Migration of highly skilled Colombians: Work, identity and transnational ties

The present migratory panorama is characterized by an unprecedented acceleration of the mobility of highly skilled migrants. This increase takes place in the context of the development of knowledge-based economies, that compete for human capital in the global arena redefining entry and settlement criteria for migrants demanded by sectors of their labour market that depends on specialized knowledge. This article analyses the specific case of Colombia, that stands out as one of the main emigration countries in South America and in which the impact of the mobility of the highly-skilled sector has been especially important. It is estimated that one in ten of its citizens with a university education resides abroad. Despite the relevance of the phenomenon, both for the origin and the main destination countries, meta-analyses are scarce. This state-of-the-art research focuses on highly educated Colombians in the main reception contexts, providing an overview of the areas and problems studied until now. The evolution of migratory patterns in Colombia is addressed in historical terms, tracing links between the flows of professionals and the mobility of other sectors of the population. In addition, an analysis of the priority research areas regarding the migration of professionals at a global level is conducted and connected to the Colombian case. The article holds special emphasis on the processes of professional integration of migrants, as well as their participation in trans- national practices, which is the subject of fundamental importance in terms of the implications of mobility of professionals for the country of origin. The research also addresses the relationship between labour market insertion and the processes of construction of identity and social borders. The paper identifies the gaps in our knowledge about the mobility of highly-skilled Colombians, as well as the areas of study of special interest due to their high social relevance, offering recommendations that can guide and contribute to future research.