Self-efficacy and dropout rates among university engineering students: vocational training as an alternative to dropping out of education

Abstract

University dropout is a multicausal phenomenon influenced by many academic, personal and contextual factors that can, in turn, predict whether students remain in the higher education system. In this regard, self-efficacy is a key factor in academic success, associated with better academic performance and lower intention to drop out. However, leaving the university system does not necessarily mean dropping out of education altogether, as students may consider Vocational Training Programs (VTP) as an alternative for completing their education. This chapter will address the problem of university dropout considering levels of student self-efficacy and will present some findings from the Spanish National Project "Study of the risk and protection factors of university dropout. Creation of a guide to good practice" (PID2022-141290NB-I00). The research results indicate differences in levels of self-efficacy between students who express the intention to drop out of university and those who consider the option of studying Vocational Training. This demonstrates the importance of self-efficacy in the formation of the intention to drop out in new engineering students. Given the importance of self-efficacy in the academic context, some measures are presented for improving university guidance services and tutoring programs that strengthen self-efficacy as a strategy for improving students academic success and reducing the intention to drop out. Finally, the chapter highlights the need to prevent students from dropping out of higher education altogether by supporting their academic journey through other alternatives, such as Vocational Training courses.