Educational Aspirations and Brain Drain: A Study of Bangladeshi Undergraduate Students' Perspectives

Brain Drain among undergraduate students in Bangladesh has emerged as a phenomenon causing concerns over the capacity of the country to keep skilled talent. Identifying the motivations behind students choosing to study abroad will provide insights into the problems at hand. The purpose of this research is to understand Bangladeshi students’ perceptions of the local education system, educational opportunities abroad, the prospects of employability upon return and quality of life abroad. An online structured survey collected over 90 responses of students studying in various public and private universities. Qualitative and quantitative data were analyzed to show trends that emerged concerning students' educational and career choices. The research is expected to pinpoint the main reasons such as higher academic quality, more career opportunities and financial gain which make students prefer foreign universities even if those universities are ranked lower than their current universities. Bridging the local quality education gaps, increasing the research fund and coordinating academic programs with industry needs are the key steps to prevent brain drain. The Bangladeshi Government will benefit from having talented graduates working in the country in terms of economic growth and sustainability.