A Study on the Reasons for the Student’s Dropout of Mahidol University International College (MUIC)

Abstract

This study focuses on the reasons why Mahidol University International College student’s dropout during the academic years 2016/17 and 2017/18. The population group in this study consisted of 40 Mahidol University International College students who resigned during this period.   The instrument used in the study was a questionnaire, and the data was analyzed by using the SPSS for Windows program in order to calculate the frequencies, mean, and standard deviations.

         The respondents of this study were: 65% of the students resigning were female, and 62.5% of all of the students were aged between 18 to 20. Before studying at MUIC, 47.5% of the students resigning had cumulative GPAs of 2.51 and above; 42.5% of them were studying in the Bachelor of Business Administration Program, and 50% of the students resigned during the third trimester of the academic year 2016/17.

         Looking at the family status, 72.5% of the total number of students who resigned were sponsored by their father or mother; 50% of the students stayed at the dormitory, condominium, or in a rented house. 70% of the parents of the students were living together, and the highest educational level of 47.5% of the students’ parents was a Bachelor’s degree. 80% of the parents’ occupations were listed as self-employed, or as a business owner. 65% of the parents’ incomes as stated in the questionnaire were above 120,000 baht.

         The results indicated that: 1) Institutional aspect, the first three low-level causes for student’s dropout were that the programs offered are not diverse enough, the institution is located far from home, as well as being inconvenient to travel to, and the major in which they studied was not useful to them. 2)           Lecturer aspects, the first three low-level causes for student’s dropout were that the students didn’t like the teaching methods of the lecturer, the students were dissatisfied with the evaluation methods of the lecturer, and the students didn’t receive proper guidance from their advisor. 3) Personal aspect, the high-level cause for student’s dropout was that the students going to study at another institution. 4) Family aspect the low-level cause for student’s dropout was due to an internal problem in the family. Lastly, 5) Financial and economic aspect, the first two low-level causes for midway resignation were that the expenses of education were extremely high, and there were problems in the economic status of the family.