Abstract:

Academic dropout is a multifactorial phenomenon determined by factors internal and external to the individual, so its analysis should be multi-dimensional.
Recognizing the impact of the dropout phenomenon, in 2015, the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD) created the Permanent Observatory of Dropout and Promotion of School Success (OPAPSE, portuguese acronym), aiming with this mechanism to combat academic failure and dropout among students at UTAD, as well as monitoring and intervening in dropout situations.

At UTAD, a student can abandon their studies in two ways: formally (by requesting cancellation of their enrolment), or informally (when the student does not renew their enrolment for the next academic year). Although UTAD seeks to reduce the number of students who interrupt their studies, this does not always happen, and the number of students abandoning their studies has varied from year to year. In this work, we present the evolution of academic dropout in the last 5 years. When we compare dropout rates of 2017/2018 and 2021/2022 we observe an increase, both in the requests for cancellation of enrolment (2017/2018 - 1.23% and 2021/2022 - 3.81%) and in the non-renewals of enrolment (2017/2018 - 5.34% and 2021/2022 - 10.23%). We believe that the increase in dropout rates in 2021/2022 may be related not only to the most common causes of dropout (such as inadequate expectations, adaptation difficulties, and economic factors, among others) but also to the post-pandemic context and the current high inflation, both directly impacting the family economy. These factors may be responsible for an increase in the dropout rate of students in higher education in Portugal.

With the monitoring of OPAPSE it was found that the reasons for students dropping out vary according to age group. While typical Higher Education students (17-20 years old) mainly report that the course did not match their expectations and difficulties in adaptation, students over 25 years old more often point out professional reasons and personal and family problems.

In order to prevent academic dropout, OPAPSE contacts all students who present a formal request for cancellation of enrolment, in order to understand the causes and inform the student of the types of support available at the institution (such as medical and psychological support, UTAD's Tutoring Programme, students' association, student ombudsman, among others). This contact is very important, as students are not always aware of the mechanisms of support and integration that the university provides them. With this contact, it is also possible to understand that, sometimes, dropout is a temporary process, and students intend to return to their studies in the following academic years.

Despite dropout being a complex process, the monitoring of this phenomenon and the close follow-up of students allows the identification of causes and patterns, thus enabling the creation, adjustment, and activation of the necessary support to ensure that students are able to complete their academic path, thereby seeking to minimize dropout.

Keywords:

Academic dropout, cancellation of enrolment, dropout prevention, higher education.