Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>This study investigates the push factors influencing Bangladeshi university students' intentions to migrate abroad for higher education, using an extended Push-Factor Framework tested via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), corroborated with OLS regression and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) validation. Data were collected from 366 university students across Bangladesh using a structured questionnaire on a five-point Likert scale. The measurement model demonstrated strong convergent and discriminant validity (KMO = 0.940; all AVE > 0.50; all HTMT < 0.90). Results show that Social and Cultural Factors and Educational Factors are the strongest direct predictors of migration intention, with Political Instability and Social Pressure operating as significant upstream drivers of social-cultural dissatisfaction. Research Opportunity was the dominant driver of the educational pathway, while perceived Quality of Education had no significant effect on it. Notably, Economic Factors — despite being significantly predicted by both Unemployment and Investment Opportunities — did not significantly predict migration intention directly, indicating that economic strain functions as a background condition rather than a direct trigger for this student population. These findings were consistent across PLS-SEM, OLS, and ANN estimation, lending robustness to the conclusions. The study suggests migration intention among Bangladeshi students is driven more by socio-political dissatisfaction and academic/research aspirations than by immediate economic calculus.</p>