Brain drain is defined as the migration of skilled human resources in search of a better standard of living and quality of life, attractive salaries, world-class education, opportunities for career advancement, access to advanced technology, and more stable political conditions in different places worldwide (Sunita Dodani and Ronald E LaPorte, 2005).
This article will be narrowed down to students in developing countries migrating from their fatherland to pursue world-class education and access to advanced technology. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (QECD), the number of students enrolled outside their country of citizenship has risen dramatically over the past decades, with Asian students making up 53% of the total in 2011. Between 2000 and 2011, the number of international students has more than doubled. Today, almost 4.5 million tertiary students are enrolled outside their country of citizenship (QECD).
Although, there are definite advantages of this mass exodus the negative effects outweigh the advantages. The source country takes the larger share of the negative effects because the larger percentage of these students don’t usually return to their home country due to some factors. And the reasons are because of the push and pull factors. The push factors are the unattractive and unbearable conditions in the home country while the pull factors are the attractive conditions of the developed country which the migrants admire and want to partake of. It is the numerous benefits that attract foreign students to stay put after the completion of their academic programme in developed countries.
Causes
Push factors (What makes students from developing countries to stay put in developed countries)
- Lack of research funding
- Poor facilities
- Limited career structures
- Poor intellectual stimulation
- Threats of violence: insecurity
- Poor economy with an inadequate growth potential
- De-motivating working conditions
- High unemployment rate
- Political instability
- No working system in the home country
Effect
The intellectuals of any country are some of the most expensive resources because of their training in terms of material cost and time. And this might hurt a country if skilled human resources should migrate to another country in search of greener pastures. Some of the effects include:
- Loss of skilled labors
- Loss of investment in education which leads to loss of revenue
- The development of the country will be impaired
- The healthcare system of developing countries is in disarray and the health of the population is suffering due to the outflow of healthcare professionals
- Fall in the standard of education in the home country due to inadequate professionals to handle the education sector. This eventually leads to poor academic performance among students in the long run.
- Leadership crisis in the country: One of the reasons why developing countries are ruled by ineffective leaders is those that who can provide effective leadership are no longer in the country
Developing countries must look at the causes and effects of brain drain to provide an enabling environment for their citizens to thrive. Furthermore, developing countries should provide world-class education and training opportunities, as well as opportunities for career advancement and employment so as to reduce the migratory flow.
