State scholarship programs and grants as a factor of the human capital development: Russian and foreign experience

Recognizing the importance of the development of human capital, many countries contribute to the growth of international student mobility through various state grants and scholarships for their citizens and foreign students. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the state’s benefit from sponsoring scholarship programs and study abroad grants in the context of the development of the country’s human capital. This article examines scholarship programs and grants to study abroad regarding human capital development, how they can help build human capital, and what can be an obstacle for that. The authors analyze the features and implementation mechanisms and provide typology of the programs in modern conditions. Based on a review of state scholarship programs and grants for studying abroad, and an analysis of scholars’ studies and regulatory documents, authors identify existing and potential obstacles to building up and effectively using human capital such as non-return of scholarship holders to their homeland, deskilling, bureaucratic employment procedures, emigration intentions after fulfilling obligations under the program, etc. Exploring of foreign and Russian experience in implementing state scholarship and grant programs, authors determine several ways for the further development of the programs in the context of the idea of human capital building. The results of the study can be applied to the development and improvement of the Russian scholarship programs and grants for studying abroad.