Intellectual Migration of Ukrainians at the turn of the XX-XXI Centuries: the Magnitude and Main Characteristics of the Phenomenon

Abstract

The article analyzes the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the phenomenon of external intellectual migration of Ukrainian citizens during the period of its independence. On the basis of statistical data, the magnitude of the departure of Ukrainians abroad in the framework of the processes of scientific and educational migration is studied. The development of the national scientific sector, which is marked by a gradual decrease in the number of trained specialists, including due to migration phenomenon, is characterized. The dynamics of Ukraine's loss of scientific personnel - doctors and candidates of sciences, whoactively moved to other states since 1991 - are researched. Periodization of the processes of scientific migration from our state is offered on the basis of characteristic features and reasons. According to it, the emigration of Ukrainian scholars took place in four stages, the last of which characterizes migration movements in the XXI century. The branches of Ukrainian scientific sector, which suffered the most from the migration movement while losing their trained personnel in favor of other states, have been determined. The phenomenon of student migration, which is characterized primarily by the departure of the younger generation of Ukrainians for studying in other states, is analyzed. It is emphasized that this process, despite its scheduled temporary nature, very often becomes irreversible and leads to the loss of perspective human resources by our state. Separately, the processes of emigration of highly skilled specialists are considered on the example of representatives of the IT sphere. In order to create a forecast for the future of the phenomenon under investigation, the results of surveys of student youth are presented, which demonstrate the positive attitude of young Ukrainians towards the prospect of external migration. It is stated that large scale losses of intellectual potential and the impossibility of its reproduction because of the migratory preferences of young people form a challenging situation, which becomes an urgent threat to the stable development of the Ukrainian state.

Keywords: Intellectual migration, scientific migration, educational migration, brain circulation, scientific potential, student youth, scientific environment, highly skilled specialists, Ukraine