The Harlow town council has unanimously decided to write MUN’s Board of Regents in hopes the university will maintain its campus in the U.K.
Memorial, which is currently in the process of finding some $21 million in savings, has indicated that everything is on the table, raising questions about the future of its Harlow campus in Essex.
The issue is not only of concern here in Newfoundland and Labrador, but also in Harlow.
The matter came up for extensive discussion at a recent Harlow council meeting after councilor Jake Shepherd raised a motion allowing council to express its appreciation for Memorial’s longstanding relationship with the town.
Shepherd also noted that a succession of student teachers have “enriched local schools” including Hare Street Primary.
“Most recently at Hare Street School, Miss Prince and Miss Fahey both spent several months alongside staff and students and said ‘farewell’ to this incredible school community only two weeks ago. In January some new student teachers will be joining Hare Street for a similar placement. Miss Prince stayed an additional two weeks, which I hope underlines the power of this trans-Atlantic connection between Memorial University in St. John’s and Harlow.”
Harlow town councillor Joel Charles (via Harlow town council on YouTube)
The motion was seconded by councilor Joel Charles who remarked on the many Newfoundland students who have contributed greatly to the local economy and culture.
“It’s been there decades,” Charles told his fellow councilors, “it opened officially in 1969, and regularly, as an Old Harlow resident, you would see Canadian students playing hacky sack on the green opposite St. John’s Arc, they’re regularly in the pubs, in the crowd, they’re shopping in the High Street, they benefit not just the local economy, but they engage with residents and it’s a great cultural exchange.”
A decision on the future of Harlow isn’t expected until August of 2026. The Harlow town council unanimously decided to write MUN’s Board of Regents outlining the importance of the relationship between the university and Harlow, and maintaining the campus there.
