Education and Migration: A Challenge and an Opportunity

There is no reliable data on what percentage of emigres from Armenia, who left to pursue their education, stay abroad or on how many return home. However, research findings so far do suggest that the number of those staying abroad is quite high. It appears that the major reason for this is not simply the lure of an attractive salary and the availability of an affluent lifestyle as commonly thought. Reasons for “brain drain” vary.

For instance, the state annually educates thousands of specialists using taxpayers money. Later on it fails to attract these very alumni back into state institutions or at least make it clear that it needs them. On the other hand, for people having studied in the best universities abroad or even for those who have had significant experience in their own countries, entering the civil service is not always an acceptable option. Unfortunately, it is not the knowledge, skills and the experience a person has that determines their position in the state institution.