Romania. The Return of the Brains

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Romania. The Return of the Brains

• Monica Alexandru
• University of Bucharest

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Structure of the presentation

• Short outline of migration trends in Romania
• An appraisal highly skilled migration
• How to encourage the return and circulation of
  highly skilled migrants?

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Short outline of migration trends in Romania
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Romanias position in the migration system

• PRIMARY PROFILE origin country (circulatory
  labor migration for labor 4-6 adult population
  has worked abroad at least once after the 1990)
• 13 of the households have 1.5 members
  abroad-approximately 1 400 000 labor migrants
  (Source-CURS survey 2005)
• Main destinations Italy, Spain, Germany
• Emigration for good gradually dropped from 96929
  in 1990 to 10700 in 2003 (Source NIS)
• SECONDARY PROFILE transit and destination
  country (business immigrants, foreign students,
  economic migrants)

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Highly skilled migrants and mobility patterns

• ACADEMIC MOBILITY during the communist period, a
  very small number of people, especially
  descendants of the communist party elite was
  allowed to study in Western European universities
• At present, it accounts for a small share of
  circulatory migration
• During the early 90s, there was no strict
  control of academic mobility- some professionals
  left the country for good
• University of Bucharest the largest academic
  unity in Romania benefited from most
  international and national funds allocated for
  academic mobility
• Hard to estimate university programs, government
  supported scholarships but also individual
  mobility based on personal strategies
• PROFESSIONALS MOBILITY- especially IT engineers
  leave soon after graduation to US or Canada

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An appraisal of brain drain and brain circulation
in Romania
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Highly skilled emigration
Highly skilled migration increased from 6 in
1990 to 23 în 2003 (approximately 10 university
graduates in the total adult population) Source
NIS,1990-2003
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Occupational distribution of emigrants
Source NIS 1990-2003
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Migration purpose 15-30 years old population
Approximately 230583 persons between 15-30 years
studied abroad
Source CURS, 2006
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Awareness level and beneficiaries of EU funded
scholarships
Source CURS, 2006
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Youths migration intention
Source CURS, 2006
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Destination countries for educational purpose
Delta research, 2005
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Youths migration project
Delta research, 2005
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Age categories and migration project
Delta research, 2005
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Education and migration project
Delta research, 2005
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How to encourage the return and circulation of
highly skilled migrants?
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The return of the brains! How?

• Elimination of corruption, the old clique and
  a renewed political class. A better
  administration, a functional justice system,
  develop the economy and the social life.
• Integrate Romania in the EU and make the living
  standard similar to that in Western countries. It
  worked for other East European emigrants, who
  left Canada
• Tempting offers and advantages (tax exemption,
  priority in job search) for recently graduates to
  work in Romania. Advantageous offers for those
  who graduated abroad to come back at the end of
  their studies. Encourage people to start their
  own business in Romania
• Government programs for the development of SME.
  Government programs supporting young
  entrepreneurs. Government programs for tax
  reduction in critical domains (IT related, for
  example)
• Funding small research firms in high-tech and
  small companies that would innovate the high-tech
  field
• Recognition of the diploma/certificate granted
  abroad. Better opportunities on the labor market
  for those who studied abroad.
• There is also an urgent need of capital, foreign
  money to be invested hospitals, schools, streets
  are in desperate conditions.
• Source self-administered questionnaire results
  Anna Ferro study, Romanians email from abroad.
  A picture of the highly skilled labor migrants
  from Romania, 2004)

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Perceptions about brains migration rationales
Delta research, 2005
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What should the Government do?
Delta research, 2005
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Thank you!