bless you..

although answer to the question on individual basis as “who will return back home?” might be relevant, but surely does not lie at the core of the subject.. the intention most likely is to figure out how the human capital capacity will develop..
Let me keep it short and brief.. Yes, we need specialists more than ever at this point in history.. because, we are no longer a USSR country (1920s-1990).. we are no longer moving from one place to another (1800-1900s).. we are no longer under threat of external attacks (1800 and before etc).. It is the moment of economic prosperity.. and it is only Turkmen people who will do that.. not aliens..

These days, there are two major sources of human capacity building, based on my personal observation.. First, Turkmen students studying abroad are gaining vast human capital (HC).. Second, those local employees working with or under the command of aliens, be it a technical/engineering company or a social foundation/organization…

The latter is bearing fruit really slowly.. and is at a very short limit.. It does not make sense to rely on that..

But the first one, young scholars studying abroad are getting trained quite well.. some have dropped out of college, but some have emerged into really good levels.. in the UK, USA, Turkey and Russia..
those are mostly bright young minds where they would be employed the best abroad at this point..
why should they bother to return home?..

now the government is slowly getting ready to send scholars/professionals to Russian higher educational institutions mainly to oil and gas related departments.. well.. thats a good news.. but only as good as Winston Churchill’s description of democracy in “democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried”..

I think training our young professionals in Russia is not the best decision for two very simple reasons
First, we were a part of USSR, didnt we learn all it took to be professionals then?.. In other words, we were with them.. there were no barrier to access of what was known in Russia to Turkmen people or, say, Georgians alike. But the technical capacity, the technology level was INsufficient even to the Russian themselves.. and that’s why they are not the best today.. [compare it with the west or far east like Japan]

Second, Russians themselves are anyways learning from the West.. So, why should we learn from some country who are also learning what we want them to teach us?.. How about going to the main source directly just like Russia is doing and filling our bowls?.. Today, Khodorkovsky, or Yukos, is boasing to have become the first company/multinational in the whole Russia that adopted Western style management.. Yukos is the leading company in oil.. yes, all of its stakes have been confiscated by the state and Mr Khodorkovsky has been jailed.. but the point remains the same..

In brief, learning what we need from Russia is really not a good decision.. Some might say there is a language advantage.. I would only find it as an excuse of a lazy workman..

Let me wrap the topic before it gets really long.. HC is building up mainly abroad.. and it shoud be that way.. They might work internally or abroad.. either way will benefit the country to the best of prognosis..
If they stay out for example, they might come to a level to lead a good lobby abroad.. To give examples, take Armenians who have such strong diaspora in the US.. Los Angeles.. or, take Jews who have the greatest power in the Jewnited States.. oops sorry United States.. more Jews are living in the US than in Israel.. or take Turks who have 2 million living in Germany and that many in Belgium and Netherlands.. last but not least, take Pakistanis in Norway.. there is a small Pakistan in Norway today..

No worry for those not returning in the short run… there is a free market today in the world where you can market your skills to the best use… countries still with the understanding of feodalism cannot have a higher say.. and will definitely lose their bright minds to their best fit abroad.. that is called common sense..

After all, having a relative abroad with a flourishing future would be a good extension, indeed.. correct?

just for interested people…

thank you for comments! *) Article’s author is Nurly, and you can find original in Russian here http://ru.turkmenistan.neweurasia.net/?p=21#comments

I would be very happy to discuss human capacity building (or human capital) with you, because i believe that is very significant component to be developed and invested in for Turkmenistan or anywhere else.

First question that Nurly asked in this post was about each reader’s personal desire to come back or not to Turkmenistan.

Sure, Abdulgamid, I’d love to work with Anna, Begend and maybe Nurly, who is original author of this article, on another post on what are alternative approaches could be for better development.

Thanks to Nurly, his post brought this discussion and diversity of opinions

you wrote in your first comment that “you were paying dues”… well, who oews that? why are you paying dues of others?.. no point in being sentimental and putting it in emotional terms and calling it ‘paying dues’..

your approach is a lot similar to this one: “Ah, had Adam not eaten that apple in the heaven, I wouldnot be struggling on the earth now”..

Everyone would be glad to get comments from different readers posted out here..