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Anu Kõu Population Research Centre, University of Groningen

22-07-2011. A l ife course approach to high-skilled migration: migrant biographies of Indians in the Netherlands and United Kingdom. Anu Kõu Population Research Centre, University of Groningen PhD s upervisors: Prof Dr Leo van Wissen, Prof Dr Jouke van Dijk, Dr Ajay Bailey

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Anu Kõu Population Research Centre, University of Groningen

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  1. 22-07-2011 A life course approach to high-skilled migration:migrant biographies of Indians in theNetherlands and United Kingdom Anu Kõu Population Research Centre, University of Groningen PhD supervisors:Prof Dr Leo van Wissen, Prof Dr Jouke van Dijk, Dr Ajay Bailey CPC seminar, University of Southampton, 22 July 2011

  2. 22-07-2011 Background • Need for highly skilled workers • High-skilled migration (HSM) programs and policies • Human capital • Gap in economic theories?

  3. 22-07-2011 Highly skilled migrants(1) • Canberra Manual: Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST): • ‘Successfully completed education at the third level in am Science and Technology (S&T) field of study • Not formally qualified as above but employed in a S&T occupation where the above qualifications are normally required.’ (OECD, 1995)

  4. 22-07-2011 Highly skilled migrants(2) • Higher-educated • Above average wage • Nationally or internationally scarce expertise • Economically or socially important sectors (ACVZ, Dutch Advisory Committee on Migration Affairs, 2004: 144)

  5. 22-07-2011 HSM visa in the Netherlands • 2004: knowledge migrant visa • Points-based minimum prospective salary • 2011: Modern Migration Policy • ‘Inviting for migrants in economic demand, restrictive for others’ • June 2011: European Blue Card

  6. 22-07-2011 HSM visa in the United Kingdom • 2002: Highly Skilled Migrant Programme • 2008: Tier 1 (General) • 2011: • Tier 1: UK Investor; Prospective Entrepreneur; Exceptional Talent; Post Study Work • Tier 2: Work Permit, Change of Employment; Intra Company Transfers

  7. Labour migration to the Netherlands, 2005-2008* * (Until 1 July 2008) x 2 Source: INDIAC (2008) 22-07-2011 7 14% 24% 48% 56%

  8. Highly skilled migrants in NL 2008: Indian 30% American 13% Chinese 7% 75% males, 25% females 50% 18-29 years, 33% 30-39 years Source: (INDIAC, Immigration and Naturalisation Service, 2009) 22-07-2011 8

  9. 22-07-2011 Knowledge migrants by labour market sector, NL

  10. 22-07-2011 Assumptions HSM • Macro level: • Economic gain • HSM policies • Micro level: merely returns for investment in human capital?

  11. Life course framework Labour migration not only a response to economic triggers Parallel careers of education, employment, household, migration Qualitative approach 22-07-2011 11

  12. 22-07-2011 Methods • Semi-structured biographical interviews • Micro perspective • Social embeddedness Biographies ‘… relate trajectories to transitions and the spaces and times they flow through.’ (Bailey, 2009: 708) • Visualisation of career interdependencies

  13. Research participants Indian origin Working in a professional sector job Preferably a HSMP/Tier 1/Tier 2 or knowledge migrant visa Age 25-40 Residential duration in UK/NL min 1 year 22-07-2011 13

  14. 22-07-2011 Results

  15. 22-07-2011 Education/employment  migration (1) • The choice of study field • Opportunities • International exposure • Financial reasons ‘I knew IT would give a good opportunity to go to Western countries.’ (male, age 30-34, UK) ‘If I would have stayed in India, I would be richer but I would not have the mental satisfaction.’ (male, age 35-40, UK)

  16. 22-07-2011 Education/employment  migration (2) • Migration networks • Migration culture • ‘Fashion’, ‘craze’ ‘Long before me, my supervisor’s supervisor came. Then my supervisor’s colleague came here. So there’s a tradition of people coming in, going back, it’s like... this kind of... pilgrimage kind of thing.’ (male, age 35-40, NL)

  17. 22-07-2011 Education/employment marriage • Arranged marriage • Household + employment/education paths • Household + migration paths ‘My aim is to first… finish my PhD because it’s very hard for me to… focus on another person right now. (---) I just don’t want to, you know, ruin both things. Just want to finish my PhD. And then, you know, marriage, relationship can wait.’ (female, age 25-29, NL) ‘Well, Indian moms, they have this attitude of… pushing their… boy-child as soon as he’s settled, his firmed with his job, get married! So that translated to me as well.’ (male, age 25-29, NL)

  18. 22-07-2011 Employment marriage children • ‘Getting to know each other’ • Household + employment/education paths • Household + return migration paths • Parents’ expectations ‘We want to have some good life… first together. So because we haven’t spent good time, at least back home so… Nowwe will be starting a different phase of life. At least like… three to four years we haven’t planned [children] and… that’s how it matches with almost the time that I plan to return back to India.’ (male, age 25-29, NL) ‘Until I got a job or little after that there wasn’t any pressure [from parents]. For marriage. Once they know “Okay, one thing is over!”, they get paranoid about the other thing. Once I got a job and start up settling, then they thought “What next? What next? Marriage!” So there was an immense pressure to get married soon. But with children, nothing yet. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes up tomorrow. I’ve seen that pattern for everything in my family.’ (female, age 25-29, NL)

  19. 22-07-2011 Migration policies • Selection of destination country • Future opportunities • Legal status of spouse ‘If I would have been a bursary[PhD student without knowledge migrant visa]… then I think my wife is not allowed to work. I would have postponed marriage for a couple of years till I complete [PhD] and then I will get a post-doc, till then I would have postponed.’ (male, age 25-29, NL) ‘[After obtaining permanent residency] it will be easier for my daughter to come back to UK university without paying huge fees.’ (female, age 30-34, UK) ‘The UK had the quickest visa procedure. Otherwise there was no specific intention to come to the UK.’ (male, age 30-34, UK)

  20. Social and cultural context 22-07-2011 ConclusionsLife course alters the purely economically determined migration path: • Timing • Parallel careers (?) • Postponement of events • Linked lives • Parents • Spouse • Social and professional network • Gender • Direction of causality

  21. 22-07-2011 Thank you for your attention! Questions / comments? Contact: a.kou@rug.nl

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