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University choice and the attractiveness of the study area: Insights on the differences amongst degree programmes in Italy based on generalised mixed-effect models

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  • Columbu, Silvia
  • Porcu, Mariano
  • Sulis, Isabella

Abstract

We investigate the determinants of students' university choices (where to study and which field) by linking micro-data provided by the Italian National Student Archive (ANS) on a cohort of students enrolled for the first time at the university in a.y. 2017/18 with socioeconomic indicators related to the territorial areas and other information concerning universities, fields of study and degree programmes provided by national surveys on graduated students. The aim of the analysis is to propose a set of indicators of attractiveness of tertiary education institutions that are suitable for making comparisons among fields of study and degree programmes between and within universities. To this end, students' choices to attend bachelor's degree studies outside their region of residence have been modelled within the generalised mixed-effect models framework. We show how the setting of alternative model parametrisations and the adjustment for different sources of heterogeneity in the data enable us to build up measures that are suitable to investigate the characteristics of institutions attractiveness. The results of the analysis enable us to assess and distinguish the roles played by the university, the field of study and other factors that are endogenous to tertiary education institutions in determining the power to attract students from other regions.

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  • Columbu, Silvia & Porcu, Mariano & Sulis, Isabella, 2021. "University choice and the attractiveness of the study area: Insights on the differences amongst degree programmes in Italy based on generalised mixed-effect models," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceps:v:74:y:2021:i:c:s0038012119304525
    DOI: 10.1016/j.seps.2020.100926
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    Cited by:

    1. Usala, Cristian & Primerano, Ilaria & Santelli, Francesco & Ragozini, Giancarlo, 2024. "The more the better? How degree programs’ variety affects university students’ churn risk," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    2. Priulla, Andrea & Vittorietti, Martina & Attanasio, Massimo, 2023. "Does taking additional Maths classes in high school affect academic outcomes?," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Annalina Sarra & Adelia Evangelista & Barbara Iannone & Tonio Battista, 2023. "Looking for patterns of change amid pandemic period in students’ evaluation of academic teaching," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(5), pages 4759-4777, October.
    4. Cristian Usala & Mariano Porcu & Isabella Sulis, 2023. "The high school effect on students’ mobility choices," Statistical Methods & Applications, Springer;Società Italiana di Statistica, vol. 32(4), pages 1259-1293, October.
    5. Martina Vittorietti & Ornella Giambalvo & Vincenzo Giuseppe Genova & Fabio Aiello, 2023. "A new measure for the attitude to mobility of Italian students and graduates: a topological data analysis approach," Statistical Methods & Applications, Springer;Società Italiana di Statistica, vol. 32(2), pages 509-543, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multilevel models; Value-added; Student mobility; University attractiveness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C39 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Other
    • E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics
    • H52 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Education

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