To Return, or Not to Return, That is the Question

Abstract

My primary purpose in this study was to examine international Turkish students’ (active or recently graduated) decision to return or not to return to Turkey after their education at a state university in Midwest region of the United States of America. For data collection, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 international students. The findings of the study indicated that participants who decided to return home do so to transfer knowledge and technology to Turkey. On the other hand, the participants who decided not to return to Turkey aimed to have better economic living conditions, to live in a more peaceful living environment, and to have a career in a more professional working environment. As a result of the study, I suggested that Turkish Higher Education System combine an economic growth with a cherishing democratic environment to overcome brain drain.

Keywords

• Brain drain
• international Turkish students
• Turkish higher education system
• American higher education system