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"Should I stay or should I go?" Een onderzoek naar de veronderstelde uitstroom van hogeropgeleide jongeren uit Noordoost-Friesland.

Wagenaar, Dirkje (2014) "Should I stay or should I go?" Een onderzoek naar de veronderstelde uitstroom van hogeropgeleide jongeren uit Noordoost-Friesland.

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Abstract:In a specific region in the northern part of the Netherlands, Noordoost-Fryslân, it is assumed that all higher educated graduates leave the region after graduation, because there are few job opportunities for them. The prevailing assumption is that they all leave to the western part of the country (Randstad) because there are more (job) opportunities in this region for them. This ‘drain’ of ‘brains’ (brain drain) could cause negative effects in this region, and there are reasons to fear an intensification of this outflow in the near future. However, above assumptions have developed in the course of time, especially in political debates and are not founded on a scientific, objective ground. Therefore, in this study the migration patterns of higher educated graduates originally from Noordoost-Fryslân are investigated. The study uses an empirical cross-sectional design, with almost 300 respondents. Not only are their migration patterns investigated, but the factors that explain why someone leaves or stays in the original region are investigated as well. It appears that there is no mass outflow towards the Randstad, more than 75% stays in the northern part of the Netherlands, of which about 40% still lives in Noordoost-Fryslân. The strongest explaining factors if someone stays or leaves Noordoost-Fryslân are, where they lived during their study (in Noordoost-Fryslân or somewhere else) and if they were brought up bilingual (Frisian and Dutch). Respondents who lived somewhere else during their college of university time, mostly do not return to Noordoost-Fryslân. However, respondents who have stayed in Noordoost-Fryslân during their study will also remain living there after they have graduated. Another explaining factor is the language they are brought up with. The outflow of respondents, who have been brought up with the Frisian language (bilingual), is significantly lower than those who have been brought up with only the Dutch language. The Frisian language seems to create extra bonding with the region, which lowers the outflow of these respondents. Policy recommendations, based on the conclusions of this study, are in the first place about exploring and framing the brain drain, by the local governments. Is this brain drain really problematic, on what scale (provincial or regional), and which measures should be taken? Specific recommendations for Noordoost-Fryslân have been made, to the extent that local policy makers should invest more in making the region visible and attractive as a ‘living area’ for higher educated graduates instead of trying to pull higher educated companies to the region.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Clients:
Netwerk Noordoost, Burgum
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:88 social and public administration
Programme:Public Administration MSc (60020)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/64975
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