Mature vs Young Working Students: Similarities, Differences, and Drivers of Graduation and Dropout

Abstract

The high dropout rate among working students in higher education in Portugal, including both those who are older and at a mature stage in their professional careers and those who are young and recent workers, is one of the main concerns of educational policy. Identifying the drivers of the academic pathway for these students is essential to promote successful education and increase labour productivity and business competitiveness. Using an extensive longitudinal database of personal, course, and employment variables of 1,561 working students from a Portuguese higher education institution, we perform a duration analysis to determine and compare the factors that drive the dropout and graduation risks of mature and young working students in higher education. The results show that, in general, young working students are more positively influenced by financial aid, their motivation for the course, and the desire to find a new qualified professional career, while mature working students depend more on social and academic integration. The accumulation of knowledge/ skills in the 'out of class' experience seems to contribute positively to academic performance.

School-Family and Family-School Enrichment: A Study with Portuguese Working Student Parents

“…In fact, many studies proved that family support can improve working student parents' outcomes, including academic achievement, well-being, and the interplay between family responsibilities and work demands [15]. Married students, or those with a partner, have a greater chance of completing their studies, which is in line with the importance of family support in combining different roles [28]. In our study, this kind of support is also linked with school-family enrichment, suggesting that having support from family can also positively impact the positive influence of school on family life.…”

“…This assistance can help working student parents plan their time more effectively and establish a good work-study-life balance [15,27]. Research by Carreira and Lopes [28] shows that married or partnered students have a greater chance of completing their studies, which is in line with the importance of family support in combining different roles.…”

Ensino Superior: mudanças e desafios na perspectiva dos estudantes

“…Da mesma forma, diferenças tomando as origens sociais dos estudantes se encontram no envolvimento em atividades extracurriculares, no desenvolvimento de carreira prévio e durante a vida universitária ou na entrada no mundo do trabalho após a conclusão dos cursos (Wong & Hoskins, 2022). Quanto aos seus resultados acadêmicos, se aponta um maior risco de rendimento baixo assim como de evasão por parte dos estudantes não-tradicionais, inclusive em associação com o exercício de outras atividades, a idade maior do estudante, as competências de estudo mais reduzidas e a baixa autoconfiança sobre seu próprio desempenho (Carreira & Lopes, 2020;Fragoso et al, 2013;Sanchez-Gelabert & Andreu, 2017). Muitos estudantes não-tradicionais também não ingressam nos curso-instituição de ensino superior que seriam os de sua primeira opção, geralmente em função da oferta restrita de vagas e grande concorrência no acesso aos cursos com maior prestígio social .…”

“…Este conjunto de características pessoais pode contribuir, muito positivamente, para o enfrentamento das adversidades encontradas durante o percurso no ES. Contudo, muitas vezes as condições de vida e de trabalho reduzem as oportunidades de relacionamento e comunicação com colegas e professores, de participação nas aulas e nos trabalhos de grupo, de gerenciamento de tempo e horários, por exemplo, criando vivências acadêmicas menos positivas no ES (Carreira & Lopes, 2020;Fragoso et al, 2013).…”

Career adaptation in higher education: a study with non-working and working students

“…(e.g., Carreira and Lopes, 2020). In other words, students who work prioritize study, and their motivations for working include the desire to get extra money for personal expenses.…”