Title: The Eritrean HRD Project (1998-2005): A critical assessment of its high rate of brain drain

Authors: Mussie T. Tessema, Alex M. Ng'oma, Kathryn J. Ready, Daniel A. Sauers, JoEll Bjorke

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, Winona State University, Somsen Hall, 55987, MN, USA. ' Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Zambia and Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Mailcode 4501, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. ' Department of Business Administration, Winona State University, 324D Somsen Hall, Winona, MN 55987, USA. ' Department of Business Administration, Winona State University, 324L Somsen Hall, Winona, MN 55987, USA. ' Department of Business Administration, Winona State University, 325 Somsen Hall, Winona, MN 55987, USA

Abstract: This study critically analyses the |Eritrean HRD Project| (EHRDP), a major workforce development project that was implemented in this eastern African country between 1998 and 2005. In this project, 674 Eritrean nationals were sent overseas to pursue higher education in various fields. The findings of the study indicate that 431 or 64% of the project trainees did not return home after graduating. To gain some insights into why this turned out to be the case, the study analysed the perceptions of the |abscondee-graduates|. The study presents some policy implications of the brain drain as well as suggests frontiers for future research.

Keywords: brain drain; HRD; human resource development; higher education; HRM; human resource management; Eritrea; LDCs; less developed countries; human resources.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2009.025072

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2009 Vol.9 No.4, pp.409 - 430

Published online: 11 May 2009 *

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