BETWEEN ABANDONMENT AND PERMANENCE: A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE REASONS THAT INFLUENCE STUDENTS' DECISIONS

The aim of this study is a theoretical discuss about the definitions of permanence and abandonment and provided by the scientific literature on higher education courses, pointing out elements that influence one or other action by undergraduate students. From a dialectical perspective, the movements of student permanence and abandonment were considered as part of the formation of higher education and a phenomenological stance that allows us to see the object through the perception of the phenomenon itself, considering the lived experiences. Elements specific to the student, higher education institutions and external elements were discussed. As for the results, this study identified that pedagogical, psychological, financial and social conditions are necessary to keep students attending classes. General proposals are made so that institutions and their institutional agents can implement some of the actions aimed at encouraging students to stay at university, making these actions effective preventative measures. It is also emphasized that the interaction between the identified elements is more important than each one in isolation.