Research of Experience of Emigration for Employment and Education Purposes of Students

Abstract

The scale of emigration of the Lithuanian population is among the highest in the EU, the number of residents in the country, including children and youth under 15 years of age departing with adults, shows a decreasing trend, but the emigration of students of higher education institutions is especially alarming. The growing emigration flows to the countries with developed economies are associated with the disbalance of labour force between the supply and demand of labour in the countries of different economic development. Unemployment, difference in wages and the standard of living are among the most significant economic factors determining emigration and involving the increasing number of young people, in particular the students of higher education institutions, into this process.

Even though Lithuania attempts to solve the problem of departure of the students of higher education institutions from the country in the political context, it remains a significant and relevant topic in the context of social development of the country due to its complex and dynamic type. Furthermore, the research of emigration of the students in the domain of Lithuanian research is not sufficient with regard to the reasons and motives behind the behaviour of the youth, the attitudes or plans in terms of emigration. Therefore, the authors of the article attempt to answer the following problematic questions: What is the purpose of emigration from Lithuania among the students of higher education institutions? What factors determine the departure of the students of higher education institutions to the selected destination countries?

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.26.2.3863