Post-Graduation Strategies for Students from Developing Countries: An Exploration of four Developed Countries through the Lenses of Brain Drain, Brain Gain and Brain Circulation

This study addresses the increasing global student mobility by means of exploring the post-graduation strategies that developed countries have in place for students from developing countries. Four European countries are selected, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. They are closer investigated in terms of specific instruments and overall policy packages they use to encourage a retention or return of students. This study tries to examine the impact of their national policies on developing countries by using the concepts of brain drain, brain gain and brain circulation. Mathematical calculations are left apart, however. Although the countries under study reflect differences with regard to the used instruments, the general tenor reveals no full covering policies after post-graduation. The issue of brain drain, brain gain and brain circulation is not high on the agenda, leading to concerns of a brain drain situation for developing countries. The investigated countries could make improvements and take a more conscious position with regard to their post-graduation strategies for students from developing countries