Brain drain awareness and its impact on the career decisions of final-year STEM Malaysian university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55573/JISED.118801Keywords:
Brain Drain Awareness, STEM Students, Career Decisions, Push-Pull Factors, High-skilled Migration, Talent RetentionAbstract
Brain drains awareness acts as a significant catalyst in the career-making decisions of final-year STEM students in Malaysia, often framing their professional outlook within a competitive global context. This research explores how students' understanding of high-skilled migration trends influences their intention to seek employment abroad versus remaining within the domestic market. By investigating the interplay between internal push factors and external pull factors, the study identifies that awareness of the brain drain phenomenon frequently validates students' perceptions of superior international prospects, including significantly higher salary benchmarks, advanced research infrastructure, and more transparent career development pathways found in developed nations. Conversely, domestic limitations such as laboratory resource gaps and perceived social injustice are highlighted as critical drivers that push talent toward emigration. This study employed an exploratory qualitative design with thematic analysis through focus group discussion and in-depth interviews. The findings revealed that participants viewed brain drain as the migration of highly skilled individuals seeking better career opportunities, higher salaries, stronger professional development, and improved working conditions abroad. The study highlights the importance of strengthening career development opportunities, research support, and workplace environments to enhance the retention of STEM talent in Malaysia.
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