I brought back this interview from 10 years ago, since in fact, currently, this phenomenon has taken on frightening proportions in our country, beyond that of a normal circulating process.
20/03/2014
Interview with Luiza Hoxhaj, executive director of the Center
for the Study of European Policies for Regional and Local Development (CRDLS
Albania). She is one of the organizers of the "Tako Talentet Shqiptare -
Meet AlbTalents" conference, which will be held on March 28 and 29 in
Vlore.
Hoxhaj explains what a highly qualified professional or a
qualified worker is looking for to return: "They are looking for
recognition and an environment in which to assert themselves. The salary comes
later." We need to go beyond the brain drain rhetoric. Talents today don't
go away, they circulate. It is precisely on this point that we must reflect,
improve: to ensure that everyone who has gone can also return. Why not also for
foreigners to come to Albania." We have studied the emigration of brains,
of qualified workers and the opinion of young people about the country where
they want to study and we find that: "What talents in every field require,
more than money, is an environment where they are appreciated and placed in
conditions to express themselves.”
Mrs. Hoxhaj, What is
the scale of the phenomenon of leaving Albania?
"The data say that they go about 20 thousand graduates
every year. And the number over the total number of immigrants, the percentage
of graduates is constantly increasing, according to studies by the World Bank
or the IOM. We must affirm in this case the lack of official data from ISTAT.
In an absolute sense, it is not true that more academics or qualified workers
leave Albania than other countries in our region. What makes the difference is
that all these talents who emigrate, have in themselves a positive fact. But
this has value if we manage to bring them back again, with the aim of being
enriched by their experience. In fact we fail to do so. We can't even attract
others from outside. This is a problem that we must solve. This remains a
challenge for the Albanian state and society"
Is this also an
economic loss?
"Of course. It is a loss of human and economic capital,
although it is difficult to determine the extent of this loss. We must
calculate how much it costs for the state or Albanian families (overwhelmingly
in Albania this is a family investment, without denying the state's efforts) to
form a new one and then look at the wealth value they generate abroad. Although
it is not said that in Albania they would have been able to make the same
contribution. Maybe here such a person would have been just an unemployed
person."
What are the decisive
factors to convince a qualified young person to choose to return to Albania?
"The center conducted a survey among immigrants, mostly
young, partly still abroad and partly returned, asking them to explain: what
are the factors behind their choice. There are 110 of them who answered the
questionnaire, plus another 20 who expressed themselves through video messages
or video interviews. There was a strong correlation between the two groups. In
the first place is meritocracy. Abroad young people feel valued not based on
their network of acquaintances, but based on what they know how to do, on their
skills. Their talent is recognized also because careers there are more
transparent. The second point is that this talent must be able to express
itself: young people want to have the tools to do their work better. Because if
they have to compete with someone who moves to a more functional environment,
the risk, according to them, is that "I won't be able to win, even for the
same skills". Practically, this means living in a place where research is
funded, supported and a friendly environment is tolerated.”
And how important is
the salary?
"On average, salaries abroad are certainly higher. But
for immigrants, this factor is only in the third place. Even in various
European countries, the "Law against exodus" has acted on this point
with a series of tax incentives. This is an important innovation, but not
enough. Why? Again, the priority for a talent is to have an ability to
recognize values and a context that provides the technical and cultural tools
to work well and improve. The desire to return is for almost everyone, for
love, for a sense of belonging, or to make a contribution to the country of
origin. But this only materializes in the presence of a supportive (favorable)
environment."
A very cultural change,
how can we encourage it?
"I think that positive lobbying activities, such as
those of "Tako Talentet AlbTalents - Meet AlbTalents", are useful to
break the resistance to change. It is very important to create a critical mass,
both in Albania and abroad her, to then ensure that regulatory and
non-regulatory initiatives find a fertile ground to develop. "
What is "Meet
Albanian Talents-Mee AlbTalents"?
"Tako Talentet Shqiptare - Meet AlbTalents" is an
effort to bring together all the actors who want to give their contribution to
promote brain circulation. From young people abroad, who want to network (we
have the As@an network model), to those who have returned and want to make
their expertise available. From the deputies, from all parties, who will
support a law that curbs brain drain, from local administrators, counties and
municipalities, who should accompany it with other measures for brain drain.
For example: funding planning for startups, dedicated social services, or
one-stop shop counters, like the one implemented in the country. And finally,
all companies that are aware that competitiveness is based above all on the
availability of qualified human capital."
Some suggestions?
The time when we will formulate the suggestions will be the
"Tako Talentet Shqiptare - Meet AlbTalents" conference on March 28
and 29, 2014 in Vlore. There will be several panels that will address exactly
these areas. The best practices to be shared will be discussed and legislative
proposals will emerge from the discussion with the talents returned to Albania,
which will be given directly to the government. A way to ensure that a part of
Albania, who have found opportunities abroad, make a contribution to improve
the country's system. The region of Vlora has been chosen as the location of
the conference, not only as a region that carries all the complex problems of
this phenomenon, but also as a region that experiences this problem twice:
emigration abroad as well as internal emigration to Vlore. Through the
discussions, so far online on the Center's website, about e/migration, we find
a great sensitivity of the public or interested parties on this topic. "
