University Dropout Model for Developing Countries: A Colombian Context Approach

Abstract

University dropout is a problem that has raised great concern in institutions of higher education. For this reason, academic institutions need to study the phenomenon and come up with alternatives that contribute to the improvement of students’ individual commitments. The aim is to examine the dimensions influencing the decision of university students to drop out. A quantitative approach study was carried out, based on a cross-sectional exploratory-descriptive field design, in which 372 students participated. According to the participants, one of the dimensions that influence the decision to leave the university is the support of the institutions to the continuity of the motivation processes to the student body, since the easy access to the credits is greater than the scholarships granted, which coincides with the financing restrictions of university students in developing countries. In conclusion, it is observed that the communication between managers, teachers, and students is a key factor in the processes of academic retention as a strategy to combat the phenomenon of university desertion.

Profiles of University Students Who Graduate on Time: A Cohort Study from the Chilean Context

“…Regarding gender and residing with parents during university life, our findings are consistent with the existing literature on gender inequalities and the importance of family containment in higher education. In particular, it was found that being a woman is related to better performance during the first semester at university [17,38,69,70], as is living with parents, which underscores the importance of family containment during the university stage, especially in emotional and financial matters [25,69].…”

“…On the other hand, from the point of view of terminal efficiency, it must be understood that retention and graduation are two complementary perspectives that universities must understand and work on, especially for those students who have been defined as vulnerable or at risk of dropping out. Retention is related to the ability of the institution to keep students [25], whereas graduation promotes the educational trajectory concluding favorably and in a suitable time frame. It is essential to focus on how to change institutional practices to strengthen graduation, instead of changing students' admission characteristics.…”