Brain Gain vs "Brain Tapping"

Brain Drain is a common phenomenon where the precious resource of human capital flows from a developing to a developed economy. Brain Gain is the opposite phenomenon where the human capital return to the source economy.

After reading a statement about Brain Gain project in Malaysia to attract the country's academics from overseas to return, I could not help but thought of another term called "Brain Tapping" that might benefit the developing countries and the "resource" more than the actual "brain gain".

Malaysian universities, especially the public institutions, had been urged to recruit world-class academics to boost the ranking and reputation. Millions had been spent to invite world-renounced "superstar academics" on a visiting status. UM and UKM had already embarked on such projects and received tremendous criticisms about it. Although the ranking did increase, but the crucial question is how did the academia in Malaysia benefit from it.

Now, the Minister has urged the public higher education institutions to recruit Malaysian academics abroad that might have been retrenched due to the economic recession. I actually wonder how many Malaysian academics might had been affected.

On a practical note, if the country is serious to improve the quality of research and university, the utmost move is to recognise the "brain" that has drained out. The country can benefit not only from gaining them back to serve, nevertheless, in such a globalised and high-technological age, tapping on these brains can be more cost effective and yield greater benefit.

Instead of attracting one or two to return with huge monetary attraction, it would be more economical to establish network with as many as possible Malaysian academics outside the country. In many universities, particular those in the United States, academics are only paid 9 months a year by the university and are suppose to source the remaining three months of their salary via research funding. Therefore, if the country is sincere in wanting to tap on these Malaysian "brains", the most practical way is to provide funding opportunities for these "brains" to collaborate with the local "brains" in long-term research or at least provide joint-supervision for research students in Malaysia.

This is much more economical as the cost is much lower and at the same time, allow these "brains" abroad to continue serving Malaysia and enhance their career development overseas. Adding to the economical benefit, option such as this is also more attractive for academics to adjust and understand about the working/research culture in Malaysia before seriously thinking of moving back. After all, the fear of not being to adapt to the working/research culture in local universities is one of the most important factor for them to embark on the such a journey home. Such decision is certainly much more than a career decision.

Lastly, perhaps rethinking of "brain tapping" might be a more practical initiative on a short and medium-term to tap upon the Malaysian brains abroad and at the same time, providing the necessary avenue for Malaysian universities to benefit from such transnational exposure.