Title  Lusophone brains needed. The brain drain to the UK
Author  Joana Filipa dos Santos Assunção
Advisor  João Teixeira Lopes
Year  2019
Institution  Faculty of Letters, University of Porto
Degree  Masters
Area  Sociology
Keywords  Emigration, mobility, young professionals/skilled workers, brain drain, professional integration
URI  https://hdl.handle.net/10216/124548

Abstract

The mobility of young professionals is a phenomenon that has increased substantially in recent years. The increase in this contingent generates a new migratory pattern which is distinguished by the fact that it is mainly qualified young people who leave their countries of origin in search of new job opportunities. This pattern is known as the brain drain. The Portuguese case in this regard is no exception and compared to other countries, Portugal, along with Ireland, is one of the European countries where the brain drain has increased the most in the last decade (according to international studies), driven mainly since 2008 by the rise in unemployment caused by the global economic crisis. This new migratory phenomenon contrasts with previous Portuguese migratory movements, for which Portuguese society is known the world over. The aim of this study is to understand how the main players in this phenomenon behave from a cultural point of view, i.e. how these young people view the fact that they are emigrants, how they have adapted and live in the country they have chosen for themselves. Another point of reflection is to understand the motivations that led these young people to leave their country of origin. It is true that in a situation of crisis, it is natural for emigration to increase, but is this the main cause or are there other reasons that lead to young and qualified emigration. This study will use a qualitative methodology in which Sociological Portraits will be the preferred technique. This resulted in 18 life stories that led to the results presented in this dissertation.