Education-Migration Nexus:
Exploring the Youth Brain Drain Phenomenon in
Romania and the Republic of Moldova
About Project
MIGRoM investigates one of the most pressing challenges in Eastern Europe: the youth brain drain from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The project examines why young people choose to study or build their careers abroad, how these decisions shape human capital formation, and what this means for the future development of both countries.
Bringing together researchers from the Romanian Academy, Iași Branch (ARFI) and the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova (ASEM), the project combines expertise in migration studies, economics, education, and human geography.
What the project aims to understand
How migration intentions and decisions evolve during youth and early adulthood
What educational, social, and economic factors push students to leave
How emigration affects universities, labour markets, and long-term development
What policies could strengthen educational equity, opportunities, and retention
