At the age of eighteen, Alana Cohoon participated in more civil and political participation than most people have ever had in their lives. She represents a generation Northern IrelandYoung people are determined to overcome the troubled past of the region and seek a richer future.

In a few weeks, Kahun, a member of the Ulster Trade Union Party, a mental health activist and a prominent ambassador for the community building project, will leave the country of her birth and never return.

Leaving home to go to university is a custom for many people around the world, but in northern Ireland unrestrained young people choose to move regularly, and the brain drain that started during the turbulent times continues.

The sectarian armed conflict that ended in 1998 was a decisive factor in the life choices of those born a few years later.

“I do not want to go to Belfast and call someone … because of my background and political views,” said Kahoon, who grew up on a trusted council estate in Port Down, explaining why she chose to study in Glasgow. Capital Protestants are usually marked “orange” and Catholics “green”, depending on their family background.

Important as a local think tank, a Brilliant pictureIn 2018-19, it was found that approximately 17,500 students in the region chose to study in other parts of the UK, while only 3,500 continued to pursue higher education from other regions to Northern Ireland.

His research shows that in contrast to the trend of returning graduates and expatriates from the Republic of Ireland to the Republic of Ireland, two-thirds of graduates in Northern Ireland move away from home after graduation.

Irish economist John Fitzgerald pointed out that you miss those who can change northern society like the changes that have taken place in the Republic over the last 30 or 40 years. Productivity also earns 7% more than their peers.

Fitzgerald Discussion Of Northern Ireland In the financial crisis If the workers in Scotland are as educated, its 20-year annual growth rate will increase from 0.25% to 1%.

He said this could be addressed by encouraging young people to pursue education in the local area.

Currently, the upper limit of university admission means that Northern Ireland offers only 60 seats for every 100 domestic applicants. Research From Queen’s University, Belfast.

Since tuition is partially funded by the Ministry of Finance, the limit is set to control costs. But Fitzgerald believes the deregulation is in the economic interest of Northern Ireland, albeit at a higher cost.

However, there are some indications that this could happen at any time. “There is currently no policy to address the issue of immigration in education,” said Ben Harper, research manager at Pivotel. “The government did not respond, period.”

Robbie Butler, a Stormont UP member and education spokesman, said his party’s priority was to prevent brain drain, but education alone could not solve it.

“If you’ve neglected these young people’s job opportunities, why are you doing this?” He asked.

“They still want to accept high-paying jobs and get more opportunities by sea or south.”

At the same time, some temporary measures were taken to encourage young people to stay Suggestion Written by Matthew O’Toole, a member of the Social Democratic and Labor Party, aims to increase the enrollment rate of civil servants.

“It’s a huge failure,” O’Toole said of the lack of action by Stormont’s largest party and Northern Ireland leaders.

But some young people see their future in Northern Ireland, and 21-year-old law graduate Nathan Fairley (Nathan Fairley) says he loves his country and sees that half of his classmates have left but he never wants to go.

Others believe that Northern Ireland needs to improve not only its education and economy to solve this problem.

Kyle Fraser, 22, grew up in an orthodox Protestant Liberty Presbyterian church and attended college in Newcastle. On her way to New York to visit family and friends, she recalled, “I was in tears all the way to the terminal because I didn’t want to go home.”

Fraser came out in high school. The Democratic Unity Party, the largest political party in Northern Ireland, was founded to oppose the legalization of homosexuality and its motto was ‘Save Ulster from Sodomy’.

These conservative values ​​still pervade DUP today, from homosexuality to abortion issues. Fraser returned to Northern Ireland to attend his Masters program and tried to live in peace with this place, but is now ready to go.

Harper said young people are “outraged at the government that focused on the past” and “feel that their rights have been politically lost.”

Eighteen-year-old Luke Patterson, who received an A-grade last week, won a seat at Cambridge University. He believes politicians should devote more time to issues such as education, health and infrastructure, “rather than focusing on key constitutional issues, whether Northern Ireland is the UK or the Republic.”

He was worried that he would “fall in love with another lifestyle and not want to go back”.

After completing courses in journalism, political science, and international relations, Cohen is less passionate about life. “If I get a better chance on shore, it will be obvious,” he said.