Return or Not to Return to In-Person Classes? Motivations and Fears that Influence University Dropout in Colombia in the Post-Pandemic Era

Authors

  • Miguel Garcés-Prettel Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar, Colombia
  • Susana De la Ossa-Robinson Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia
  • William Arellano-Cartagena Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia
  • Jorge Alvis-Arrieta Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia
  • Luis Carlos Figueroa-Castillo Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.40.01.159.456

Keywords:

Motivation, Fear, COVID-19, School Dropout

Abstract

Objective: The Covid-19 pandemic interrupted face-to-face education in most countries of the world. Colombian universities were no exception and now, with the return to physical classrooms, they face new challenges to guarantee student retention and prevent academic dropouts from increasing. In this sense, the present study aimed to identify the motivations and fears experienced by some Colombian university students when returning to the physical classroom, and how these variables intervene in the decision to return or drop out. The results provide relevant knowledge about the challenges of higher education in the post-pandemic period. Materials and Method: This descriptive-explanatory research involved a convenience sampling of professional career students in Colombia. Two reliable scales were applied to evaluate the perception of these students in each of the factors and indicators associated with the variables analyzed. Results: It was found that the main motivations for returning had to do with improving performance and recovering academic normality. These motivations proved to be a significant predictor that strengthens the decision to return. In contrast, psychosocial and economic fears increase the risk of desertion. Conclusion: The fears identified in this new normality when they are not learned to manage are risk factors for desertion, while academic and psychological motivations are protective factors. In the final discussion, educational and health recommendations are provided to prevent dropout. 

 

Author Biographies

  • Miguel Garcés-Prettel, Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar, Colombia

    Licenciado en Educación y Medios de la Universidad de Córdoba. Doctor en
    Comunicación de la Universidad del Norte. Profesor asociado de la Universidad
    Tecnológica de Bolívar (Colombia). mgarces@utb.edu.co. miguelefren@gmail.com.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6391-3147.
    https://scienti.minciencias.gov.co/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0001272829.

  • Susana De la Ossa-Robinson, Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia

    Psicóloga, Magíster en Educación y Desarrollo Humano del Cinde (Universidad de
    Manizales). Profesora e investigadora de la Universidad de Caldas. susana.
    delaossa@ucaldas.edu.co, delaossarobinsonsusana@gmail.com.

  • William Arellano-Cartagena , Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia

    Doctor en Ciencias de la Educación, Universidad de Cartagena. Profesor asociado
    de la Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar. warellano@utb.edu.co.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3523-5718.
    https://scienti.minciencias.gov.co/cvlac/
    visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0000144150.

  • Jorge Alvis-Arrieta , Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia

    Doctor en Integración y Desarrollo Económico y Territorial de la Universidad de León. Profesor
    investigador del Instituto de Estudios en Desarrollo, Economía y Sostenibilidad (IDEEAS) de la
    Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar (Colombia). jalvis@utb.edu.co.
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0226-6908. https://scienti.colciencias.gov.co/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_
    rh=0000147052.

  • Luis Carlos Figueroa-Castillo, Universidad tecnológica de Bolívar, Colombia

    Magíster en Psicología de la Universidad de los Andes y licenciado en Filosofía de la Pontificia Universidad
    Javeriana. Director de Ecosistema Universitario de la Universidad Tecnológica de Bolívar.
    lfigueroa@utb.edu.co. lc.figueroa80@gmail.com.
    https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1771-4877.
    https://scienti.minciencias.gov.co/cvlac/visualizador/generarCurriculoCv.do?cod_rh=0001246410.

Published

2024-02-29

Issue

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

How to Cite

Return or Not to Return to In-Person Classes? Motivations and Fears that Influence University Dropout in Colombia in the Post-Pandemic Era. (2024). SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL SALUD UNINORTE, 40(1), 52-68. https://doi.org/10.14482/sun.40.01.159.456

Similar Articles

1-10 of 236

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)