The Harkness Fellows Association
The Harkness Fellows Association and Transatlantic Trust (HFA) is the alumni association of the HArkness Fellows. We seek to promote international understanding through education with a particular focus on Transatlantic issues. Membership is open to all with an interest in these matters. Read more about the Association here »
Join the Association to support its work. Click here »
View a video about the fellowships here »
Harkness Fellowships Pass 100.
The Centenary of the Harkness Fellowships last year was a time to celebrate the enduring spirit of learning and exchange that defines the fellowships. It was also a time to look ahead to the pressing challenges of the 21st Century, The HFA hosted a series of Harkness Centenary Discussions in the lead up to the enriching Harkness@100 Conference hosted in November by the Commonwealth Fund in Barcelona. At the end of the year, Harkness Reflections, a series of podcasts was launched where more recent Fellows interview earlier Fellows. Click here for more information and to listen to our podcasts »
Book Now / Save the Date
SAVE THE DATE
Wednesday 30th September 2026 – 6.30-7.30pm – Free online event
Former British diplomat, James Watt, will speak on “What is needed for enduring peace in the Middle East?”
Wednesday 9th June 2027 – Harkness Summer Event
Further details TBC.
External Events by Harkness Fellows
Over 100 Years of Fellowships
The Harkness Fellowships were established in 1925 by Edward S Harkness as an expression of his belief that “….international understanding can be forwarded in no more practicable way than through the provision of international opportunities for education and travel to young men and women of character and ability.”
Known as Commonwealth Fund Fellowships until 1960, over the years the scheme has evolved to reflect the changing priorities for the Commonwealth Fund and transatlantic study opportunities, as well as to include fellows from many other countries, not just the UK.
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In this time over 2,000 Fellows from the UK, Continental Europe and Australasia have crossed the Atlantic or the Pacific in pursuit of Edward S Harkness’s dream of furthering “… their education while becoming familiar with the people and culture of the United States”. Many Fellows upon returning home have become leaders in their fields and indeed, in their countries.
Harkness Connections
There are different ways to meet and learn more about your colleague Harkness Fellows
Every year on the first Wednesday of June we host a Summer Lecture and Reception in central London in the early evening
Sign up to join the Association here and hear about on line talks and discussions.
Sharing Experiences : . Why not send us your alumni story to share. Click here for guidance »
Keeping up to date : The Harkness Fellows Association will send you regular information if you are on our mailing list. Email admin@harknessfellows.org.uk to check with Lizzie. And follow The Harkness Fellows Association on LinkedIn.
Regional gatherings : We are supporting fellows who wish to hold an in-person gathering in their area. Do get in touch if you would like to be involved in this programme. Recently there were successful meetings in Edinburgh and Bath.
Harkness Centenary Discussions
Over the last Century, Harkness Fellows have lived through some very turbulent times. The global picture is no less challenging for the 2025/6 cohort.
During the Centenary year Harkness Fellows across the generations came together to discuss six critical issues of our times. For each discussion three or four Fellows gave short contributions to start the debate and audience participation was encouraged. From the crisis in the water industry to energy policy for the future, Fellows shared very different perspectives. Likening the NHS to a sports goalkeeper, needing others in the team (social care/housing/poverty reduction) to step up gave interesting insights to the challenge the NHS faces, as did the discussion on Mental Health and the Arts. Consideration of Trump’s impact on democracy proved timely as did the discussion of Higher Education Funding as Universities announced redundancies. See the summaries here.
The model of these discussions was welcomed and will be repeated in future..