Dropout in higher education: Psychosocial, economical and contextual correlates in post-pandemic era

Using a stratified random sample of Portuguese students, this study proposes to identify psychosocial, economic and contextual correlates of higher education dropout in the post-pandemic era. Despite the measures taken to improve enrolment in Higher Education (HE) (e.g., reducing fees and increasing the number of available university institutions,
scholarships, student housing facilities) the national goal of reaching 40% in 2020 wasn’t achieved and the rate of students who join tertiary studies (e.g., bachelor programmes – 30%) remains considerably lower than the EU-27 average (40.3%) (European Commission, 2020). Also, 29% of Portuguese students in HE dropout from their studies (Direção-Geral de Estatísticas da Educação e Ciência, 2018). Data from Eurostudent (2019) stresses the vulnerability of Portuguese students to academic difficulties and dropout. Compared to other EU countries, Portuguese students are one of those that 1) most indicate that financial difficulties are a major reason for the interruption of studies (41% in Portugal), 2) show higher international backgrounds (born abroad or with one parent born abroad); and 3) show lower education backgrounds (e.g., percentages of students whose parents have not attended HE), which are often connected to lower socio-economic backgrounds. Also, most Portuguese students state that they can only afford to study in HE if they have a job (64% compared to 50% for the EU average), which might impact academic performance. In the post-pandemic era, the higher unemployment rates in youth are likely to increase this financial difficulty and subsequently the academic dropout. Portugal also shows higher rates of students that are parents and therefore might face higher challenges in reconciling the need to care for their offspring with the demands of studying for a HE degree. It is also pertinent to consider that dropping out perpetuates financial dependency and delays progress through developmental stages.

La caixa (FP22-1B047. Contract_FP22-1B047_Cofac)