The Meaning of Education in Migrants’ Experiences: The Case of High-Skilled Migrants from Azerbaijan in Poland
The Meaning of Education in Migrants’ Experiences: The Case of High-Skilled Migrants from Azerbaijan in Poland

Summary/Abstract: Education is a meritocratic determinant which is perceived as a means to go ahead: the higher one’seducation is, the higher one’s social status and income is (or should be). The literature in the field is limitedin viewing education abroad as a way of accumulating human capital and valorising on the host labourmarket to gain an international career. However, education (abroad) can also entail life experiences andtravel and a ‘second chance’ at success, where a decision about education abroad is not solely made forthe sake of education but is also influenced by other social and political factors. This article sheds light onthe different meanings and use of education (abroad) by high-skilled Azerbaijanis who migrate to Poland.Preliminary findings from biographical narrative interviews demonstrate that the meanings of educationare more complex, with no single narrative. Pre-migration education is highly emphasised by both theinternal and the external environment. Yet, within the migratory trajectory, education is utilised fordifferent purposes, including as a motive for an ‘escape from’ troubles and conflicts in Azerbaijan. Thistakes place against the backdrop of the specifics of the Polish labour market accompanied by economicgrowth and facilitating policies, as well as the efforts of migrants to maintain their social class, while tryingto outsmart institutional mechanisms in Poland.

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