The problem of student attrition in higher education: An alternative perspective
- 11 May 2016
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Further and Higher Education
- Vol. 41 (6), 773-784
- https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877x.2016.1177171
Abstract
Student attrition continues to be a significant and costly challenge for higher education institutions across the globe. In Australia, universities cite the importance of addressing student attrition through strategic statements and policy documents, and expend time and resources on the problem. Despite vast expenditures, they have made little impact on student attrition, which continues to negatively impact reputation and revenue. Using a regional Australian university as a case study, this paper analyses a student exit survey to identify the complex and inter-related array of factors that contribute to student attrition. It was found that attrition would be better conceptualised as a wicked problem, which is one that cannot be strategically addressed using traditional approaches to problem-solving. The practical implications of these findings reinforce that current approaches to attrition are likely to fail. Therefore, the wicked nature of the attrition problem needs to be taken into account when developing strategies or policies within higher education.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Developing a national computerised absence monitoring and management system to reduce nursing student attrition: Evaluation of staff and student perspectivesNurse Education Today, 2014
- Understanding student nurse attrition: Learning from the literatureNurse Education Today, 2010
- The contradictory managerialism of university quality assuranceJournal of Education Policy, 2009
- A systemic framework for managing e-learning adoption in campus universities: individual strategies in contextALT-J, 2009
- Using risk to balance agile and plan- driven methodsComputer, 2003
- DIVERSITY, KNOWLEDGE AND COMPLEXITY THEORY: SOME INTRODUCTORY ISSUESInternational Journal of Innovation Management, 2001
- Amethodical systems development: the deferred meaning of systems development methodsAccounting, Management and Information Technologies, 2000
- ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENTAnnual Review of Psychology, 1999
- Coping with Uncertainty: A Naturalistic Decision-Making AnalysisOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 1997
- From thinking to tinkering: The grassroots of strategic information systemsThe Information Society, 1992