Scientific and Engineering Brains of a Study Abroad
The real meaning of studying abroad is to develop the level of technology and knowledge of one’s motherland after studying the skills and knowledge of foreign countries. It is fair to say that the completion and development of universities in Europe in the Middle Ages were carried out by the passion of youngsters crossing the barriers of race and culture to study abroad. The same goes for the progress of a modern nation and for the growth of a modern society. It is true that how fast the advanced technology and information are actively accepted and applied to the development of the country works as significant motive power.
The scientific brains that graduate from universities in Korea and receive a doctorate in the United States are not coming back to Korea. This finding is a result of research on doctoral candidates by the American Science Foundation and analyzed by the Korean Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training. In 2004, 70% of the doctoral candidates did not return to Korea while 20 years ago, 50% remained in U.S. The number of people wanting to return to Korea is decreasing as time goes on. In other words, it only brought benefits to foreign countries, regardless of a lot of money spent on them.
The major reason they planned to remain in the US is the excellent work environment, which also implies that they are not treated well in Korea. Such inclination is also evident in the doctorates who have come back to Korea. Almost 40% wish to go back to the US due to the matter of treatment. 60% who studied abroad and who are employed in Korean private enterprises have stated that they are engaged in a lower level of work than their degree. They added that the research environment is poorly managed and that the work is not satisfying.
Some kind of government policy to induce the scientific brains to return to Korea is urgently needed. It should be remembered that if the work environment, as well as the research environment, is not improved, the existing work force will soon be lost. Recently, China has started to implement a national support strategy in order to attract foreign brains into the country. It is required that we should prepare the environment to properly accommodate our own ‘brains’ at least.
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 / 입력시간: 2006. 12.20. 08:22
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