Percepciones de estudiantes desertores de psicología de la Fundación Universitaria Católica Lumen Gentium acerca del área de permanencia de la Universidad

Abstract

The problem of university dropout is a recurring theme in the system of higher education in Colombia. Around the above, different emerge elements of analysis, within which are the perceptions of student deserters and their experiences in the accompaniment they receive by part of the competent areas of higher education institutions. With the intention of elucidating this last point, this research work has as ngeneral objective, to characterize the perceptions that students have of undergraduate degree in psychology from the Lumen Gentium Catholic University Foundation, in front of the student permanence area during their dropout situation university.

The approach used in the study is qualitative, and the technique was used of in-depth interview research, which was applied to a sample of 5 Psychology undergraduate students. On the other hand, the results show a majority absence of activities employed by the area of ​​permanence student to students who drop out. This last point has a additional element, such as the lack of joint work between the different peers belonging to the university. Only one case was found in which there was direct participation of the student permanence area. In addition to the above, there are feelings of sadness, disappointment, fear, loneliness, and appreciation in psychology students when faced with the decision to desert, either by voluntary or forced factors. Similarly, the interviewed psychology students acknowledge the absence of contributions positives of the analyzed area. Likewise, they raise as recommendations greater offer of activities, monitoring of students who drop out, and strengthening of the sense of belonging and links generated between the university and the student.

However, the main conclusion highlighted is the need to promote practices that transcend traditional models; update them. That is one key tool to mitigate the phenomenon of desertion. Taking the concept of "institutional habit" proposed by Bourdieu and Passeron (1977) can be said that institutions tend to replicate the habits and norms of a social group particular, harming students with different social conditions. From this model, desertion is influenced by a social system in its set.

Furthermore, it is necessary to articulate a joint work between all the actors make up the university, in a way that reinforces and builds interest and responsibility for mitigating the factors that lead to student dropouts undergraduate.