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Factors of Attrition among Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduates in Russia

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Abstract

Evgeniia Shmeleva - Research Fellow, Center of Sociology of Higher Education, Institute of Education, National Research University Higher School of Economics. E-mail: eshmeleva@hse.ruIsak Froumin - Academic Supervisor, Institute of Education, National Research University Higher School of Economics. E-mail: ifroumin@hse.ruAddress: 20 Myasnitskaya Str., 101000 Moscow, Russian Federation.STEM education has been a priority in present-day Russia, nearly half of all the government-funded places in higher education being provided in science and engineering majors. At the same time, attrition rates have been the highest in this domain. The present study aims to estimate the attrition rates in computer science and engineering education at the beginning of and midway through instruction and to determine the factors associated with college dropouts. Our research uses the results of a survey of over 4,000 computer science and engineering students from 34 Russian colleges, composing a representative national sample, and administrative data on student withdrawal. Vince Tinto's student departure theory is used to analyze the determinants of student attrition during the first three semesters. According to Tinto's theory, social and academic integration are critically important to the retention and success of students in the chosen university. Our findings confirm the key role of academic integration (specifically class attendance and active engagement with teacher) in preventing dropouts but refute the hypothesis of social integration significance. Students with low USE scores in mathematics and those mismatched with their selected major are at higher risk of dropping out. No evidence has been found to prove the hypothesis of dropout rates being higher in more selective institutions. Recommendations for universities for reducing college attrition rates are discussed in the final part of the paper.

Suggested Citation

  • Evgeniia Shmeleva & Isak Froumin, 2020. "Factors of Attrition among Computer Science and Engineering Undergraduates in Russia," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 3, pages 110-136.
    • Handle: RePEc:nos:voprob:2020:i:3:p:110-136
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Prashant Loyalka & Ou Lydia Liu & Guirong Li & Igor Chirikov & Elena Kardanova & Lin Gu & Guangming Ling & Ningning Yu & Fei Guo & Liping Ma & Shangfeng Hu & Angela Sun Johnson & Ashutosh Bhuradia & S, 2019. "Computer science skills across China, India, Russia, and the United States," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116(14), pages 6732-6736, April.
    2. Yaroslav Kuzminov & Maria Yudkevich, 2007. "Universities in Russia and the US: Differences in Academic Concepts," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 4, pages 141-158.
    3. Ivan Gruzdev & Elena Gorbunova & Isak Froumin, 2013. "Academic Dismissal in Russian Higher Education Institutions: Defining the Problem," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 2, pages 67-81.
    4. Diliara Valeeva & Sofia Dokuka & Maria Yudkevich, 2017. "How Academic Failures Break Up Friendship Ties: Social Networks and Retakes," Voprosy obrazovaniya / Educational Studies Moscow, National Research University Higher School of Economics, issue 1, pages 8-24.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alina STRATILA, 2023. "Current Trends In Higher Education In The Republic Of Moldova: Factors Of Student Enrollment And Retention," Contemporary Economy Journal, Constantin Brancoveanu University, vol. 8(4), pages 46-53.

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