Engaging the Guatemala Scientific Diaspora: The Power of Networking and Shared Learning
Source: Frontiers
The underdevelopment of the higher education system in Guatemala and the fragility of its science and technology (S&T) contexts have compelled a significant number of talented Guatemalan scientists to be trained, educated, and employed abroad. The relocation of such skilled human power to different countries and regions has resulted in a growing Guatemalan Scientific Diaspora (GSD). Until recently, the emigration of scientists from the Global South to scientifically advanced countries in the North was studied as it negatively impacted the countries of origin. However, technological upgrades and globalization have progressively shifted the paradigm in which such scientific diasporas interact and connect, thus enabling them to influence their home countries positively. Due to the lack of knowledge-based evidence and functioning connecting platforms, the value and potential of the GSD in their involvement in proposing solutions to complex socio-economic, environmental, and other challenges faced by Guatemalan society remain unknown. Moreover, the lack of interaction of relevant stakeholders (S&T policy agents, international partners, higher education institutions and research centers, industry, and relevant not governmental organizations) represents a pervasive obstacle to the untapped impact of the GSD in the country. This study outlines the Guatemalan scientific diasporas' networking as a mechanism for building research excellence and intellectual capital. This force could respond to the need to strengthen the national science capacities and meet the demands for knowledge production and access to broader sectors of society. This research applied qualitative methodology that, through the conduction of focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with members of the Guatemalan scientific community and relevant key stakeholders, delved into the existence and articulation of the GSD and potential stages for their engagement with their country of origin. Findings highlight the importance of digital and technological pathways that might leverage the GSD's knowledge and experience, channeling skills, and international connections for better interaction with the Guatemalan society. Furthermore, the discussion addresses how technology might turn brain drain into brain circulation, enabling the articulation of the GSD as a viable opportunity to generate collaboration between scientists abroad and local actors, ultimately impacting the building and development of Guatemalan science and national research capacities.
Introduction
Guatemala is a developing country located in the Central American region. It is categorized as an upper-middle-income economy with a Gross National Income per capita of US$4,603 (World Bank, 2021). Although it is the largest economy in Central America, the limited scale of its geographic area (108,800 km2) and relatively small population reported at 15 million (Censo Población, 2018) pose challenges in terms of the development and strength of the national scientific and research context. Despite its growing economy, Guatemala is a country with poor development indicators with limited local economic opportunities; thus, international migration is an option that -at the individual and household level- is perceived as an opportunity to improve the home economy (Saenz de Tejada, 2009; Canales et al., 2019). Moreover, during the internal civil conflict (1966–1996), there were massive emigration waves of Guatemalans, especially from the most affected areas (i.e., the highlands and rural areas) to Mexico and the United States of America (ICEFI, 2021). This international migration included scientists, lecturers, and intellectuals subjected to political persecution. In other words, a combination of lack of work training and job opportunities, and a violent and hostile local context, have produced a constant exodus of Guatemalans (both low and highly skilled human resources). Canales et al. (2019) have estimated the loss of nearly 30.0% of highly skilled Guatemalan migrants, doubling the 13.5% estimated in Commander et al. (2004). Admittedly, the deepening of globalization, the emergence of a digital era, and advances in technology have resulted in the possibility of turning such loss into opportunities, particularly considering frequent and multiple networking collaborations.
Migration of Highly Skilled Human Capital
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD (2016), there is increasing global competition for talent, reflecting that highly educated individuals participate in mobility schemes and are prone to emigration. It is possible to identify strategic international open networks that attract foreign talents to reduce skill gaps, particularly for smaller or lower-income countries. Scientific and research migrations have become more complex in the global landscape, making high- and low-income countries pay more attention to policies that offer more attractive conditions to support inward, outward, and return migrations. However, the “brain drain” paradigm continues to be dominant in the literature when addressing the mobility of skilled human capital from the Global South to the North (Brown, 2002; Davis and Weinstein, 2002; Commander et al., 2004). Brain drain has consolidated as a critical issue for developing countries that struggle to position themselves in the global market. According to Brown (2002), globalization changed the global economy from more labor-intensive to more knowledge and technology-intensive industries.
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