The statements of a number of students who excelled in the 2021 baccalaureate, that they wish to continue their studies abroad, provoked varying reactions between rejecting this choice as the country needs its competencies, and supporting it, considering the lack of hope in Tunisia and the limitation of ambitions.

These statements opened the way to talk about brain drain, the migration of brains and talents towards developed countries in search of better living conditions that help develop and refine skills and a more stable social and political environment.

The modern era has known an increase in immigration from the countries of origin to the receiving countries, and it has taken various forms, ranging from irregular migration to the migration of competencies and brains.

Throughout history, the flows of migrants from the country of origin to the country have yielded numerous social, economic and cultural benefits, and have effectively contributed to the merging of civilizations and cultures. A large number of countries have emerged thanks to the mixing of races and ethnicities and the formation of a diverse society, the greatest example of which is the United States of America and the Latin American countries.

The Many Reasons for Emigration

The reasons for migration differ from one country to another, including those related to economic reasons in search of opportunities to work with suitable wages to obtain basic living requirements such as adequate food, adequate housing and a decent social level. It also aims to obtain better social services from educational facilities and opportunities. In addition to political reasons to escape from dictatorship, political persecution, or wars.

Others resort to emigration for psychological reasons related to the immigrant’s conditions and upbringing, as some do not feel they belong to their countries and that other countries suit their orientations, such as religious and ethnic minorities or people of different sexual orientation, who may be subjected to persecution, which leads them to search for more tolerant countries.

Study and education are also considered one of the most important reasons for emigration, as students who excel in study are motivated to search for international universities that provide specializations that are not available in their countries, and then settle in the new country.

A Form of Colonialism

Bechir Jouini, writer and researcher in international relations, confirmed in a statement to the JDD Tunisia website that the issue of brainpower migration is a long-discussed topic that represents a loss for the countries that built these talents and watched their formation and upbringing.

He pointed out that the countries that receive talent must provide support to the countries of the South, considering that their benefit was doubled during the colonial period and also during the post-independence period, saying that “brain drain is another form of colonialism and excessive exploitation of peoples.”

He also stated that the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, recently organized a training course in Tunisia that falls within the “Borders” program that was launched last year, and the course was held for the second time in a row in Tunisia because they found good potential and a group of enthusiastic young people who have a special interest in migration in all fields and destinations.

He added, “a week of training, dialogue, exchange of views and hard work ended with the completion of short documentary films that are important from a technical and content point of view, which will be shown later.”

Human and Tragic Dimensions

Between 150 and 200 thousand immigrants arrive in the European continent annually, most of them from the African continent, which raises the question about who these immigrants are and the reasons for their desire to emigrate.

In a study it conducted in 2020 on irregular African migrants, the United Nations Development Program notes that the average age of migrants is only 24, the majority of them are male, with more than 85 percent of those coming from urban areas in Africa.

The study revealed that immigrants are of higher educational levels than their peers who do not think about emigrating and they either had work in their home country or are still studying and learning and that increased education has greatly expanded the individual’s horizons and aspirations, given that many of them have secure and regular jobs.

The study concluded that the people who come to Europe are those who earn better than the average population in their home countries and who have a relatively high level.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR