Brain-gain

Context
 Effects
• Massive migration of young educated
people, from the most sought after fields,
has been one of the most alarming
problems that the Republic of Serbia has
had to face in the last 15 years – this
problem persists even today. Intent to
emigrate is especially prevalent amongst
young researchers and students entering
their last year of studies.
 Cause
• Factors that affect the decision making
process to emigrate on the part of these
experts are, amongst others, low
standards of living, decreased opportunity
for continued research, the attainment of
practical experience in accordance with
the world’s – up-to-date – technological
and scientific advancements, and
unemployment.
 Rough Statistics
• The information that the Educated forum
has collected, with the assistance of
UNICEF and UNESCO, shows that, in the
past decade, Serbia and Montenegro have
lost more than one half of a million young
people, mostly highly skilled, who came
under the belief that their lives would be
better served abroad – mostly in Western
Europe and the United States of America.
 Brain-drain and its effects
• A brain drain or human capital flight is an
emigration of trained and talented individuals
("human capital") to other nations or
jurisdictions, due to conflicts, lack of opportunity,
health hazards where they are living or other
reasons.
• It can lead towards technological dependence,
reduction of business growth, poverty, and to the
potential destabilization of the entire region.
 Common Interests…
• Therefore it is in the interest of all states that the
migration of experts and highly educated
persons be maintained under optimal measures.
• The building of ties between the Republic of
Serbia and its experts abroad, both for the
reasons of partnership and their eventual return
to the motherland, is one of the Republic of
Serbia’s primary concerns.
 Common Interests
• In addition, this relationship between the
Republic of Serbia and its diaspora would have
a twofold effect in that it would also, through the
absorption of knowledge gained abroad by its
experts, provide the Republic of Serbia with a
clearer understanding of the standards and
methods employed by the European Union and
the world, and thus bring the two closer in their
cooperation and technological advancement.
 Ties with the motherland
• Research done by the International
Institute of Politics and Economics has
shown that the majority of the Republic of
Serbia’s experts who emigrated are
prepared to return back to the Republic of
Serbia, but only through republic’s
initiative.
 Possible course of action
• Researchers from the Institute explain the
possible steps towards a realization of this
return: experts from abroad could participate in
the local educational process; the most
outstanding of them could be given the
opportunity to teach full-time at a university in
the Republic of Serbia; engagement towards
work on scientific and research projects; as
needed, work for government institutions; use of
expert knowledge gained abroad for the
fulfillment of international scientific and
technological collaboration, etc.
Strategic and Legal
Background
 Ministry for Diaspora
• The Ministry of Diaspora has been given the
task, as prescribed by the laws governing the
ministries of the Republic of Serbia, of
completing and fulfilling government policy
pertaining to the creation of the means for the
reintegration of persons who have emigrated
from the Republic of Serbia, those persons of
Serbian descent living abroad, citizens of the
Republic of Serbia living abroad.
• This process would assume full reintegration of
said persons in the ways of life in all aspects:
political, economic and cultural.
 Serbia’s Politics
• The political stance of the Republic of Serbia
towards its diaspora is contained within the
Exposé of the Prime Minister – as written during
the formation of the government of the Republic
of Serbia on May 15th, 2007. In the period
succeeding this stance will be especially
strengthened towards the segment of Serbia’s
diaspora that is comprised of younger educated
generations, successful professionals – within
their given fields, scientists, experts, and
academic workers.
 Concrete Plans
• The planning of concrete action, on the part of
the government of the Republic of Serbia, will be
focused on those persons living abroad, for both
work and study reasons, but who intend on
returning or investing into the Republic of Serbia.
• In that segment, the program and activities of
the government of the Republic of Serbia will be
concentrated towards the creation of the
necessary conditions that would promote return,
employment, and the exchange of knowledge
and ideas.
 Republic of Serbia and the
European Union…
• The Republic of Serbia’s strategy towards its
approach of the European Union has been
expressed through a few strategic documents:
The national strategy towards an approach to
the European Union; which focuses on
employment, research, development, and its
fight against unemployment.
• In this strategy an emphasis has been placed
towards the revitalization of science-research
capacities, promotion of innovation within
society, and the creation of a basic infrastructure
that would promote innovation in general.
 Republic of Serbia and the
European Union
• This would promote the Republic of Serbia
in its goal towards greater cooperation and
integration with the European Union. The
national strategy towards business
development of the Republic of Serbia
between the years 2006 and 2012 points
towards the need of a stable and efficient
market system, competition, investment
towards labor, and education and research
for the purpose of future development.
 Regional Development Goals
• The strategy of regional development of the Republic of
Serbia for the period between the years 2007 and 2012
has the goal of the creation of a competitive market
economy and the increase of the technological
capabilities of business, which could be attained through
the introduction of technological advancements and the
introduction, and enforcement, of international
standards.
• Considerable contribution to these processes could be
given by the potential returning workforce of Serbian
experts, researchers, and skilled workers.
Project Goals
 General Goals
• Development and enrichment of scientific-research
activities in the Republic of Serbia, especially in the
fields of informatics, medicine, and modern
technologies, through the return of experts,
researchers, and skilled workers.
• Development of business relations in all sectors of the
economy and the banking system through the
dissemination of expertise, as well as good practice,
gained abroad from developed world markets.
• Long-term goal in the reduction of Serbia’s brain-drain
through the establishment of the means for continuing
studies and research.
 Special Goals
• Facilitation of the return of the expert and
highly educated persons from Serbia’s
diaspora.
• Strengthening of science-research
institutions through the return and
employment of highly educated persons
and experts from Serbia’s diaspora.
Expected Results
• Creation of the means for the exchange
of information on available and sought
after job offers in the Republic of Serbia.
• Creation of the return program.
• Secured support for the return and
employment of 50 highly educated
persons and experts from Serbia’s
diaspora – as the “Pilot” project.
Planned Activities
• Creation of the necessary informational and
telecommunication requirements for the
fulfillment and functioning of the project.
• Media coverage of the return of highly
educated persons and experts from Serbia’s
diaspora.
• Identification of the interested employers and
other potentially interested parties (National
Bureau of Employment).
• Creation of clear criteria on the issue of
education as a return prerequisite.
• Organization and execution of the return
and employment of 50 highly educated
persons and experts from Serbia’s
diaspora.
• Financial support for the return of 50
highly educated persons and experts
from Serbia’s diaspora on part of the
Republic of Serbia, with the assistance of
the Ministry for Diaspora and other
interested institutions.
• Project Worth: €980,000.00