Moving People and Knowledge: The Mobility of Scientists within the European Union Louise Ackers Centre for the study of Law and Policy in Europe, University of Leeds
Research Objectives Identify and understand the processes shaping the mobility of highly skilled scientists Evaluate their impact at two levels: Regional (within an enlarging EU) Individual (scientists and their families)
Language and Concepts Brain Drain Brain Circulation Brain waste / stagnation Internal and External Brain Drain Youth Drain
Research Lacuna Inadequate theorisation/conceptualisation of phenomenon Limited attention to relationship between gender/life-course and mobility Limited empirical focus on intra-eu flows/processes Tendency to focus on qualitative approaches fail to capture processes and impacts
Scoping Highly Skilled Migration Objectives: To identify key issues/variables shaping these processes and in particular their impact on regions and individuals To support evidence-based approaches to policy-making
The Volume and Geography of Flows Within an enlarged EU Identification of key locations/destinations Capture multi-directional nature of moves and move away from simplistic notions of clear dichotomy between sending and receiving regions In the process not to gloss over the issue of imbalance!
Characteristics of Scientific Migrants and Migration Processes Disciplinary and national differences in terms of the emphasis on the expectation of mobility Different labour market conditions Different career paths (approaches to progression) Motivational factors in science careers and impact on location decisions Salaries; autonomy; facilities; working conditions; attraction of centres of excellence Impact of life-course/gender - locking people into spaces
Conceptualising Skill and Knowledge Who is moving? Demographics / Gender Seniority/Level Undergraduate Doctoral Post-Doc Intermediate Senior research stars Quality/Excellence Brightest and best? Skimming or creaming off
The Quality and Relational Nature of Skills Where does the investment in training take place who pays? Where does expenditure take place? Over space and the life-course/career. How effective is it? Measuring Skill Scientific skills (qualifications) Cultural skills the work ethic and organisation of working time management and leadership skills Communications /language
Migration versus Mobility: The Temporal Quality of Moves How long are migration/return episodes? Increasing evidence of temporary mobility within EU and especially from CECs Impact of legal and policy frameworks (ERA/EAHE/enlargement) on fluidity length of stay? Improved access and decreased costs of travel Developments in communications technology enable work at a distance shuttle migrations?
How does this shape the impact of scientific migration? Relationship between temporality and location? Shape the knowledge transfer process and mitigate brain drain What contributes to stickiness how do people become locked into spaces What impact does life-course have on these processes? Are outcomes gendered?
Retention, Return and Re-Integration Retention Stay Rates - Key issue for receiving regions/institutions/research groups (legitimate concern given investment) Return Needs to be seen in context of total inflows ability to attract other foreigners in Volume and character of flows? Who is returning?
Re-Integration Value / contribution of return flows? Re-entry entry problems local labour markets; position blocking, resistance and stasis Ability to exercise skills (facilities; resources; relational nature of skills) Internal brain waste / under and un-employment Attraction of centres of excellence / emergence of new types of institute (outside HE?)
Flows of Financial capital Remittances Large flows in financial terms how much flows legally Do they benefit science or go into consumption? Are they used to support the education and training of the next generation???
Scientific Diasporas and Knowledge Transfer Meyer (2001) intellectual diaspora networks through a connectionist approach link diaspora members with their countries of origin, turning the brain drain into a brain gain Mahroum (2003) The fast growth of scientific diaspora.. can by itself act as a magnet Local talent seeking maximum career return find now an easier and greater access to international careers through their own diaspora Is it a way of banking human capital overseas?
Ex-patriate versus subject diaspora Has the diaspora debate missed something? Concepts of community nationality versus occupational? How do scientific networks function and how do they shape knowledge transfer processes? Implications not only for sending regions but also for receiving ones following return Do connections subvert excellence so it isn t necessarily the brightest and best but the connected? Is this gendered?
Conclusions? Evaluating the impact of scientific mobility on regions and individuals is highly complex and demands a careful and objective approach. Baláž and Williams - a total human capital approach I hope that this paper has taken the debate forward and begun to identify the parameters of a new research agenda capable of enhancing our understanding of scientific migration in an enlarging European Union and supporting sensitive and evidence-based policy making.