establish valued international partnerships. The university is a key member of an international education alliance championing cross-border academic collaboration. SIU collaborates with some renowned institutions, like the OUS International Academy, Zurich ISBM International Business Management School, Lucerne International Vocational Institute, Dubai ISB, and their own campuses in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. These partners are working to form a new educational model centered around inclusiveness, academic success, and multiculturalism.

The accreditation of SIU exemplifies how universities can balance the demands of local and international academic aspirations, especially given the growing importance of quality assurance in Arab higher education. As more Arab students actively search for internationally accredited institutions around the world, SIU’s commitment to student-centric learning, ethical leadership development, and international career preparation has received tremendous backing from accrediting bodies and education pioneers.

Moving forward, SIU is dedicated to improving its academic standing, increasing its global presence, and continuing to provide affordable, high-quality education to students around the world. The TAG-EDUQA Accreditation, stemming from AROQA’s stringent quality guidelines, will significantly contribute to these aspirations and enhance SIU’s position in the international academic landscape.

This success represents a ringing endorsement of SIU’s leadership in contemporary education and our continued commitment to providing cutting-edge, relevant, and forward-looking academic programs that meet both local and global needs.

For more information, please visit the official website at www.swissuniversity.com.