The research on the role and importance of the origin country in migration decision-making aims to improve the understanding of migration processes and to find answers for further policymaking in the field of internationalization of higher education and international student migration. The research is carried out both theoretically and empirically. The theoretical part focuses on the analysis of migration processes, including transnationalism, the review of key strategy documents and agreements, as well as existing measures in the area of higher education in North Macedonia and Slovenia. The empirical part focuses on the personal stories of migrant women from North Macedonia who have migrated to Slovenia independently in order to pursue higher education, with the goal of identifying what are the key processes in the country of origin that affect the women’s decision to migrate. Key findings of the interviews and master's thesis show that socio-economic conditions in the origin country, informal networks, and the agency of persons are crucial in the decision to study abroad. The following push factors were found in the research: lack of educational programs, low-quality higher education, unstable economic and political factors, and limited career development opportunities. Among the pull factors, we can consider better educational and working conditions, including the possibility of career development and a higher living standard.
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