Challenges Posed to Higher Education Research by the Emigration of Professionals
by Kavishka Jaywardhana

Like many developing countries that are economically unstable and politically immature, Sri Lanka faces a range of challenges, among which the emigration of professionals has significantly impacted the higher education and research sectors. Talented individuals with advanced scientific, educational, technical, and professional knowledge often migrate to foreign countries for better living standards, creating a significant setback for the progress and quality of research and higher education in developing nations. This phenomenon further fuels social crises in these regions.
Limited educational opportunities, lack of quality living standards, and insufficient professional prospects are primary reasons why professionals choose to leave. Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s limited investment in professional development, low wage structures, and complex working environments prompt many professionals to pursue opportunities abroad. (Push Factors – Ernest Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration). Foreign countries offering higher salaries, better quality of life, less professional stress (State of the Global Workplace Report – 2024 by Gallup), and ample opportunities for professional growth further encourage this migration process (Pull Factors – Ernest Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration).
According to the latest data from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), a substantial number of Sri Lankan professionals have left the country. In 2022 alone, approximately 311,056 Sri Lankans left for overseas employment, with over 29,000 individuals departing monthly. (Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, 2022).
Compared to other professions, the migration of educational professionals (often termed as “brain drain”) has particularly impacted the sustainability of higher education, as universities, research institutes, and centers of educational excellence lose their most capable talent. This drain has contributed to a decline in the quality of academic staff, research, and academic output across various disciplines. Between 2020-2021, 18% of Sri Lankan researchers traveled abroad for research purposes, significantly affecting the country’s research output. (Sri Lanka Higher Education Commissioner’s Office, 2022).
The national ambition to foster innovative researchers and encourage students towards practical and theoretical knowledge development in cutting-edge technology and scientific methodologies has been undermined by the emigration of these skilled professionals. The absence of skilled and experienced educators and researchers has diminished the quality and efficacy of research, as evidenced by perspectives gathered from university professionals regarding the diminished productivity in Sri Lanka’s educational institutions.
According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s 2021 report, professional emigration during the 2020-2021 period reduced the efficiency of the country’s social, economic, and research sectors by approximately 30% (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2021).
The shortage of foreign investments and research funds, limited financial opportunities for research activities, and the oversight of administrators who fail to recognize the true significance of research have all contributed to the lack of measures to retain professionals within the country.
The emigration of professionals presents not only a major challenge to the sustainability of higher education and research but also significantly impacts economic and social development within Sri Lanka. Retaining these professionals by introducing high-quality wages, a conducive professional environment and effective policies to retain talent is a timely need. Additionally, expanding foreign investment opportunities, increasing research funding, and establishing high-quality teaching standards within educational institutions are essential. Without such measures, the continued emigration of professionals will not only challenge the sustainability of higher education and research in Sri Lanka but also create substantial obstacles for the country’s innovation and economic growth.
References
- Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka, (2021), Sri Lanka Census Report.
- Peries, K., (2022), “Challenges and Sustainability in Higher Education,” Higher Education Science Research.
- Pathirana, M., (2023), “The Emigration of Professionals in Sri Lanka: Economic and Social Impacts,” Social Science Research.
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka Report, 2021.
- Sri Lanka Higher Education Commissioner’s Office, 2022.
- Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, 2022.
- State of the Global Workplace – 2024 Report, Gallup.