Leaked Files Show Regime’s Leadership Fails to Prevent Brain Drain Despite Acknowledging its Consequences

iranian students (1)
Written by
Shahriar Kia

Recent leaked documents that were released following the takeover of the Iranian regime’s presidential organization’s servers reveal that state officials are well aware of a silent crisis that is devastating the country’s economy and future development severely.

The report, signed by an official at the regime’s Ministry of Health, makes it way to the Presidential Office and aims to draw their attention to a tragic reality that is happening to Iran.

According to a report by the Statistical Center of Iran, around 150,000 Iranians with higher education degrees left the country in the year 1398 (2019-2020). This number represents a 38% increase compared to five years ago and reflects and understatement provided recent stats were available. The brain drain phenomenon poses a significant challenge to Iran’s economy and development, as the country loses valuable talent and expertise.

The document sheds light on some of the root causes of the phenomenon, while warning how this will affect the future of the country. Nevertheless, as Iranian elites and experts continue to leave the country in the thousands, it is only another indication of how gravely the regime has failed in handling the crisis.

These documents and their translations are as follows:

Leaked Files Show Regime’s Leadership Fails to Prevent Brain Drain Despite Acknowledging its Consequences

Leaked Files Show Regime’s Leadership Fails to Prevent Brain Drain Despite Acknowledging its Consequences

Leaked Files Show Regime’s Leadership Fails to Prevent Brain Drain Despite Acknowledging its Consequences

 

Number: 707/402/M
Date: April 10, 2023
Confidential

Islamic Republic of Iran

Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education

Educational Deputy

Mr. Dr. Pourhosseini, Honorable Advisor to the Minister and Director-General of the Ministerial Area

Subject: Announcement of Opinion on Migration and Proposed Solutions

Greetings and respects,

Respectfully, following the letter with reference number 18346/401/M dated March 14, 2023, from the esteemed Chief of Staff of the Presidential Office regarding expressing an opinion on migration and proposed solutions, the following matters are submitted:

As you are aware, and as mentioned in the attached correspondence with reference number 2126/10M/01 dated February 15, 2023, the esteemed Deputy of Science, Culture, and Technology of knowledge-based Economy and the Head of the National Elites Foundation have also addressed the issue. The complex and multifaceted nature of the causes and motivations of the migration of elites is obvious, and therefore, it is necessary to address this issue through intensive and targeted meetings with the presence of senior officials from relevant executive bodies. Emphasis should be placed on achieving clear and timely outcomes to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

In our country, the steep and rapid rise of elite migration has raised serious concerns about the loss of scientific assets and the foundational infrastructure of the country. It is true that this issue is not unique to our country, and numerous countries around the world are grappling with this challenge. However, the special status and influential role of elites in the decision-making process, the future outlook, and scientific and intellectual development necessitate special attention and urgency in resolving this matter. Benefiting from the successful experiences of other countries and localizing them with the aim of reducing the momentum of migration and even reversing it in short- and long-term scenarios and expediting the implementation of approved measures with quantifiable outputs require the collaboration of all relevant bodies. As you are aware, experts divide the most influential factors in elite migration into two categories: push factors (domestic detractors) and pull factors (external attractions). The results of numerous studies indicate that factors such as the lack of social attention to the value of scientific activities, the absence of necessary facilities for cutting-edge research and engaging with prominent international scientific communities, low wages and salaries, and a sense of discrimination and inequality are among the push factors of scientific elite migration out of the country.

Without a doubt, Iran is one of the countries with high potential and a rich talent pool in the world, and unfortunately, it is one of the leading countries in emigration. Statistics indicate a significant increase in the migration of elites and specialists from Iran compared to previous decades. This can undoubtedly be attributed to political turbulence, conflicts between groups and factions, the government’s attitude towards elites, and the closed circle of elites among other reasons. Although some officials attempt to deny or downplay this issue, it is an undeniable reality that the country is experiencing a depletion of its human capital, which is one of its most valuable assets. This serves as a serious warning to the country’s officials, and this concern and threat are not exclusively limited to a particular executive body. It necessitates a national perspective to address and resolve it.

The value of elites is noticeable in industrialized countries and their calculated planning. Instead of ceasing such agenda, they rather accelerated attracting educated individuals and particularly conducted for brain hunting due to the excellent profits it brings to their economic, social, and scientific systems. It is self-evident that influential and capital-rich countries strive and strategically plan to attract talented individuals and elites from other countries to enhance their scientific, cultural, and research environments and to be at the forefront of political, social, scientific, and research competitions worldwide.

From the perspective of scientific experts, the emigration of elites has a profound impact on the production, expansion, and dissemination of knowledge in all economic, social, and cultural sectors of a country. In other words, the production of knowledge and scientific development play a major role as the driving force for comprehensive and sustainable development in developed and developing countries alike. Today, all developed or developing countries, in order to maintain or establish foundations for their development and enhance their competitive power with other countries, prioritize science, technology, research, and development as their key activities. They strive to pave the way for attracting and optimally managing specialized and elite forces.

One of the significant reasons for the emigration of elites to these countries is the attention given to the status and position of researchers and idea owners. Therefore, observing appropriate recognition in appointing individuals to scientific and managerial positions, benefiting from educated, capable, and dedicated elites, and avoiding indifference, marginalization, and seclusion of elites will significantly strengthen this process. Generally, talent identification, empowering elites, improving job security, and the employment situation of elites should be among the mandatory decisions of an executive body, and each organization should present a clear action plan within at least three months of employing elite, creative, capable, and entrepreneurial managers.

According to conducted research, undoubtedly, the high level of welfare and living standards in immigrant-accepting countries alone is among the undeniable attractions in this equation. The migration of doctors, nurses, and paramedics to countries on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf is evidence of this claim. Domestic factors (contempt) are also among the other influential factors in the emigration of elites from the country. In this regard, the motivation and reasons for such migrations should be sought more in internal issues. The exacerbating internal characteristics around political, social, scientific, cultural, economic, educational, vocational, and livelihood factors intensify the emigration of elites. The most important characteristics can be listed as follows: (a) the low status and position of elites in the country, (b) the lack of appropriate connection between industry and universities, (c) the weakness of a merit-based system in scientific, managerial, and governance professions and the weak educational and research connections between Iranian universities and top universities worldwide, as well as the lack of research facilities for elites and specialists within the country, (d) inadequate government support for entrepreneurship and employment of elites, (e) low welfare and financial levels of elites within the country, (f) the culture of migration in the country’s universities, and (g) the lack of job security for elites. Additionally, the most significant factors influencing the return of immigrants to the country can be described as follows:

a) Emotional attachment to family and emotional dependencies. b) Cultural education and a sense of responsibility towards one’s people and country. c) Dissatisfaction with Western culture.

Various solutions have been proposed by researchers, experts, and relevant officials to prevent the brain drain and emigration of elites from the country. Some of the most important ones include:

a) Implementing legal measures and restrictions on the emigration of elites and educated individuals, which has proven to be an unsuccessful approach. b) Engaging elites in development issues in a way that they perceive underdevelopment as their own problem and are willing to stay in challenging conditions and cooperate. c) Providing financial conditions for the return of individuals who have left. d) Establishing living conditions, livelihood, and offering special privileges to elites. e) Developing the relationship between academia and industry. f) Providing research facilities and resources for elites and experts. g) Organizing the social and economic status of elites. h) Observing a fair system of governance and utilizing elites more in managerial positions and scientific institutions in the country. i) Providing a platform for educational and research communication between elites and experts with top universities worldwide. j) Expanding political, scientific, and economic relations and addressing existing challenges in foreign relations with the world. k) Government support for entrepreneurship and employment of elites due to interactions between different sectors of a system.

It is necessary for individuals to make an effort to understand the system’s behavior with a systemic perspective. This understanding can only be achieved through studying and recognizing all the components and their relationships as a system. Considering the multitude and complexity of factors and effective solutions for the brain drain issue, as well as the existence of causal relationships, feedback loops, and dynamic interactions among these factors, it seems that the best approach to solving this problem is to use dynamic approaches in the system.

It is specifically recommended to high-ranking government officials that, while observing fairness in appointing individuals to scientific, managerial, and governance positions, they take action to improve job security and employment conditions for elites.

Dr. Abolfazl Bagherifard, Deputy for Education and Secretary of the Medical and Specialized Education Council

Transcript:

Honorable Head of the Scientific Society Affairs Center, along with the relevant records Office of the Deputy, along with the relevant records

Leaked Files Show Regime’s Leadership Fails to Prevent Brain Drain Despite Acknowledging its Consequencesiranian official warning brain drain (1)
Number: 16325M
Date: April 30, 2023
Your Year: 14:27
Classification: Confidential

Islamic Republic of Iran
Presidency
Office of the President

Dr. Dehghani Firouzabadi
Deputy for Coordination, Special Follow-ups, and Management Services
Honorable Presidential Deputy for Science, Technology, and knowledge-based Economy and Head of the National Elite Foundation

Greetings,

Following is the copy of letter number 68950/M dated March 15, 2022, regarding “Migration and Proposed Solutions,” attached is the copy of letter number 1107/42/M dated March 21, 2022, from the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education and its enclosure for your information and necessary action.

Mehdi Mojahed

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