Our Senior Executive Director – Dr. Maria Hristova & Joanna Dragneva – Senior Expert at Invest Sofia will take part to the International conference ‘Innovations in Science and Education’ with the article “Exploring opportunities for the return of Bulgarian migrants in response to the growing need for specialized staff in Sofia”. You can read the abstract below, the full article will be published in April.
This article examines the issues related to Bulgarian migration after the country’s accession to the EU in 2007 and focuses its research on the phenomenon of “brain drain” – the process of mass emigration during which specialists, scientists and skilled workers leave. Today this phenomenon is quite typical for Bulgaria as part of the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe. The problems associated with the “brain drain” are very relevant as the country suffers significant economic and cultural losses, while the host countries acquire large and inexpensive intellectual capital.
During the years of transition, Bulgaria strives to be not only a full member of the EU but also to provide opportunities for development and realization of specialists, scientists and researchers. This requires the adoption of measures and initiatives to establish sustainable development in the capital and in the country, as well as to meet the need for highly skilled labor in the industrial sphere.
The aim of the article is to explore the possibilities for the return of Bulgarian migrants in response to the growing need for specialized staff in Sofia. The quantitative study involved more than 500 Bulgarian migrants residing in different host countries, who were selected randomly and responded voluntarily.
The article defends the thesis that if Bulgaria provides opportunities for the development of specialized staff through the undertaking of specific initiatives, this can be an attraction and a motive for the return of Bulgarian migrants.
The results show that in recent years the need for specialized staff is constantly growing. In response to this need, the initiatives that are undertaken are aimed at innovations in science and education. The study also takes into account the readiness of Bulgarian migrants to return home.
