Stop brain drain by improving academic environment

If China wants to stop its brain drain, the government must improve the academic environment to attract more talent, said an article in 21st Century Business Herald (excerpts below).

More than 70 percent of top students in national college entrance exams go abroad for further education after getting bachelor's degree in China.

The reason is many of China's graduate schools do not have the academic environment for students who really want to do research in their field.

The root cause is that research funds are controlled and distributed by officials of the education authority departments, according to the applicants' connection with the officials or their fame and social status, rather than the merits of the applicants.

Many young students have to rely on their teachers to apply for the funds. Most of the funds finally go into the pocket of the teachers.

Applying for research funds is becoming an important income source for teachers as their salary is not high compared with many other professions.

As a result, government's input into scientific research rises year by year without generating corresponding results.