Torn Between Two Worlds: The Dilemma of Staying or Returning | Sarvinoz Izzatullo qizi | TEDxTSUL

Quick Overview

The speaker concludes that the dilemma of staying in a developed country or returning home is not a binary choice but a spectrum, emphasizing that contribution to one's home country, like Uzbekistan, is possible from anywhere, and the real challenge lies in shifting societal mindsets to value impact over physical presence and actively support both paths through engagement and collaboration.

Key Points: Uzbekistan ranks among the top 5 countries sending students abroad, with over 110,000 students studying internationally in 2021. Approximately 40,000–50,000 highly educated Uzbeks face the decision of staying abroad or returning home after graduation. The speaker advocates for rethinking the dilemma as a spectrum, asserting that contribution to the home country is possible from anywhere, meaning impact matters more than physical location. For those choosing to stay abroad, society should foster engagement, collaboration, and recognition, rather than judging their choice. For returnees, society needs to provide mentorship, funding, research/innovation platforms, and diaspora collaboration channels. The El-yurt Umidi Foundation is highlighted as a great initiative supporting returnees with up to $1000 extra salary for those working in public institutions. The ultimate goal is enabling a global Uzbek network where nation-building transcends geographical borders.

Context: The speaker, Sarvinoz Sunnatillaeva, discusses the common dilemma faced by thousands of highly educated Uzbek students who study abroad: whether to stay in the developed country where they studied or return to their home country, Uzbekistan. She shares her personal experience, noting that while studying abroad (in Belgium, in her case) offered new ideas and experiences, the pressure to return home, combined with guilt over leaving, created a significant internal conflict, which she frames as not just her story but a widespread issue for the Uzbek diaspora.

Detailed Analysis

Sarvinoz Sunnatillaeva addresses the significant challenge faced by educated Uzbeks studying abroad: the choice between remaining overseas or returning home. She notes that Uzbekistan sends over 110,000 students abroad annually, and 40,000–50,000 highly educated individuals face this post-graduation decision. Recounting her own experience after studying in Belgium, she describes the internal conflict and the guilt felt by those who choose to stay abroad, despite achieving career goals there, because they feel they are not contributing to their homeland's development. She argues that this choice should not be viewed as a binary decision, nor should staying abroad be seen as betraying one's country. The speaker suggests that the real challenge is societal—the expectation that contribution requires physical presence. To resolve this, she proposes that society must stop judging choices and instead support both paths. For those abroad, this means fostering engagement, collaboration, and recognition; for returnees, it means providing mentorship, funding, research platforms, and strong diaspora collaboration channels. She specifically praises the El-yurt Umidi Foundation for financially supporting returnees in public institutions with an extra $1000 salary, concluding that nation-building extends beyond geographical borders by enabling a strong global Uzbek network.