Received:
2026-03-18 | Accepted:
2026-07-07 | Published:
2026-09-30
Title
Student migration as a driver of human capital development
Abstract
This study investigates the determinants of international student migration and their implications for human capital development in Slovakia within the broader context of increasing global mobility. As international competition for talent intensifies, understanding the factors shaping students’ destination choices and post-graduation intentions becomes increasingly important for sustainable socio-economic development. The research is based on primary quantitative data collected through a questionnaire survey administered to 150 international students enrolled in Slovak higher education institutions. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and selected non-parametric techniques to identify significant relationships between key variables. The findings reveal that linguistic and cultural proximity, together with financial considerations, represent the dominant pull factors influencing students' decisions to study in Slovakia. In contrast, the perceived quality of education plays a comparatively limited role, suggesting that Slovakia is primarily viewed as an accessible and culturally compatible destination rather than a highly competitive academic environment. The results further indicate that a substantial proportion of students consider remaining in Slovakia after graduation; however, their intentions are strongly conditioned by economic opportunities and personal factors. The study contributes to the literature on international student mobility by providing empirical evidence from an emerging destination country. It also offers policy-relevant insights to strengthen Slovakia's attractiveness and improve the long-term retention of international graduates, thereby supporting sustainable human capital development.
Keywords
student migration, international student mobility, human capital development, push and pull factors, Slovakia
JEL classifications
F22
, I23
, J24
, O15
URI
http://jssidoi.org/jesi/article/6675
DOI
Pages
132-145
Funding
This research was funded by the Slovak Ministry of Education’s Scientific Grant Agency VEGA 1/0448/24 "Study of Key Determinants of Human Capital and Economic Growth in the Conditions of Digital Economy Development”.
This is an open access issue and all published articles are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
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Funding: This research was funded by the Slovak Ministry of Education’s Scientific Grant Agency VEGA 1/0448/24 "Study of Key Determinants of Human Capital and Economic Growth in the Conditions of Digital Economy Development”. /jesi/article/6675
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