Browsing by Author "Mniki, Namhla"

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    Restless minds: South African students and the brain drain
    (Taylor & Francis, 2007) Mattes, Robert; Mniki, Namhla
    This article reports the results of a 2002 survey of emigration potential among a representative sample of 4784 postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students at South Africa's tertiary educational institutions. The authors created a valid and reliable index of emigration potential and found slightly higher levels than those measured by identical questions in previous surveys of skilled adult South Africans. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the factors that most increase emigration potential among South Africa's future skills base are logistical ones, including family encouragement and financial resources. Next in importance are students' prospects of a better life for themselves and their families in their target countries than in South Africa. Finally, the study showed that patriotism and strong national identity decrease emigration potential while previous travel abroad and access to information about life abroad increase it. It also found that a range of possible government attempts to make emigration more difficult would only increase students' probability of leaving the country.
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    Restless minds: South African students and the brain drain
    (Taylor & Francis, 2010) Mattes, Robert; Mniki, Namhla
    This article reports the results of a 2002 survey of emigration potential among a representative sample of 4784 postgraduate and final-year undergraduate students at South Africa's tertiary educational institutions. The authors created a valid and reliable index of emigration potential and found slightly higher levels than those measured by identical questions in previous surveys of skilled adult South Africans. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the factors that most increase emigration potential among South Africa's future skills base are logistical ones, including family encouragement and financial resources. Next in importance are students' prospects of a better life for themselves and their families in their target countries than in South Africa. Finally, the study showed that patriotism and strong national identity decrease emigration potential while previous travel abroad and access to information about life abroad increase it. It also found that a range of possible government attempts to make emigration more difficult would only increase students' probability of leaving the country.
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    South Africa's potential brain drain
    (2004) Mattes, Robert; Mniki, Namhla
    This paper investigates the extent, nature and causes of potential emigration in South Africa among young adults in tertiary institutions (South Africa's potential skills base). This study is based on a questionnaire designed by the Southern African Migration Project and administered by Markinor to a sample of 4,784 students from universities, technikons and nursing colleges. The study uses the methods of factor analysis and reliability analysis to determine which indicators are most adept at measuring potential emigration. The study then uses a multivariate regression analysis to determine which factors best explain potential emigration. Findings show that the strongest predictor is whether families would support or discourage students from moving, followed by students perceptions' of the lives of other individuals who have already moved, especially with regard to whether they lead better lives and have found jobs for which they were trained for. Potential emigration is also increased when students believe family prospects to be better overseas, information about overseas opportunities are more readily accessible and when they themselves perceive logistics to pose no great challenge. Potential emigration is decreased when patriotism is high. Interestingly, the study reveals that 'push factors' are less influential than 'pull factors' in explaining the likelihood of potential emigration. The paper concludes by outlining policy implications.