New research points to ‘Brain Gain’ opportunity
Date published:
New independent research has provided fresh insights into student and graduate mobility in Northern Ireland.
It suggests that local students are no more likely to leave their home region to study than their counterparts in Britain. Lower students fees in Northern Ireland compared to England and Wales may be a factor in retaining students locally.
However, the research identifies a greater challenge in attracting students from elsewhere to study in Northern Ireland – the ‘Brain Gain’.
Launching the research Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said:
“This research gives us a more comprehensive understanding of student flows into and out of the north. It highlights the opportunities presented by the Brain Gain and encourages us to focus more on attracting students here.
“We have internationally renowned universities and relatively lower living costs, so we have a strong pitch to students from outside this region.
“To attract more students we need to create more good jobs that offer well-paid careers here after graduation. We need the British Government to remove the new restrictions it has imposed on international students and we are asking the Irish Government to help fund the students we are welcoming from the south of Ireland."
The Minister concluded:
“My Department will now work with our universities, businesses, students and trade unions to create a Brain Gain for the north.”
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption: Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald is pictured at the launch of new independent ESRI research - Student mobility into and out of Northern Ireland: What brain drain? – with researchers Dr Anne Devlin, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Mrs Maureen O’Reilly (independent economist) and Dr Áine Doran, Ulster University (UU).
- The research ‘Student mobility into and out of Northern Ireland: What brain drain?’ can be found on the ESRI website.
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