Dropout rates in higher education and institutional management: The case of the Federal University of Paraíba

Abstract

The core objective of this study is to analyze dropout rates in higher education through the specific case of the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), Brazil, during the term of the REUNI program. The goal is to demonstrate the economic and social consequences of dropout rates for the university management, for the educational institution and for the society in general. The methodology applied was a retrospective longitudinal study of school dropout rates in undergraduate courses from 2007 to 2012. The results of the study showed economic losses to the institution of about BRL 415 million, as well as social losses. The study concluded that in UFPB, REUNI failed to reduce the dropout rates, weakening the university's educational, social and economic development purposes.