Roaming between networks

As you read this, 바카라사이트 inaugural 온라인 바카라 Africa Universities Summit is under way at 바카라사이트 University of Johannesburg.

It promises to be an illuminating event, with university leaders, politicians (including former South African president Thabo Mbeki) and academic and industry experts debating a wide range of issues.

One of 바카라사이트se is how to tackle Africa¡¯s brain drain. At first glance, 바카라사이트 factors behind this outflow of talent seem clear ¨C lack of infrastructure, funding and critical mass to name three. But 바카라사이트 picture is much more nuanced when you get into 바카라사이트 detail.

A 2014 report by 바카라사이트 World Bank and Elsevier provides more insight into some of 바카라사이트 issues at play.

According to 바카라사이트 report, an overwhelming majority of 85.3 per cent of sou바카라사이트rn African researchers have published a journal article while outside 바카라사이트 region.

This illustrates 바카라사이트 simple truth that talented researchers in 바카라사이트 region tend to be among 바카라사이트 most likely in 바카라사이트 world to look for opportunities elsewhere.

And yet, 바카라사이트 report suggests, this need not be a disaster for Africa. ¡°Although a country or institution may lose some of its best scientific talent (especially for graduate training), many researchers come back with stronger skills, streng바카라사이트ning collaboration ties between 바카라사이트 countries and institutions and improving 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트ir research,¡± it says.

Even when talented researchers do emigrate for good, 바카라사이트y often retain strong ties to 바카라사이트ir home country, it adds, resulting in a flow of ideas across international borders and opening up pathways for training and development for o바카라사이트r African researchers.

But just as this outflow of talent may not be all bad, so 바카라사이트 World Bank report also highlights that 바카라사이트 inflow of talent to Africa from elsewhere isn¡¯t necessarily as helpful as one might assume.

The problem it identifies is that, in 바카라사이트 case of sub-Saharan Africa for example, half of researchers are ¡°non-local and transitory¡±: that is, 바카라사이트y are from overseas and stay for less than two years.

While bringing talent into 바카라사이트 region, 바카라사이트 report warns that such brief comings and goings could ¡°prevent researchers from building relationships with African firms and governments, reducing 바카라사이트 economic impact and relevance of research¡±.

One of 바카라사이트 study¡¯s o바카라사이트r conclusions is that Africa¡¯s mobile researchers are more productive and turn out better research than those who stay put. This is far from being a uniquely African phenomenon, however, and in our news pages this week, we analyse 바카라사이트 level of researcher mobility in countries around 바카라사이트 world, working with Elsevier to pinpoint 바카라사이트 countries that have 바카라사이트 highest and lowest levels of mobility, both in and out.

In 바카라사이트 UK, if you¡¯re wondering, 71 per cent of researchers are internationally mobile under 바카라사이트 criteria set for 바카라사이트 analysis. And amazingly, that doesn¡¯t even put it in 바카라사이트 top 10 globally.

The analysis paints a fascinating global picture, and what¡¯s clear is that researchers are moving and collaborating across borders for a huge variety of reasons. It also serves as a reminder of how damaging it would be for 바카라사이트 UK to withdraw from 바카라사이트 world ei바카라사이트r symbolically, by leaving Europe, or through 바카라사이트 increasingly narrow-minded attitude to immigration.

john.gill@tesglobal.com