FT: Bulgaria Takes Part in Greece Brain Drain

Teachers and students gather in front of the Athens University during a protest rally against the new austerity measures in central Athens, Greece, 12 September 2012. EPA/BGNES

As a side effect to its financial and economic troubles, Greece is facing a significant brain drain, writes the Financial Times in its Alphaville blog.

Bulgaria is among the countries to which Greek qualified professionals are flocking looking for a better carreer, says the edition.

One of the examples from data shows that in 2010-11 the number of Greek doctors who moved to the UK has grown by 29%.

Many Greek professors, on their part, have chosen to work for universities in Bulgaria and Albania, and also in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

"This will have long term consequences. The foreign universities will take the best academics, presumably resulting in a drop in teaching standards in the country," writes the FT.

According to the edition, this is naturally bound to have reprecussions on the education system, with many Greek students perceiving that it is better to go to school abroad.

With the economy in recession and the financial system in shambles, unemployment amongst the young in Greece is skyrocketing, making it less likely that those students will return after graduation, adds the FT.