Presentation of the Quantitative Research Results
Promotion of the results and findings of the research TRP 2019 “Brain circulation”
This week, as part of the results obtained through the quantitative part of the TRP 2019 research on the topic of brain circulation, we present the key factors that contribute to the decision-making process to leave Slovenia and immigrate abroad.
Respondents (N = 2.036) had around 30 factors available in the questionnaire, each of which they defined on a 5-level scale of importance. We also focused on the factors that drive employees in science and research from Slovenia and abroad, there were 140 such respondents. Below in each section, we emphasize the five most important factors that influence a particular decision.
Factors that significantly influence the decision to leave Slovenia
The five most important factors influencing the decision to leave Slovenia are:
- poor opportunities for professional and career development and advancement,
- poor job prospects,
- lack of satisfying challenges and opportunities for personal growth,
- poor working conditions and
- Negative Slovenian mentality.
Factors that significantly influence the decision of employees in scientific research to leave Slovenia
Respondents who are employed in scientific research believe that the five most important factors influencing the decision to leave Slovenia are:
- poor opportunities for research work,
- unstable financing conditions for scientific research activities in Slovenia,
- bad conditions for independent research work and the establishment of a research group,
- lack of suitable research infrastructure in Slovenia and
- devaluation and lack of reputation of scientific research work in Slovenia.
Factors that significantly influence the decision to immigrate to a foreign country
Respondents highlighted the five most important factors that influenced the decision to immigrate to a foreign country:
- good opportunities for professional and career development and advancement,
- good job opportunities,
- excellent working conditions,
- better opportunities for personal growth and
- an excellent reference for future residence abroad.
Factors that significantly influence the decision of employees in scientific research activities to immigrate to a foreign country
The five most important factors in scientific research activity that influenced the decision of respondents within this profession to immigrate to a foreign country:
- good opportunities for research work,
- suitable employment,
- more funds for research work,
- high reputation of scientific research work and
- the connection of the department with other top academic institutions.
Therefore, the respondents in Slovenia mainly lack suitable work opportunities, opportunities for development and suitable working conditions that would build on positive relationships and motivate employees. In the academic world, they also lack adequate funding of research work and the provision of appropriate conditions for their implementation. In search of better circumstances in these areas, they are leaving Slovenia and going abroad.
Mentioned findings were obtained within the framework of the TRP project “Brain Circulation,” which was carried out between November 1, 2019, and October 10, 2021. The project is partly financed by the Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) and the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport (MIZŠ). Participating research organizations were the ASEF Institute for Education and Research (ASEF) and the Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Slovenian Migration Institute (ZRC SAZU SMI), with Dr. Dejan Valentinčič as the project leader.
