Abstract:

Many countries deal with the lack of qualified workforce caused by brain drain. It is auspicious to attract or retain such workforce already during studies. Currently, young people have considerable possibilities to study abroad, for example as part of the Erasmus program or directly obtaining a degree there. Consequently, it is essential to investigate what are the students’ priorities in their place of residence or how much willing they are to relocate. In case of timely findings followed by appropriate measures, there is a greater chance at retaining these qualified individuals in the future. The goal of this article is discovering important aspects in the university students’ place of residence. Next, their willingness to move and participate in the Erasmus program is examined. The article serves are a pilot study for future research and differences were explored among 74 university students. Czech students, which represent a majority in the research, come from UJEP, while the international students included study within the EU. The second group spends their entire studies abroad or they have an experience with the Erasmus program. Based on the paired t-test, the willingness to move after studies was assessed. The hypothesis that students want to relocate to a city larger than their present location was confirmed. A statistically significant difference in disposition to move between those who have an experience with mobility and those who do not was not revealed. Similarly, gender differences were not confirmed. Furthermore, important aspects in the place of residence were investigated based on the Friedman test. Economic aspects, which were presumed to be assessed as the most important by the students, shared in fact first places with Safety and Security, and the Access to Health Care. Finally, it was revealed that students who have experience with mobility are actually more satisfied in their place of residence. Current programs may thus create an ideal environment for brain drain, but at the same time they can serve as its prevention. Future research will focus on both Czech and international university students in the Czech Republic, who will be interviewed based on the same objective when it comes to questions. This pilot study provided valuable information: exposing the students’ doubts, the aspects which are indispensible from the offered selection and how students perceive mobility in general.

Keywords:

Brain drain, university students, mobility, Erasmus program.