Brain Gain Network: A proposal e-govemance model to

convert the brain drain into brain gain

Md. Muntasir Mamun Joarder
Software Engineer, Dohatec New Media,
House # 60, Road SA, Dhanmondi WA, Dhaka-1209. Bangladesh
Email: svo97-12@hotmail.com

Abstract: It is observed that, the scientisfs. engineers and are described. Here in this section definition, causes ~

the highly educated and qualified scholars of the problems etc of brain drain are described. Section 3
developing countries are migrating in the developed describes the model and the govemance policy of
countries from their motherland. They appear as human proposed brain gain network in detail. In section 4 the
resources educated. trained through profissional pracfice positive effects of the proposed brain gain network are
and employed in much better conditions thon those the described.
country af their origin could have provided to them. If
such a counfry were able to use these resources largely 2. BRAIN DRAIN
shaped through others investments. it would gain a lor. In
this paper an e-governance model is presented to conven 2.1. What is brain drsin ?
fhis brain drain info gain by tracking and maintaining
these diversified brains of a developing country so that the Brain drain is the important species of the entire
migrated scholars get the oppor!uni@ to serve their genus of brain migration from LDCs (Low Developed
motherland remaining in remote from their counrry of Countries). The term “Brain Drain” is a loaded and
origin. A governance palicy is also proposed, in this paper, pejorative, suggestive of loss of vital resources, without
so that the government of a L D C (Low Developed compensation (Adaars, 1968). It is one way permanent
Country) can successfully and efficiently maintain this migration of skilled-people mostly from LDCs to DCs. In
netkwork to achieve maximum gain. easy words, brain drain is the process of intellectual or
professional resource of a country through immigration.
Keywordp: Brain drain. e-government. brain gain network
2.2. Causes of brain drain
1. INTRODUCTION
The causes:of brain drain are oflen seen in a bi-
The SESTAT database of the National Science polar model of “@lis" exerted by the immigration
Foundation (NSF) shows that in 1995, 1.434 million countries and “push” exerted factors operating in the
people (12%) out of the 12 million people who have emigration countries, in which differentials between the
science and engineering degrees or who work in science two determine the docision of the individual who migrates.
and engineering occupations in the U.S.A., are of foreign The pushes are depressing characteristics in the country of
origin[l]. Over 72% of these were originally born in a the origin, which produces emigration. O n the other hand,
developing country. When looking at the level of pull factors are the.’attracting feaNres in the country of
qualifications, it appears. that the higher the diploma the destination, which induce immigration. The push-pull
bigger -the propoltion of the foreign-born population[ I]. approach can give an important insight into the analysis of
These figures focus one thing that the highly educated brain migration [Z].Some of the important push and pull
scholars of developing countries are consuming their factors (as listed in Economics of Brain Migration’ by
brains for developed countries. And in most of the cases Ghosh and Ghosh, 1982). involved in brain migration
they are not renvning back to their motherland. They have from LDCs are given below:
often settled abroad and built their professional as well as
their personal life there. If such a low developed country Pushfactors:
were able to use these brains IargeJy shaped through 1) Under employment,
others’ investments, it would then gain a lot. There are two 2 ) Economic under development;
ways to implement the brain gain: either through the ntum 3) Low wagdsalary,
of thi expatriates to the country of origin or through their 4) political instability;
remote mobilization and association to its development. 5 ) Over production and under utilization or HQM;
The main objective focused throughout this paper is to 6) Lack of research and other facilities;
create the links through which they could effectively and 7) Lack of freedom;
8) Discrimination in appointment and promotion;
productively be connected to its development, without any
physical temporary or permanent r e m . An e-governance 9) Poor working facilities; .
model is proposed in this paper to maintain the links IO) Lack of scientific tradition and culture;
among these brains effectively so that they can participate 1 I) Unsuitable institution;
and contribute easily for their motherland. 12) Desire for a better urban life;
The remaining portion of this paper is organized in the 13) Desire for higher qualification and recognition;
following way. In section 2. the basics of the brain drain 14) Better career expectation;

424 Proceedings IEEE INMIC 2003

I S ) Lack of satisfactory working conditions, among the migrated brains so that they may contribute for
the betterment of their country of origin. The goal of this
Pullfactors: network is to make a common place of migrated scholars
I ) Better economic prospects; so that they may carry benefit for their govemment. These
2) Higher salary and income; migrated scholars will find a common place to gather.
3 ) Better level of living and way of life; They will be able to discuss on some constructive
4 ) Bener research facilities; planning, to arrange online meetings, conferences etc.
5 ) Modem educational system and bener opportunity for They also will be benefited through this gain network. One
higher qualifications: can help other and can ask for help to others. They can
6) Prestige of foreign training; share their knowledge and experiences among them and
7) Intellectual freedom. help their country providing valuable information,
8) Better working condition and better employment proposals etc.
opportunities;
9) Relative political stability; 3.1. Governance policy of Brain Gain Network
IO) Presence of a rich, scientific and cultural tradition;
1 I ) Attraction of urban centres; Throughout this section I will try to clarify the
12) Availability of experiencelsupponing staff; concept and policy to successfully maintain the gain
13) Frequent chances o f a lucky break in life; network.
14) Technological gap;
15) Allocation of substantial funds for research. 1. The government ofLDC have to create a new sector
for the maintenance of Gain network.
2.3. Problems for brain drain 2. There must be a office and a set of paid employees to
successfully maintain of the scholar database and to
The governments of LDCs expends lots of their do the related tasks inside the country. This may be
money for education and training purpose. They take called the main domestic branch of the gain network.
several initiatives to make their generation educated and 3. The first and the main task for this office will be to
skilled. People of these countries take education and collect the full data of the scholars who are already
training and prepare themselves as skilled personnel. migrated and to maintain a database to hold these
These skilled persons migrate to another developed records. This may be collected informing the
country in search for better life. They finally become embassies of LDCs in DCs. It is assumed that most
permanent citizen of those developed countries and of the migrated scholars can be tracked by this way.
consumes their brain and skill for the betterment of those These scholars will be informed about this
countries. So finally all the initiatives taken by the govemment initiative and will be provided their Gain
govemment become fruitless. Thus for the lack of network unique IDS.
management lots of LDCs are paying this loss. These 4. This gain network ofice have to set up a policy to
govemments prepare their people as skilled but in the long collect data of the outgoing scholars whether they are
tun these skilled people are seen of no work for their going out for education or job. They are also be given
motherland. their personal network IDS.
5. This network will maintain a website as a common
2.4. Probability in reducing brain drain gathering place. Through this website the registered
members will be able to log into and to update their
The probability to reduce skilled migration is status. The gain network domestic office will be
more or less impossible. There are several causes for that. responsible to provide the helping documents to the
Most of the points are provided as “push-pull” factors in network members for appropriately using that
section 1.l.b. So it is not possible to totally stop the website.
migration of scholars from LDCs to DCs. The DCs also 6. The domestic office will conduct a statistical research
require the brains from LDCs. Becaues the companies of and divide the total network in some effective work
DCs have to pay more wages to their citizens than that to zones. This will be the main work of this domestic
the foreign (migrated) workers. But from the viewpoint of office.
LDCs these low wage carry huge currency. So the The strategy of the research may be to collect
employer and the employee both remain satisfied. This is country wise migration statistics and then to divide
one of the major reasons that makes it impossible to stop the work zones analyzing that statistical report. While
the skilled migration from the LDCs to the DCs. creating zones some factors like communication
among the zone members, number of scholars in that
zone etc must be considered
3. BRAIN GAIN NETWORK 7. Then this office have to assign registered members
into their nearest zone and let them be informed. If in
A country whose main resource is the human the future any member shift hidher place he may
resource, faces brain drain [3]. The main theme behind this have to be re-assigned in another zone by the
proposed brain gain network is to trace and to make links administrators.

Proceedings IEEE INMlC 2003 425

8. The office will have to now develop two planning meeting, conduct short research on any
committees. that is the governing bodies. One will be project/problem. In one sentence, he will
for the domestic office and another will for remote communicate and discuss with his members, come to
scholars. I am discussing only the nature of the a final conclusion, prepare a documentation and
activities of the remote planning committee. This submit that to zone Co-ordinator. Any proposal, any
planning committee will be consisted of some posts: desire for contribution from any individual member
President, Zone Co-ordinator, Zonal President and will be known to zonal president. If this proposal be
zone members. an effective one zone co-ordinator will request the
president to propose that to the govemment.
President : When govemment of LDC will take any
development initiative "President" of the gain Zone Member: Zone member is a unit of the brain
network will be informed. Heishe will be requested gain network.
from the domestic office (actually from the
govemment) to submit a report within some due time 3.1. Plus points of Gain network over the LDCs
analyzing the problem so that the final plan be a rigid
one. President will inform the zone Co-ordinator and 1. Communication : Communication and tracking
request hidher to submit a summary report is the main advantage of the brain gain network.
consulting with the zonal presidents. On the other Through this network the govemment will get
hand, any proposal from the zone co-ordinator will the actual figure and the status for her scholars in
also be submitted to the domestic office by the abroad. Through this network there will create a
president. Chain of command is the major factor for straight communication between the
running gain network successfully. governments of LDCs and their migrated
scholars.
Zone CO-Ordinator: The brain gain network will be 2. Conrribution : By this network the migrated
divided into some zones. Each zone must have a scholars of LDCs will get the opportunity to
zonal president who will be selectedlelected among contribute for their country. They may desire to
the zone members. Zone co-ordinator will be the do something positive for their country by giving
controller of all the zonal presidents. Zone co- donation, technology and information.
ordinator will be liable to convey the order from the 3. Investment :There may be a lot of scholars of
network president to the zonal presidents. Zone Co- LDCs who are in several good companies with
ordinator will collect the final reports from the zonal good reputation, who can request those
presidents, compile them. prepare the summary companies to invest in their country of origin. If
reportlsolution and submit that to the president. On they have any desire to do something they will
the other hand, he/she will also submit any find the actual place to present their proposals.
development proposal from any zonal president to 4. Technolam' Tran$er : Government of LDC
the network president. may he informed about the current technology
through gain network. And thus can incorporate
those technologies in their country.
5. Accuracy : As the government will take
decisions from a bunch of scholars while
incorporating any major development so the
1
'1
Zanc to-Ordinator
accuracy in planning will be high.
6. Knowledge share: Sharing of knowledge will be
the main advantage through this network.
Covemment and the local citizens will get
advanced information. This will help the nation
to develop remaining synchronized with the
current world. Thus the gain network will play
role in development by reducing the digital gap.
7. Patriotism : This network will help forming
patriotism inside the migrated scholars.

4.CONCLUSION
Figure I : Organizational Communication Chart Thus the diversified gain network can be a great initiative
to successfully utilize the migrated brains of LDCs. In one
ZonaI Presiden/: Zonal president will pfay the main sense, it may be said that,,the more the skilled persons will
role to utilize hidher zone members to discuss the be in the DCs the more will be the country resources in
problem and to prepare a possible solution report and abroad and the country will be benefited. Thus the gain
submit it to the zone co-ordinator. He may arrange

426 Proceedings IEEE INMlC 2003

I
network will be a focus point to reduce the digital gap 1999, http:ilwww.unesco.orglmostlmeyer.htm
between the LDCs and the DCs.
121 Study of concepfs and causes of Brain Drain -A UN
'I

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18TH301O2.htm
[ I ] Jean-Baptisre Meyer and Mercy Brown. "Scienfi/ic
DiasporaxA New Approach lo the Brain Drain", 131 Karim Kawar,Chairman,lnformationTechnology
Prepared for the World Conference on Science Association ,Jordan. " h u eNorex",
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Proceedings IEEE INMIC 2003 427