Cumulative advantages and social capabilities in scientific mobility in the Health Sciences: The Spanish case

Abstract

BackgroundThe big problem in global public health, arising from the international migration of physicians from less-developed to more-developed countries, increases if this migration also affects scientists dedicated to health areas. This article analyzes critical variables in the processes of Spanish scientific mobility in Health Sciences to articulate effective management policies for the benefit of national public health services and the balance between local and global science.MethodsThis study develops a survey to measure and analyze the following crucial variables: research career, training, funding, working with a world-class team, institutional prestige, wages, facilities/infrastructure, working conditions in the organization of the destination country, fringe benefits in the organization of the destination country and social responsibility in the organization of the departure country. A total of 811 researchers have participated in the survey, of which 293 were from the health sector: Spanish scientists abroad (114), scientists that have returned to Spain (32) and young researchers in Spain (147).ResultsThe most crucial variables for Spanish scientists and young researchers in Spain in Health Sciences moving abroad are the cumulative advantages (research career, training, funding and institutional prestige) plus wages. On the other hand, the return of Spanish scientists in the Health Sciences is influenced by cumulative variables (working with a world-class team, research career and institutional prestige) and also by other variables related to social factors, such as working conditions and fringe benefits in the destination country. Permanent positions are rare for these groups and their decisions regarding mobility depend to a large extent on job opportunities.ConclusionsSpanish health organizations can influence researchers to return, since these decisions mainly depend on job opportunities. These organizations can complement the cumulative advantages offered by the wealthier countries with the intensification of social factors.

Scientific collaboration of Cuban researchers working in Europe: understanding relations between origin and destination countries

“…Between 1996 and 2002, the official number of Cuban undergraduate and graduate students granted scholarships to study abroad was 350 (Hernández Pérez 2005). Interestingly, although Spain has been the main destination country of Cuban researchers in Europe, the country seems to bridge the mobility of researchers to other destinations in Europe, mainly United Kingdom, which is a magnet to develop academic careers (Bhandari and Blumenthal 2011; Aceituno-Aceituno et al 2013, 2017). This effect was probably exacerbated by the global economic crisis during the period of study.…”

Entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and scientific mobility: The Spanish case

“…Likewise, a series of social capabilities that can be offered such as good working conditions and employee benefits which are decisive factors for researchers returning from abroad [46]. These complementary social advantages can be intensified by means of public-private partnerships, obtaining the necessary resources from the new companies and their associations (for example, employing the researcher’s spouse or paying for childcare).…”

“…For the SRS, among the measures to facilitate their return the main ones are stable funding, salary or recognition for their scientific career, but a high percentage also point to the Social Responsibility of the organization as a measure for facilitating their return [ 45 ]. Likewise, a series of social capabilities that can be offered such as good working conditions and employee benefits which are decisive factors for researchers returning from abroad [ 46 ]. These complementary social advantages can be intensified by means of public-private partnerships, obtaining the necessary resources from the new companies and their associations (for example, employing the researcher’s spouse or paying for childcare).…”

“…On the other hand, different studies carried out since the start of the decade until now show that agents of the Sistema Español de Ciencia y Tecnología (SECTI) can influence the mobility of scientists, since this largely depends on job opportunities and the scientific career [ 44 – 46 ]. Likewise, with regards to the possibility of these agents collaborating with Spanish scientists abroad, the level of collaboration between these scientists and international institutions is quite high, but much reduced with national scientific institutions and the home institution in Spain of each researcher [ 47 ].…”

Scientific Mobility, Training and Entrepreneurial Skills in Health Sciences: The Spanish Case

“…Likewise, various surveys conducted for the health area [ 74 , 75 ] show that the decision of Spanish researchers to return depends to a large extent on whether they are offered job opportunities, so the health authorities and administrators have the possibility of establishing measures to encourage this return. These measures could also be accompanied by others to ensure that these researchers at least collaborate with Spanish science, as the degree of an international collaboration of these researchers is quite high compared to the lower level of collaboration with national scientific institutions [ 76 ].…”