“Brain drain” threatens European institutions
A new article on University World News explores the issue of imbalanced migration of scientists within academia in Europe.
Key takeaways
- According to the Scholarly Migration Database, many European cities lose scientists to the Northern countries, leading to a so-called “brain drain”
- Lublin in Poland, where one of the NBS4Drought showcases is located, also suffers from this pattern
- Several strategies, such as international collaborations and specialising in selected fields can help diminishing this issue
Many researchers are leaving their hometowns. Mónica Fernández Arias used to be one of them. She worked in Germany and the UK, before she ultimately came back to her hometown Vigo, a city in northwest Spain. It is not as easy to return for others. They have been gone for so long that their perception of home has already been altered, their new lives rooted elsewhere.
According to the Scholarly Migration Database, regions in Europe’s Nordic countries increasingly attract researchers. Besides some exceptions, southern regions deal with declines instead: Here, the number of scientists leaving is higher than the number of those received. This pattern is raising concerns in Europe’s academia. For implementing nature-based solutions effectively, projects like NBS4Drought rely on local scientific expertise, reliable long-term data and strong cooperations with local partners.
Competition among neighbouring cities and countries
Especially when neighbouring cities or countries display better opportunities, regions are likely to suffer. One example is Slovenia: Currently, about 21.000 Slovak students live in Czech Republic. In several Czech cities they can study under similar conditions with a higher living standard. They are possibly never coming back.
Competition is also an issue in Poland’s Lublin, which is close to the capital, Warsaw, and home to our partner University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Here, the proximity to Ukraine used to be perceived as a benefit. Due to the war, it transformed into a concern, making many researchers reluctant to work there and additionally supporting depopulation.
The Lublin region shares two transboundary UNESCO biosphere reserves with Ukraine. One of these, the Polesia National Park, is one of NBS4Drought’s showcases.
Strategies against depopulation
There are various strategies to address depopulation. Lublin, for example, has been designated as the European Capital of Culture for 2029, which likely provides various students and doctoral candidates with programmes and initiatives financed by the city. A Visiting Professors in Lublin programme further supports researchers to work in Lublin, although only for a short time.
Collaborating with other universities to offer “Double Degrees” is another strategy. Those programmes make universities appear more attractive to international students and foster stable academic partnerships, which are crucial for maintaining cross-regional cooperations.
A positive example for well applied strategies against depopulation is Finland, where selected research areas received most effort first. According to local scientists, areas like Vigo and Lublin might benefit from a similar approach.
