The Netherlands: brain drain

Half of all young researchers want to go abroad once they’ve finished their PhD or postgraduate studies. They see it as a necessary step because of the lack of career opportunities in the Netherlands. This was the conclusion of a study conducted on behalf of two Dutch bodies representing PhD and other postgraduate students (Promovendi Netwerk Nederland, PNN, and the Landelijke Postdoc Platform, LPP). PhD students consider their options at Dutch universities to be rather bleak. They hope that universities in other countries will offer them better prospects. Three out of ten PhD students and one in ten postgraduate students said that they definitely wanted to go abroad. Almost half (46%) of young academics would consider a position at a foreign university if career opportunities or a permanent post at a Dutch university were to prove unforthcoming. A clear majority of researchers thought they were suitable for an international career. Read more: Eurogates.Forum