Abstract This paper examines the development policy dimension of international student migration, shifting the analytical focus from Western labor market needs to the inherent development potential for countries of origin. Utilizing a multi-dimensional qualitative research design, the study investigates the Catholic Academic Foreigner Service (KAAD) scholarship program, focusing on Ghana as a primary case study alongside four other nations. Methodologically, the authors conducted comprehensive literature and document analyses alongside 245 qualitative interviews with current international students, returned alumni, non-returned alumni, and local development organizations. The empirical findings demonstrate that international students act as vital "change agents" and development drivers. Returned Ghanaian alumni actively advance sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and local governance frameworks, while alumni remaining in Germany foster transnational development through digital entrepreneurship, skills transfer, and municipal sustainability partnerships. Beyond acquiring technical and scientific expertise, students obtain critical organizational capacities, including effective long-term planning, reliability, and leadership responsibility. Ultimately, the study concludes that highly skilled student migration can successfully transform initial brain drain into a productive brain gain or brain circulation model. It recommends establishing a formalized "global student migration governance" framework at the UN and national levels, eliminating restrictive international tuition fees, and enhancing multi-agency cooperation among development and return management organizations to fully leverage the socio-economic impacts of both returnees and transnational diaspora networks.
Krannich et al. (2026) studied this question.