Brain Drain: Why Greece is Losing Academics

In recent years, the phenomenon of brain drain in Greece has resurfaced, with efforts to reverse it not yielding the expected results. While European institutions are attracting academics from the USA, taking advantage of political turmoil and funding cuts, Greece seems to be missing this opportunity.

Universities in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium are creating rapid procedures and guarantees of academic freedom to attract professors. In contrast, Greece remains trapped in a system lacking resources and strategy.

Underfunding of higher education, slow evaluation processes, and low salaries are significant obstacles. The salary of a full professor in Greece is much lower than in other European countries.

The inability of Greek universities to conduct research also affects the economy, as there is no connection with industry and businesses. Greece is losing the bet on extroversion and contributing to development.

The current situation, where American universities are losing their prestige, is an opportunity that Greece is not exploiting, as it has not created programs for the repatriation of Greek professors and the attraction of foreign academics.