Out-migration or deliberate relocation? Student decisions and the limits of regional universities' retention capacity.
Abstract
The study examines the choice of higher education institutions among young people living in micro-regions from psychological and identity-related perspectives. The analysis reveals that the conscious decision to move away from one’s place of residence often stems not from a lack of institutional quality, but rather from a desire for autonomous decision-making and identity formation. Staying locally is frequently perceived as an expectation rather than a choice, whereas moving away is associated with opportunities for personal development. According to the study, the ability of regional higher education institutions to retain students is influenced less by the range of academic programs offered than by the vision of the future and the life path young people envision for themselves in connection with the institution.
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