Evasão e permanência na licenciatura em física: o caso da UFFS Campus Realeza

Abstract

The evasion in the undergraduate courses is a reality and has been discussed in Brazil for some years. With the expansion of higher education institutions and the offer of places over the last decade, the number of students who drop out of university has represented a significant number compared to those who complete the course. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to investigate this issue and seek to understand the causes of dropout, as well as to seek strategies that make it possible to trace solutions to this problem, helping the academics to remain. In this sense, the objective of this research is to investigate which factors influence the decision to drop out or remain in the Physics Degree course at the Federal University of Fronteira Sul (UFFS), Realeza campus. For this, it uses a case study with a quali-quantitative character whose data were formed from questionnaires with the dropouts and graduates, in addition to the analysis of documents from the institution. Literature points out that courses from different places in Brazil suffer from the same problem, especially in Licentiate and Exact Sciences. Therefore, despite the focus of this research being on a specific course, understanding the reality of this course can help in other degrees. Through the reading and analysis of institutional documents, timid statements regarding evasion and means of permanence were noticed, especially in the projects that govern the course. Furthermore, by the results obtained with the research subjects, factors such as physical and mental health and learning difficulties stand out, resulting in failures and later giving up. Regarding permanence, an interesting factor observed was related to the integration of academics in the course through teaching, extension and/or scientific initiation projects.