Survey: 42% of students want to go abroad for their postgraduate university study

As many as 42 percent of respondents want to study abroad after their first degree at a Slovak university, according to the results of a survey conducted by the civic association called Therapolis in cooperation with Focus agency, TASR learnt from association founder Renata Hall at a press conference on Monday. "The most common reasons for leaving were the recommendations from friends who had experience with Slovak universities, followed by the level of quality of universities in Slovakia and encouragement from parents and friends," said Hall, adding that the largest groups of students go to universities in the Czech Republic, Hungary and the United Kingdom. The level of interest of politicians in the needs of young people, as well as the functioning of state institutions, also encouraged the people polled to leave.

According to Hall, the good news is that up to 58 percent of respondents want to stay because they want to develop Slovakia. More than a third prefer Slovak universities because they want to continue their extracurricular activities. For a large part of the people staying and leaving, the possibility of finding a job in the labour market was important. "The good news is also that only 15 percent of respondents don't want to think about choosing a university in Slovakia at all," she added.

Source: TASR