Halyna Mishchuk

Pan-European University, Bratislava, Slovakia 

Kozminski University, Warsaw, Poland;

UC Berkeley, Berkeley, USA

E-mail: halyna.mishchuk@paneurouni.com 

ORCID 0000-0003-4520-3189 

Migration aspirations of Ukrainian scientists in wartime circumstances: expectations and opportunities for professional development

Olena Oliinyk

National University of Water and Environmental Engineering,

Rivne, Ukraine 

E-mail: o.o.oliynuk@nuwm.edu.ua

ORCID 0000-0002-3941-2286

Afonso Nuno Martins

CIAUD, Research Centre for Architecture, Urbanism and Design, Lisbon School of Architecture, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal and CIAUD-UBI, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal

E-mail: afonso.nuno.martins@ubi.pt

ORCID 0000-0002-7999-3791

Tomasz Pisula

Rzeszow University of Technology, Rzeszow, Poland

E-mail: tpisula@prz.edu.pl 

ORCID 0000-0001-7111-9955

Abstract. The study aims to identify the migration expectations and aspirations of Ukrainian scientists amidst the backdrop of war. Conducted at the end of the first year of war, the research evaluates the behavioural responses of a demographic with the substantial intellectual facing profound life changes in life circumstances, the need to adapt to a new lifestyle and environment, and to find a response to extreme changes, the imperative to adapt to new environments, and the necessity to navigate extreme shifts in career and life opportunities. The findings derive from a representative survey of the target group (comprising 389 respondents) conducted over a one-month period (February 18 to March 15, 2023) using a Google Forms questionnaire. The study reveals a strong inclination among scientists residing in relatively safe regions of Ukraine (49%) and those who relocated abroad (42%) to persist in their research endeavours.  Remarkably, the duration of the war does not significantly influence scientists’ career aspirations. Notably, age exhibits a discernible correlation with professional objectives: older respondents express greater intentions to pursue educational activities should the conflict persist. Career prospects for respondents predominantly centre on Ukraine, with a markedly pessimistic outlook on integration into the global occupational sphere: the likelihood of securing employment abroad commensurate with their profession is rated at 4.9 out of 10. There is also a notable readiness among respondents to consider changing their field of occupation entirely (5.4 points) or to discontinue research activities (6.5 points) in case of a protracted war. These results are pivotal for comprehending behavioural dynamics and shifts in career aspirations under conditions of war, and for devising policies that support and foster scientists amidst heightened risks.

Received: September, 2024

1st Revision: April, 2025

Accepted: September, 2025

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2025/18-3/16

JEL Classification: F22, J21, O15

Keywords: migration, intellectual migration, scientists, war