Brain Drain in Higher Education. Case of Kazakhstan

Lyazzat Kazkenova, BA

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The aim of the research is to define the main tendency of the brain drain process in Kazakhstan and reveal the main influencing factors for intellectual brain drain.The brain drain, as a process of social mobility and a global phenomenon, has attracted interest for decades. Intellectual migration has not lost its relevance, and moreover, acquires new features in a modern world. Due to the rapid development of globalization, the processes have incredibly grown and can even be perceived as a threat to the future and the economies of some countries.This paper is focused on the analysis of the tendencies of the educational brain drain processes in Kazakhstan, country with an increasing number of citizens leaving the country over the last 4 years. It is necessary to find out the main significant motives of young educated people to change their place of residence and employment. Over the past 2017, about 20 thousand people left the country. Recently, more students, both real and potential, are eager to leave Kazakhstan. The problem of brain drain has become one of the central themes discussed in Kazakh society. All the mentioned above caused interest in writing this work. According to the comprehensive analysis, the research represents the increasing level of intellectual migration from Kazakhstan, and the main incentives to leave the country (corruption, low wages, weak economic and social development) and return there (family, patriotism and language). Additionally the areas of future potential and areas which need to be improved were covered.

Keywords

brain drain, human capital, education, migration, student, university, Kazakhstan, development, government, employment

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 3. 4. 2018

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: Ing. Ladislav Pilař, MBA Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Economics and Management

Master programme / field:
Economics and Management / European Agrarian Diplomacy