International mobility of German nationals with doctorates : a secondary analysis of the Kassel study on people with doctorates

Abstract

"The discussion about a reform of the promotion of junior academic staff is currently being fostered not least with regard to the attractiveness of the 'academic location of Germany' and the perception of a 'brain drain' of people with doctorates moving abroad. Against this background it is undoubtedly of interest to find out more about the extent of international mobility of people with doctorates, both within and outside the academic field, and their inclination to return to Germany, about specific characteristics of the internationally mobile and the influence of activity abroad on occupational success. The results of a written survey conducted among more than 2200 people with doctorates from six subjects and three graduation cohorts show that the extent of international mobility among people with doctorates is remarkable: depending on the subject, one in six, or more than one in four respondents had worked abroad after gaining their doctorates. It is also remarkable, however, that most of the activities of the people with doctorates who remained abroad were performed outside of higher education and the fields of research or development. According to our findings, experience gained or contacts made abroad before gaining the doctorate have an inspiring effect on the international mobility following a doctorate. A large proportion of those with doctorates return to Germany, however. Fears regarding an increasing emigration of people with doctorates are not confirmed according to the results of our comparative cohort analyses. What may be more serious, on the other hand, are qualitative effects, i.e. the fact the it is 'the best' who emigrate and possibly do not return, for which we find evidence in our results in some though not all of the subjects examined." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Enders, J. & Bornmann, L. (2002): Internationale Mobilität bundesdeutscher Promovierter. Eine Sekundäranalyse der Kasseler Promoviertenstudie. In: Mitteilungen aus der Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung, Vol. 35, No. 1, p. 60-73.