Factors associated with university dropout
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/educxx1.26889Keywords:
Data mining, higher education, multilevel logistic analysis, dropoutAbstract
The Spanish education system is characterised by a high university dropout rate. This dropout rate can be reduced through the identification of its most important factors. This research focuses on bridging the dropping out factors with the students’ background before their admission to the Complutense University of Madrid. Our data analysis takes into account of 12035 students who enrolled in the academic year 2017/8. Multilevel- logistic-regression techniques and decision trees have been applied in the search for answers. Fourteen independent variables have been studied (such as the demographic, socioeconomic and academic background). Surprisingly, student’s dedication is the main factor affecting the dropout rate: a higher rate is observed in part-time students instead of those who have enrolled full-time. Other factors contributing to dropping out are the student’s perseverance, their age, the results achieved in their A-levels and the field of their studies. Generally, students dropping out from university are characterised by being enrolled part-time, mature students, not high A-levels results, and most of them are enrolled in degrees of the following fields: science, arts and humanities, engineering and architecture, and social sciences. To conclude, we show that the main factors linked to the dropping out of university are independent of the student’s college performance, and only depend on student’s background-factors. Therefore, it is essential to develop preventive and diagnostic approaches to tackle this issue.
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