Estudo sobre o baixo percentual de conclusão do primeiro ciclo do bacharelado de ciências exatas da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora

Abstract

This dissertation aims to understand the causes behind the low completion rate of the Bachelor of Science in Exact Sciences (BCE) offered by the Institute of Exact Sciences (ICE) at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). The study seeks to investigate the barriers students face throughout the program, identifying the factors that contribute to dropout and, consequently, to the reduced completion rate, in order to propose actions that inform intervention strategies focused on reducing attrition and increasing BCE graduation outcomes. The guiding question of this research is: What measures can the management team of the Institute of Exact Sciences (ICE) at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) adopt to address the low completion rate of the first cycle of the Bachelor of Exact Sciences? The general objective is to identify and analyze the factors that contribute to this scenario, and the specific objectives are: (i) to describe the selection and admission process of the BCE program at ICE, as well as the data indicating the low completion rate; (ii) to analyze the factors associated with dropout and retention; and (iii) to propose an intervention plan aimed at increasing the completion rate of the first cycle of the BCE program at ICE. The relevance of this research lies in the underutilization of available vacancies and the scarcity of graduates, which generates challenges for institutional management, as staff and infrastructure planning become inefficient, compromising the expected social return from public investment in higher education. Dropout, retention, and interdisciplinary bachelor’s degrees are the core concepts supporting the discussions in this study, given their interrelated nature when examined within the context of higher education enrollment and progression. The proposed methodology combines different data collection techniques, including the application of a questionnaire to newly enrolled students and interviews with current and former BCE managers, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the research topic. The final chapter presents an educational action plan containing measures that may be implemented to address the issue analyzed in this study.