Motivation of students in graduate programs: an analysis from differences in profiles in the field of Administration

Abstract

Knowledge about students’ motivation in graduate programs is little explored in the literature. This article aims to analyze the profiles and motivations of students in the field of Administration, with emphasis on a graduate program in Brazil. By a six-year longitudinal analysis of a program from a public institution in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, using multiple correspondence analysis, the results show the existence of three clusters that group characteristics related to the reason for choosing the institution and the course, academic experience, professional experience, and sociodemographic characteristics. The analysis of the students of the program shows distinct profiles among master’s and doctoral students and highlights challenges to be faced by the managers of the program. It also opens a longitudinal follow-up research agenda on satisfaction with the program and skills development using questionnaires applied at different stages of the students’ trajectory. The methodology used can be adapted and used in other graduate programs, and the insights are potential sources of comparative analysis with similar programs, aiming at actions that can increase the appeal to students.