Post-graduation strategies for students from developing countries: exploring four developed countries in terms of brain drain/brain gain and brain circulation

he paper explores countries’ post-graduation policies and strategies for students from developing countries. Four European countries (Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) are examined with respect to specific instruments and overall policy packages encouraging a retention or return of students from developing countries. A qualitative design was used to thoroughly analyse these national policies and practices. Data was gathered by document analyses and interviews with relevant stakeholders/institutions. The paper thereby addresses a specific aspect of highly skilled migration: the mobility of international students. Industrialised countries are interested in international students as they are perceived as ‘designer immigrants’. Therefore they liberalise policies intending to attract and retain international students. Among this group, especially students from developing countries are of interest. The study assesses the effects of these national policies on the position of developing countries (sending countries) in terms of brain drain, brain gain and brain circulation. The analysis shows that the countries under study have no coherent post-graduation policies for students from developing countries in place. The issue of brain drain, brain gain and brain circulation is not on top of the policy agenda of receiving countries. Moreover, the results raise concerns of a brain drain situation for developing countries. Accordingly, receiving countries and policy makers could make improvements by taking a more conscious position with regard to their post-graduation strategies for students from developing countries. A more coherent set of policies would be desirable as well