KNOWLEDGE IN MOTION: SENDING STUDENTS ABROAD AND RETAINING THE RETURNEES. The Case of Türkiye explores the intricate dynamics of sending students abroad for educa on and the challenges of integra ng their exper se upon their return. This book delves into the cri cal ques on of whether such investments yield the expected dividends in the form of na onal development and ins tu onal enhancement—or whether they result in missed opportuni es and inefficiencies. This work is deeply rooted in my doctoral disserta on: In Their Own Words: Government Sponsored Turkish EFL Teachers. Are We Really Inves ng, or Was ng? (Çelik, 2009), which examined the experiences of Turkish teachers who were funded by the Ministry of Na onal Educa on (MoNE) to pursue graduate studies abroad. Using a narra ve inquiry approach, the disserta on analyzed their challenges, triumphs, and the systemic inefficiencies they faced upon returning to Türkiye. Building upon this founda onal research, this book also incorporates insights from subsequent studies I conducted on related topics, including: · The role of foreign-educated scholars in Turkey's higher educa on system: A narra ve study of two English language teacher educators (Çelik, 2012), which inves gated the contribu ons of foreign-educated scholars and the systemic barriers they encountered. · Turkey's Ministry of Na onal Educa on study-abroad program: Is the MoNE making the most of its investment? (Çelik, 2012), which offered a cri cal examina on of the MoNE's policies and their long-term implica ons. · Turkish higher educa on at the crossroads: Cri cal issues rela ng to systemic and ins tu onal structures (Çelik, 2011), which contextualized the broader systemic challenges in Türkiye's higher educa on landscape. These studies collec vely illuminate the complexi es of sending students abroad and reintegra ng them into the local academic and professional landscape. The book also engages with larger ques ons about brain drain, brain circula on, and the value of interna onal educa on in fostering sustainable development. The topic is par cularly per nent in the case of Türkiye, where governmentsponsored scholarship programs like YLSY (Yurt Dışı Lisansüstü Eği m Bursu) have sought to bolster the country's human capital by funding advanced degrees abroad. Despite the program's ambi ous goals, challenges remain in effec vely retaining and u lizing the exper se of returnees. Through an interdisciplinary lens, this book seeks to bridge the gap between policy and prac ce, offering insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers. It emphasizes the need for cohesive strategies that maximize the poten al of interna onal educa on while addressing the systemic barriers that hinder the contribu ons of returnees. I hope that this book serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intricate rela onship between global mobility and local development, par cularly within the context of Türkiye's shi ing educa onal reali es.