Complex trajectories in higher education students: online and face-to-face universities

Abstract

Expansion in higher education and changes in student profiles have led to an increase in non-linear trajectories that do not fit into a time frame considered standard. However, universities continue to establish success and failure parameters relating to performance indicators that do not consider the heterogeneity of trajectories. The theoretical perspective on which we base our work is the complexity approach, which resituates what we understand as a trajectory of success (and failure), incorporating a broader view to better understand how students navigate through higher education. Based on research on university dropout and changes of trajectory, we present the results of a study carried out using sequence analysis in face-to-face and online universities. The research question on which this study focuses is whether, given the context of greater heterogeneity and complexity, there could be a greater similarity between the students’ trajectories in face-to-face and online modalities in relation to complex trajectories. The results show that complex trajectories are very present in both modalities, and differences are observed according to students’ gender and age. A key conclusion is the discussion on how we consider success and failure student trajectories in the contemporary university taking into account the perspective of complexity.