Educational Migration as a Brain Drain: Curse or Boon for Pakistani Universities

Abstract

Migration of intellectuals and skilled population at a large scale has significant impacts on the development and progress of a nation. The increasing rate of migration of teachers, engineers, doctors, technicians from Pakistan to the developed world may have serious economic, social and educational implications. The main focus of the current study were to find out the magnitude and methods of brain drain from the Pakistani Universities. It also aimed at studying the causes and impacts of brain drain on the higher education institutions of Pakistan. It is a mixed method research with the use of survey questionnaire for the collection of quantitative data that was triangulated with indepth interview. 81 faculty members filled the questionnaire and three top level management members of Universities participated for the interview. Setting of the study was General HEC recognised higher education institutions (universities) functioning in Rawalpindi-Islamabad cities. The major conclusions of the study are that brain drain has positive as well as bleak effects on the intellectual, social, economic development of country as well as on higher education system of Pakistan. The majority of the younger faculty members with the designation of Assistant Professor are abroad and not joined their duties after the completion of their studies. There is a need of comprehensive policy to check the brain drain at national level and attract best brains to contribute for the development of knowledge economy.