Developing human capital and research capacity: Science policies promoting brain gain (original) (raw)

New orientation of human resources policies in Science and Technology (s&t): from brain drain to brain circulation and talent

Papeles De Poblacion, 2014

How to cite Complete issue More information about this article Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Scientific Information System Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative 113 octubre/diciembre 2014 New orientation of human resources policies in S&T: from brain drain to brian circulation... /A. M. GONZÁLEZ-RAMOS * Acknowledgements This research has been funded by the Spanish National R&D Plan (CSO2009-09003) and the Ministry of Education and Science (EA2008-0153). I would like to express our great appreciation to all the participants and institutions interviewed.

Too many PhDs? An invalid argument for countries developing their scientific and academic systems: The case of Portugal

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2016

This article contradicts recent arguments in Portugal that there are "too many PhDs" and argues that there is a need to understand better the changing nature of doctorates and doctorate holders. The article analyzes whether there is a surplus of doctorate holders in Portugal based on five critical dimensions, using data provided by supranational and national public organizations: stocks and flows; university academic staff qualifications; age structure; research output; and labor market for PhDs. The analysis shows that rather than a surplus, there is a shortage of doctorate holders in many sectors of activity, which is expected to be exacerbated in the next few decades. These findings underline the need to consider active public policies to attract and retain PhDs, as well as enhancing the degree of involvement of new doctorate holders in the modernization of higher education and in the internationalization of the economy. Intermediary institutions, public-private research partnerships and public administration may play a critical role in the process but require new economic actors and instruments with the capacity to invest in and employ doctorate holders.

Sharing scientific development as an alternative to the brain drain

Science and Engineering Ethics, 2002

What kind of scientific cooperation is Europe willing to offer to Southern countries during the 21st century? The prevalent type since the emergence of the new independent states consisted on the one hand in sending academics in order to help in building new universities, and on the other hand in training young students in Europe who supposedly would return to their countries and contribute to their development. That type has achieved its historical part and is no longer relevant. Not that human exchanges have become obsolete; they still are and will remain the essential means for any scientific cooperation. But world development has evolved in a way that the most pessimistic would not have expected back in the early sixties. The gap between North and South has been widening dramatically and once the liberation euphoria has died down, the emerging universities-some of them excellent-have rapidly been faced with huge numbers of students and the lack of means, which led them to take on the role of training centres at the expense of scientific development. Simultaneously, the human fluxes from North to South have decreased while changing. Long stays of young faculty researchers aimed at contributing to the setting up of new structures have given way to experts' short visits. Amongst the relevant reasons, let us cite the needs evolution, the cuts in cooperation funding, the sometimes unstable situation in several countries-which may dampen the most enthusiastic-and finally the backlash of isolationism, in the liberalism triumph trail of the eighties, under new names such as "afro-pessimism", etc. At the same time, the demands in South to North fluxes have also evolved, towards technological training and doctoral studies. This seems to raise no concern since it fits the developing countries' needs ... Except that it also fits those of the richer ones, whose economies are able-and eagerto hire, regardless of their nationality, any bright students graduating from their Universities. The cooperation instruments are therefore turned into a huge landing net, Sharing scientific development as an alternative to the brain drain* Mohamed Jaoua,ENIT-LAMSIN, Tun s a * Text of a contribution presented at the meeting on "European scientific community: toward fair play practices'" held in UNESCO,

Science and Technology in Portugal from late awakening to the challenge of knowledge integrated communities

The evolution over time of science and technology (S&T) in Portugal and its impact on modernising higher education are analysed taking account of the relationship between knowledge diffusion and the development of Portuguese society in a world grown increasingly globalised. Three crucial aspects are underlined: (1) the scale of the system and the need for continued public support for the advanced training of human resources through R&D; (2) the need to diversify, differentiating the role of public and private funding for science, whilst preserving the integrity of research institutions; (3) the recognition that S&T requires both stability and the ongoing commitment of people and institutions. In recent years, of OECD Member States, Portugal showed one of the highest S&T growth rates. In 2009, related investment reached 1.71% of GDP as against just 0.8% in 2005 and less than 0.4% in late 1980s. If further sustainability and maturity are to be achieved as too, an effective socioeconomic impact, Portugal needs to maintain its S&T investment. Strengthening linkages between S&T and higher education is critical to the latter’s continued modernisation.

Shifting From Academic 'Brain Drain'to 'Brain Gain' In Europe

2010

Many researchers trained in Europe leave to work abroad, particularly in the USA. This brain drain phenomenon is the result of a lack of openness and competition in European academic systems. Some changes relating to the mobility of academic careers could make a difference in attracting – and maintaining – researchers, apart from serious structural reform. Performance-related salary policies, as well as proper working conditions, are key incentives to attract researchers. To some extent, efficient post-doctoral programmes and gender-equity policies should be considered too.

The configuration of the Brazilian scientific field

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, 2014

This article describes the configuration of the scientific field in Brazil, characterizing the scientific communities in every major area of knowledge in terms of installed capacity, ability to train new researchers, and capacity for academic production. Empirical data from several sources of information are used to characterize the different communities. Articulating the theoretical contributions of Pierre Bourdieu, Ludwik Fleck, and Thomas Kuhn, the following types of capital are analyzed for each community: social capital (scientific prestige), symbolic capital (dominant paradigm), political capital (leadership in S & T policy), and economic capital (resources). Scientific prestige is analyzed by taking into account the volume of production, activity index, citations, and other indicators. To characterize symbolic capital, the dominant paradigms that distinguish the natural sciences, the humanities, applied sciences, and technology development are analyzed theoretically. Political capital is measured by presidency in one of the main agencies in the S & T national system, and research resources and fellowships define the economic capital. The article discusses the composition of these different types of capital and their correspondence to structural capacities in various communities with the aim of describing the configuration of the Brazilian scientific field.