Brain drain, education system, and national power: Mapping future agenda

Brain drain is a widespread problem, particularly in developing nations. Many countries link the challenges associated with brain drain to issues within the education system, economic conditions, and political stability. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the impact and consequences of brain drain on national power. Brain drain is closely tied to national power as it involves the human capital necessary to enhance a country’s capabilities for national development and sovereignty. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the push and pull factors of brain drain and to explore the link between education systems and their implications for national power. This research utilises a systematic literature and bibliometric review approach to understand brain drain in current literature comprehensively. Two thousand three hundred seventy (2370) studies in the Scopus database were analysed using VOSviewer, and 33 articles were selected to gain insights into brain drain’s push and pull factors. Factors such as education, political stability, career opportunities, social norms, quality of life, and access to advanced research and technology are significant reasons of brain drain. Additionally, this study also discusses its limitations and future directions. Penghijrahan bakat adalah masalah yang meluas, terutamanya di negara-negara membangun. Banyak negara mengaitkan cabaran berkaitan penghijrahan bakat dengan isu-isu dalam sistem pendidikan negara, keadaan ekonomi, dan kestabilan politik. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat kekurangan penyelidikan komprehensif berkaitan impak dan akibat penghijrahan bakat ini terhadap kuasa nasional. Pengaliran keluar pakar berkait rapat dengan kuasa nasional kerana ia melibatkan modal insan yang diperlukan untuk meningkatkan keupayaan pembangunan nasional dan kedaulatan negara. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji faktor-faktor tolakan dan tarikan penghijrahan bakat dan untuk meneroka hubungan antara sistem pendidikan dan implikasinya terhadap kuasa nasional. Penyelidikan ini menggunakan pendekatan sorotan literatur sistematik dan bibliometrik untuk memahami penghijrahan bakat dalam literatur semasa secara menyeluruh. Dua ribu tiga ratus tujuh puluh (2370) kajian dalam pangkalan data Scopus dianalisis menggunakan VOSviewer, dan 33 artikel dipilih untuk mendapatkan pandangan mendalam mengenai faktor-faktor tolakan dan tarikan pengaliran keluar pakar. Faktor-faktor seperti pendidikan, kestabilan politik, peluang kerjaya, norma sosial, kualiti hidup, dan akses kepada penyelidikan dan teknologi maju adalah penting dalam memahami mengapa pakar berhijrah. Selain itu, kajian ini juga membincangkan limitasi penyelidikan dan arah kajian masa depan.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Interdisciplinary and Strategic Studies
Published
2025-05-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.47548/ijistra.2025.92
Primary Topic
Global Educational Policies and Reforms
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Brain drain, education system, and national power: Mapping future agenda

Rahimah Jurij, Sarifah Nurhanum Syed Sahuri
International Journal of Interdisciplinary and Strategic Studies
Global Educational Policies and Reforms
article

Brain drain, education system, and national power: Mapping future agenda

Rahimah Jurij, Sarifah Nurhanum Syed Sahuri
article en

Abstract

Brain drain is a widespread problem, particularly in developing nations. Many countries link the challenges associated with brain drain to issues within the education system, economic conditions, and political stability. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the impact and consequences of brain drain on national power. Brain drain is closely tied to national power as it involves the human capital necessary to enhance a country’s capabilities for national development and sovereignty. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the push and pull factors of brain drain and to explore the link between education systems and their implications for national power. This research utilises a systematic literature and bibliometric review approach to understand brain drain in current literature comprehensively. Two thousand three hundred seventy (2370) studies in the Scopus database were analysed using VOSviewer, and 33 articles were selected to gain insights into brain drain’s push and pull factors. Factors such as education, political stability, career opportunities, social norms, quality of life, and access to advanced research and technology are significant reasons of brain drain. Additionally, this study also discusses its limitations and future directions. Penghijrahan bakat adalah masalah yang meluas, terutamanya di negara-negara membangun. Banyak negara mengaitkan cabaran berkaitan penghijrahan bakat dengan isu-isu dalam sistem pendidikan negara, keadaan ekonomi, dan kestabilan politik. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat kekurangan penyelidikan komprehensif berkaitan impak dan akibat penghijrahan bakat ini terhadap kuasa nasional. Pengaliran keluar pakar berkait rapat dengan kuasa nasional kerana ia melibatkan modal insan yang diperlukan untuk meningkatkan keupayaan pembangunan nasional dan kedaulatan negara. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji faktor-faktor tolakan dan tarikan penghijrahan bakat dan untuk meneroka hubungan antara sistem pendidikan dan implikasinya terhadap kuasa nasional. Penyelidikan ini menggunakan pendekatan sorotan literatur sistematik dan bibliometrik untuk memahami penghijrahan bakat dalam literatur semasa secara menyeluruh. Dua ribu tiga ratus tujuh puluh (2370) kajian dalam pangkalan data Scopus dianalisis menggunakan VOSviewer, dan 33 artikel dipilih untuk mendapatkan pandangan mendalam mengenai faktor-faktor tolakan dan tarikan pengaliran keluar pakar. Faktor-faktor seperti pendidikan, kestabilan politik, peluang kerjaya, norma sosial, kualiti hidup, dan akses kepada penyelidikan dan teknologi maju adalah penting dalam memahami mengapa pakar berhijrah. Selain itu, kajian ini juga membincangkan limitasi penyelidikan dan arah kajian masa depan.

International Journal of Interdisciplinary and Strategic StudiesVol. 6(10)
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (MY), Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (MY)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
Openalex Percentile: Top 86%
Global Educational Policies and Reforms
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