‘Brain drain’ is a phenomenon in which people with high qualifications and a high
level of skills and competences, emigrates. One major case of the brain drain occurs when
students from developing countries, studying in the developed ones, decide not to return
home after they graduate. This study attempted to identify the factors that influence the
intention of students to stay in the host country, after they graduate. A group of students from
developing countries were examined, in order to confirm if family ties, institutional and
social support of the host country were direct important factors that influence their intentions
moderated by their perception of the host country labor market. Each factor was analyzed on
a dimensional level: perceived support from students and professors, perceived support from
university regarding immigration inquiries and internship inquiries, and family ties;
moderated by perceived labor market job opportunities and labor market career advancement.
After running a pilot study, a survey was conducted on a sample of 303 students from
developing countries, studying in different host countries all around the globe. To ensure
statistical validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed and
Chronbach’s alpha coefficients were calculated. Correlation and regression analysis were
performed to test the hypotheses. The results show that support received from professors is
positively associated with the students’ intention to stay and that strong family ties is
negatively associated with that intention. However, the relationship between family ties and
intention to stay can be weakened by the positive perception the student has towards the labor
market (job opportunities dimension) of the host country. The study also found partial
moderator effect of the perceived labor market from both dimensions on the relationship
between social support and intention to stay. Finally, the association between support
received from the university (from both dimensions) and the intention to stay was not
supported by the results of this research.

‘Brain drain’ is a phenomenon in which people with high qualifications and a high
level of skills and competences, emigrates. One major case of the brain drain occurs when
students from developing countries, studying in the developed ones, decide not to return
home after they graduate. This study attempted to identify the factors that influence the
intention of students to stay in the host country, after they graduate. A group of students from
developing countries were examined, in order to confirm if family ties, institutional and
social support of the host country were direct important factors that influence their intentions
moderated by their perception of the host country labor market. Each factor was analyzed on
a dimensional level: perceived support from students and professors, perceived support from
university regarding immigration inquiries and internship inquiries, and family ties;
moderated by perceived labor market job opportunities and labor market career advancement.
After running a pilot study, a survey was conducted on a sample of 303 students from
developing countries, studying in different host countries all around the globe. To ensure
statistical validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed and
Chronbach’s alpha coefficients were calculated. Correlation and regression analysis were
performed to test the hypotheses. The results show that support received from professors is
positively associated with the students’ intention to stay and that strong family ties is
negatively associated with that intention. However, the relationship between family ties and
intention to stay can be weakened by the positive perception the student has towards the labor
market (job opportunities dimension) of the host country. The study also found partial
moderator effect of the perceived labor market from both dimensions on the relationship
between social support and intention to stay. Finally, the association between support
received from the university (from both dimensions) and the intention to stay was not
supported by the results of this research.

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