Brain Gain” Policies in the Western Balkans
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CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND POLICY MAKING! APRIL 2010 DEVELOPING “BRAIN GAIN” POLICIES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS Anastas Vangeli, Nedzad Mehmedovic, Bashkim Bakiu National Report: Macedonia Introduction proceeding the year of the study. Brain Drain in However, there is no policy in place to Macedonia address the brain drain or any research on the clear extent of the brain drain.” Scope CONTENTS One large-scale survey on the Brain drain has been pointed as a aspirations of young people in crucial problem for the Macedonian BRAIN DRAIN IN Macedonia conducted in 2006 (FES/ MACEDONIA economy in many reports and papers. IDSCS 2006) says that “the majority of Scope and Factors Vedran Horvat (2004) has portrayed the young people surveyed express a Macedonia as a case where: “brain drain desire for permanent relocation”. EXISTING FRAMEWORKS is signicant, where there is little Furthermore, the survey comes up with Review of the existing policies, awareness that a problem exists, and disturbing ndings, such as the one programmes and strategies on where almost no research has been that:“42.6% of the young people who are European and national level carried out in order to examine what planning to emigrate would leave the impact political instability has on highly country for good (...) Young people in the Q&A skilled labour migration out of the Republic of Macedonia perceive the Identifying and interviewing the country. There are at present no policies same problems as other parts of the stakeholders in the eld which could reverse the adverse effects of population, but the responses indicate this exodus, and according to the that they place more emphasis on certain EFFECTS available data, there are no signs of any problems and needs. The main problem Are there any? measures planned for the future.” The they report is unemployment. Young data provided by the World Bank (2005) people who should become part of the GAPS AND CHALLENGES points to the fact that the emigration rate What is needed for proper workforce certainly don't want to join the of tertiary educated is 20,9%. In development of adequate ranks of the unemployed, or, on the previous studies conducted by the CRPM other hand, to work for low salaries or at policies? (2007), it was argued that brain drain is unsatisfying employment. That is the “one of the biggest problems of the reason why some of them want to leave RECOMMENDATIONS country, linked with loss of investments in Description and interviews with the country in the search for a more human capital, creative work force, etc” . stake-holders in the eld secure future. (...)”. The IOM Country Prole for Macedonia (2007) says that “over the Factors FURTHER WORK past decade, (...) Macedonia, like most of As Margareta Nikolovska (2004) Summary of the National Round its neighbors in South East Europe, has argues, the bad conditions of the Table and Suggestions for further suffered from brain drain, with a strong Macedonian economy have induced a work decline in the number of researchers spiral of brain-drain: “One of the most throughout the 1990s. Between 1995 and signicant factors for emigration from the 2000, for example, the number of FYR of Macedonia was and still is the scientists and engineers in research and very high level of unemployment. (...) On development has decreased by over the whole, the labour market in the FYR seventy percent (from 1,332.7 per million of Macedonia has experienced a long- people to only 387.2). A 2003 study lasting period of unfavorable conditions. estimated that between 12 to 15,000 During the transition from one socio- young, educated, and highly skilled economic system to another, persons left the country in the decade unemployment reached its peak and DEVELOPING BRAIN GAIN POLICIES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: MACEDONIA! 1 CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND POLICY MAKING! APRIL 2010 went through signicant structural common perception that “the West steals universities such as London School of changes. Unemployment in the FYR of our young minds”, and along with that, Economics, or Cambridge University Macedonia is one of the greatest diminishes the hope for a better future. have had their diplomas recognized, economic and social problems, which Besides the socio-economic factors, although many after up to 12 months began at the start of the transition period however, it should not be omitted that long procedure.” Nonetheless, in 2008 a and has deteriorated over the last few there are other “push” factors in the new Law on the Higher Education has years. (...) [D]ue to insufcient economic country. As Horvat (2004) puts it, the been enacted which is supposed to development, chances of eventual problematic democratization process is signicantly enhance the recognition employment are still small. Because of also a factor that motivates highly procedure, that is supposed to last around this, many graduates emigrate, educated individuals to leave. Other than 20 days. representing the loss of important that, the general lack of capacity of the However, the practice seems to be development resources. (...) If we take system to deal with the generic needs of not very efcient. The procedure still fully into account the high numbers of people the citizens is more than demotivating. depends on the actions of Minister of with primary and secondary education in When we are talking about brain Education himself. The risks of the total number of the unemployed, gain, and especially about the possible downgrading the diploma, the which together comprise about 85 return of highly skilled individuals to problematic recognition of diplomas of percent, the situation may be considered Macedonia, there are other factors that interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and as highly unfavorable The most serious have to be taken in account. For instance, specialized studies and the expensive situation is that of youth unemployment. one extremely de-motivational factor for procedure are still factors that make the (...) The signicant presence of unused, Macedonians that have graduated from process a difcult one. younger, skilled labour serves not only as universities abroad to return home are The inability of the ofcial a limiting factor to the growth of the the complicated, by many described as institutions to properly recognize certain Macedonian economy, but is also the “Kafkaesque” procedures for recognition specialties also corresponds with the main reason for the unwillingness of of foreign diplomas, which are also quite reality of the Macedonian labour market, young people to get married and have expensive with regards to the living where certain qualications (such as children. This results in unfavorable standard in the country. As a study by the advanced science, interdisciplinary social demographic developments, and forces CRPM has revealed: “(...) In order to science or advanced research) are simply people to work and live abroad. In validate a diploma earned abroad not demanded and there is no room for circumstances such as those described Macedonian universities often ask the people of such background to develop above, the idea of migrating abroad is candidates to rewrite their theses, or take their careers. That has been especially the very attractive among the unemployed, additional exams. If the academic case with the social sciences, where especially among those with higher standards at the local department are according to a study of the CRPM education who have been waiting for a different than those at the graduate (2008) , the situation is far from job for a long period of time. The young school one studied abroad, there is a risk promising. The Macedonian social higher educated people and professionals that your diploma might be downgraded. science sector has a very low capacity and who already have a job, but are not (...) A special problem is the recognition can not be benecial for eventual satised with their wages, including of diplomas of multidisciplinary or returnees that want to get involved in young scientists and students who are interdisciplinary studies. (...) In fact, many research work: “the number of research close to nishing their education, Macedonian students educated abroad projects conducted (i.e. nanced) in the represent a large group of potential have problems with the recognition of social science sector is among the lowest. Macedonian emigrants.” their higher education diplomas once This may mean that the social science Partially due to the better socio- they return to their home country. Based topics are not considered a public economic conditions, the developed on an independent research and a interest, or that these researchers more countries, in the rst place the ones from questionnaire that was circulated among frequently tend to nance their projects the EU, but also the US, Canada and Macedonian students that have on their own (since they typically cost less Australia attract highly-skilled migrants graduated abroad, the Center for then the ones in technical, technological from Macedonia. The salaries, the Research and Policy Making has and medical sciences). Also, the existing working facilities and the possibilities for identied different problems that our structures (although in place) career advancement in these areas are students face validating recognizing their insufciently promote and encourage much higher than they are in Macedonia. diplomas by the Macedonian institutions. social science research, which causes As well, the tendency is that the entrance (...) About 70% of these (interviewed) Macedonia to be poorly represented in in the European Union is signicantly students have not even tried to apply for the international social science research easier for highly skilled workers and for recognition of their diploma, 20% still networks (...) This situation has the prospective students, rather than for waiting for a response by the Ministry of danger of affecting the quality of the older, not very skilled workers and part- Education. Only 10% of these research conducted, because the time “Geistarbeiters”.