Push and Pull Factors of Migration from the Perspective of Ukrainian Students

Aim. The dominant theory interpreting migration is the theory of push and pull factors. Push factors represent unfavourable conditions in the home country that force individuals to consider leaving the country, and pull factors are attractive to migrants in the country where migration is directed. The paper focuses on the perception of the importance of push and pull factors of migration of Ukrainian students living and studying at Slovak universities. Methods. The objective of the questionnaire research was to find out how Ukrainian students prefer individual push and pull factors of migration. The research sample consisted of 285 respondents – Ukrainian students studying at universities in Slovakia, of which 238 were men and 47 were women aged between 16 and 29, all students of bachelor's and master's degrees of higher education. The questions of the self-constructed questionnaire were directed to the area of reasons for migration from the country of origin to the country they chose for their migration as a destination, while a verbal, 5-point scaling was applied to evaluate opinions. The data were analyzed using the Friedman test for repeated measures and the Brunner-Munzel test. Results. Based on the data obtained from the questionnaire research, respondents declared the war conflict in Ukraine as the priority factor for leaving their home country, and equally preferred pull factors were a safer situation in the receiving country and greater political freedom. The research results showed that respondents consider the war conflict to be the primary push factor determining departure from their home country, and the key pull factors that are attractive for coming to Slovakia are a safer situation in the receiving country and the proximity of the chosen destination. Conclusions. Migration is a highly complex and multidimensional phenomenon, with the basic theoretical framework being the concept of push-pull factors. Adverse conditions in the country of origin encourage individuals to leave their home country, and priority pull factors represent attractive characteristics of host countries that attract migrants, including students.

international student mobility · migration motives · migration theory · Political freedom · push and pull factors · Russian invasion of Ukraine · student perceptions · Ukrainian students · International Student and Expatriate Challenges · Migration and Exile Studies · Migration and Labor Dynamics