Influence of vocational guidance on the university dropout rate

Abstract

This article addresses the influence of vocational guidance on the university dropout rate, investigating how the quality, scope, and relevance of vocational guidance processes impact students' decision to abandon their higher education studies. The overall objective is to analyze the influence of vocational guidance on the university dropout rate, identifying the vocational, personal, academic, and social factors that influence career choice, and to propose intervention mechanisms to strengthen guidance, improve student retention, and reduce early university dropouts. A qualitative approach based on bibliographic and documentary research was adopted to explore the relationship between vocational guidance prior to university entry and student dropout, especially during the first semesters. This approach allows for an in-depth examination of existing evidence, theoretical conceptualizations, and applicable regulations without resorting to direct field data collection. This makes it possible to understand the phenomenon from multiple angles previously studied. Different theories and case studies related to the research topic were reviewed. Three main points emerged from the reviewed documents: 1. Insufficient or poorly aligned career guidance with student expectations leads to poorly aligned career choices, which increases dissatisfaction and the likelihood of dropping out; 2. When guidance integrates information about the labor market, students' own skills, and personal interests, the likelihood of retention improves; 3. Institutional, socioeconomic, and family barriers, such as lack of access to guidance services, incomplete information, external influence, and poor prior preparation, weaken the positive effects of guidance. Furthermore, many studies reported career guidance as a moderating factor: it is not enough to simply provide guidance; rather, it must also be quality, timeliness, and relevance tailored to the student's context. It concludes by stating that career guidance plays a crucial role in reducing university dropout rates, particularly in the first semesters. However, its effectiveness depends not only on its availability but also on its relevance, timeliness, and connection to the student's profile, institutional expectations, and socioeconomic resources.