Percorrer por autor "Fernandes, Joana M.S.R."
A mostrar 1 - 5 de 5
Resultados por página
Opções de ordenação
- Exploring attrition patterns among undergraduate and master’s students: A systematic literature reviewPublication . Fernandes, Joana M.S.R.Higher education dropout is a multifaceted phenomenon influenced by various interconnected factors, presenting challenges that often lead to inevitable departure from academic programs. This complexity is evident across various dimensions. Understanding the interplay of these factors is essential for developing preventive measures within Higher Education Institutions (HEI). Despite the undeniable importance of obtaining a tertiary degree, pursuing higher education poses significant challenges for many individuals globally, leading to varying completion rates across different countries and educational levels. Projections suggest an increasing demand for higher education qualifications, highlighting the urgency to address dropout rates. Traditional higher education systems face mounting pressures to adapt to evolving societal needs, including increased accessibility, growing demand for enhanced qualifications, and expectations for improved efficiency. Addressing dropout rates requires a thorough examination of historical contexts and prevalent factors leading to premature program departure. While scholarly attention has predominantly focused on undergraduate programs, this study aims to address the gap in research by investigating whether dropout determinants differ between undergraduate and master's degree students. Specifically, the study seeks to answer the research questions: Q1: what are the students’ dropout determinants in higher education; Q2: Are the determinants of student failure in higher education different, based on whether the student is in an undergraduate or master's degree program? Through a systematic literature review, the study examines the determinants influencing abandonment at both levels. Findings indicate that most of the literature focuses on undergraduate students, and very few analyse the dropout problem for a master student level. While economic and integration factors predominantly influence undergraduate dropout, master's students are more affected by academic factors. Understanding the nuanced differences in dropout determinants between undergraduate and master's degree levels is essential for developing targeted interventions to support student’s success in higher education. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on dropout prevention and underscores the importance of considering diverse factors shaping students' academic journeys.
- Higher education dropout and economic consequences: A literature reviewPublication . Fernandes, Joana M.S.R.Higher education represents a crucial life decision, demanding substantial commitment from students. The widespread dropout issue in higher education carries significant consequences for individuals and the education system. Dropout in higher education, including at the master's level, remains a complex and pertinent subject examined since Tinto's pioneering studies in 1975. Highlighting the multifaceted nature of higher education abandonment, many factors interact in intricate ways. Deciding to discontinue an educational program involves a protracted and intricate process where diverse challenges converge, and departing seems inevitable. The multidimensional causes of school failure, spanning psychological, social, economic, psycho-pedagogical, institutional, and pedagogical factors, require examination to develop preventive measures within higher education institutions (HEI). In 2021, approximately 18.5 million students pursued higher education in the European Union, with 28% at the master's level. A sizeable portion of these students is expected to face challenges in successfully completing their academic degrees. While numerous studies explore academic failure in higher education, the emphasis often leans toward the undergraduate level, overlooking master's level programs. The increasing enrolment in postgraduate programs underscores the importance of addressing dropout at this level. When students abandon their undergraduate studies, they face economic and psychological repercussions, impacting personal well-being and professional expectations. The failure to graduate from a master's program also results in various consequences, hindering career advancement, promotions, and financial returns on the student's investment. This process represents a loss of the opportunity to obtain a student degree and operational inefficiencies for institutions, as resources remain underutilized. Globally, student dropout challenges higher education systems, affecting resource utilization, talent loss, and long-term societal benefits. This paper reviews current knowledge on determinants potentiating students’ leaving and the economic consequences at individual, institutional, and regional levels. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing targeted strategies to mitigate dropout rates and enhance the overall effectiveness of higher education systems.
- Reassessing Master's Program Dropouts in Tourism: Is the labor market failing to compensate for the effort?Publication . Fernandes, Joana M.S.R.; Esteves, Salete;Each year, more students are enrolling in postgraduate degree pro-grams. However, many students will fail to complete the degree and drop out. Dropout results in economic and psychological repercussions and potentially hin-ders career advancement. Despite increasing enrolment in postgraduate pro-grams, existing studies predominantly focus on the undergraduate level. Still, master's students, assumed to possess maturity and experience, exhibit lower completion rates. This study focuses on master's students in tourism, a critical sector for countries reliant on skilled professionals. The research aims to eluci-date the factors influencing dropout decisions and students' perceptions regarding the economic implications. Findings suggest that motivation for pursuing a mas-ter's degree in tourism is often driven more by personal satisfaction than purely financial considerations. Furthermore, these graduates may not receive the ex-pected recognition for their advanced qualifications upon entering the labour market. As such, comprehensive analysis in tourism education is imperative to address dropout issues effectively and better align educational outcomes with job market demands.
- The regional impacts of foreign students: a case studyPublication . Fernandes, Joana M.S.R.; Esteves, SaleteInternationalization is currently an essential element of higher education. In the coming years, higher education institutions are expected to globalize and, therefore, internationalization as a trend is expected to maintain accelerated growth. One of the most important indicators of internationalization in higher education is student mobility, centred on students going to study outside their country of origin. In this regard, this case study characterizes the good practices of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) and focuses on the attraction and retention of foreign students and their respective influence in the region. The region where the IPB conducts its activity, Bragança and Mirandela, is characterized as one of the most depopulated and economically depressed in the country. This case is not only presented as a real example of the potential reversal of the consequences of the depopulation of a disadvantaged region, stimulating the existing regional economy and allowing the creation of new businesses, it is also a case of success in the integration of students of various nationalities who share their culture, create networks of knowledge and friendships, which subsequently have a positive effect on political, social, cultural and commercial relations between countries. The presence of these students has a strong effect for the region and so the necessary conditions, whether for attraction during the instruction period or for retaining qualified labour after graduation, must be assured.
- Understanding Dropout in Postgraduate Education: Challenges and Institutional ResponsesPublication . Fernandes, Joana M.S.R.Despite growing enrolment in postgraduate education, completion rates remain low, often falling below those of undergraduate programmes. This disparity has raised concerns about the adequacy of current retention strategies, which are frequently designed with undergraduate students in mind and may overlook the specific needs of postgraduate learners. Master’s students often face distinct challenges, including balancing professional responsibilities, aca-demic demands, and family obligations, all of which contribute to a heightened risk of dropout. This study investigates the institutional factors contributing to non-completion in master’s education through a qualitative case study at a pub-lic higher education institution in Portugal. Using an adapted Delphi methodol-ogy, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with first-year stu-dents and follow-up interviews with postgraduates to validate and deepen the findings. The results reveal three key areas influencing student retention: the early alignment between coursework and dissertation topics, the consistency and support provided by thesis supervisors, and the degree of flexibility in insti-tutional scheduling and workload management. Based on these insights, the study proposes practical recommendations such as structured dissertation time-lines and increased opportunities for academic engagement, including participa-tion in conferences. These measures can help higher education institutions re-duce attrition and improve the postgraduate experience by aligning academic structures with students' lived realities.