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Journals / Yükseköğretim Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1

Brain Circulation Status of Türkiye

Türkiye’nin Beyin Dolaşımı Durumu

Furkan Metin(Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu)0000-0001-5782-6581
Pages
169–182
Publication Date
2025-04-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Utilizing microdata from 160,789 tertiary graduates who had been abroad between 2010 and 2022, it was found that 67,366 individuals returned to Türkiye, indicating a brain circulation rate of 41.9%.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:While the concept of “brain drain” remains commonly used to describe the emigration of highly skilled individuals, it falls short of capturing the complex, multidirectional flows of talent in today’s globalized world.
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Key Findings & Data:Utilizing microdata from 160,789 tertiary graduates who had been abroad between 2010 and 2022, it was found that 67,366 individuals returned to Türkiye, indicating a brain circulation rate of 41.9%.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings suggest a significant level of return migration, pointing toward an emerging trend of brain circulation rather than a purely one-directional talent outflow.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:2010 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Beşeri Sermaye Dolaşımı · Beyin Bağları · Beyin Dolaşımı

Abstract

While the concept of “brain drain” remains commonly used to describe the emigration of highly skilled individuals, it falls short of capturing the complex, multidirectional flows of talent in today’s globalized world. To address this limitation, recent research has proposed a broader conceptual framework encompassing not only brain drain, but also reverse brain drain, brain gain, brain waste, brain linkage, and most notably, brain circulation. As such, the current study investigates the brain circulation patterns of highly skilled Turkish citizens by examining variables such as graduation department, host country, and sex. Utilizing microdata from 160,789 tertiary graduates who had been abroad between 2010 and 2022, it was found that 67,366 individuals returned to Türkiye, indicating a brain circulation rate of 41.9%. These findings suggest a significant level of return migration, pointing toward an emerging trend of brain circulation rather than a purely one-directional talent outflow.

Özet

Beyin göçü terimi oldukça yaygın bir biçimde kullanılmaktadır. Ne var ki, beyin göçü terimi, yüksek vasıflı beşeri sermayenin uluslararası dolaşımının açıklanmasında oldukça yetersiz kalmaktadır. Bu nedenle, mevcut çalışmada beyin göçü, tersine beyin göçü, beyin kazanımı, beyin israfı, beyin bağları ve özellikle beyin dolaşımı kavramlarını bütünsel olarak temsil edecek kavramsal bir çerçeve sunulmuştur. Bunun yanı sıra, yüksek vasıflı Türk vatandaşlarının beyin dolaşımı yapısı mezun olunan bölüm, gidilen hedef ülke ve cinsiyet ayrımında ortaya çıkarılmıştır. 2010–2022 yılları arasında yurtdışında bulunan 160.789 yükseköğretim mezunundan, Türkiye’ye geri dönen 67.366 kişiye ait mikroveri setleri analiz edilerek, Türkiye’nin beyin dolaşım oranı %41,9 olarak tespit edilmiştir.

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Cite This Article

Metin, F. (2025). Brain Circulation Status of Türkiye. Yükseköğretim Dergisi, Cilt: 15 Sayı: 1, 169–182. https://doi.org/10.53478/yuksekogretim.1407019

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