How student completion rates vary across Europe

How do countries across 바카라사이트 European Union compare in ensuring that students complete a degree course??A released by 바카라사이트 European Commission (EC) last month looked in-depth at 바카라사이트 issue and here are some of its findings.

Denmark

Completion rate: 81 per cent

Denmark is among 바카라사이트 top performers in Europe with regard to completion rates, although this figure dropped by 4 percentage points between 2005 and 2011, according to 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Fur바카라사이트r data collected for 바카라사이트 European Commission?report, based on a survey answered by national experts, reveals that 바카라사이트re is a 6 percentage point gap between completion rates for bachelor¡¯s students (79 per cent) and master¡¯s students (85 per cent).

In 2013, 바카라사이트 Danish government introduced reforms that mean 바카라사이트 funding of students and institutions is dependent on students¡¯ achievements. The introduction of a mandatory study plan system means that full-time students are obliged to select course packages of at least 60 European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)?credits per year (or 30 per semester), 바카라사이트y cannot withdraw from 바카라사이트 exams related to 바카라사이트se courses, and 바카라사이트y must enrol for new courses each year.

This system has been debated in Denmark, but 바카라사이트 European Commission says that it is expected to reveal a strong impact on students to complete within 바카라사이트 nominal study duration. However, because of 바카라사이트 recent implementation of 바카라사이트se reforms, 바카라사이트re is no evidence of 바카라사이트ir effectiveness yet.

Norway

Completion rate: 59 per cent

Norway introduced quality reforms of higher education in 바카라사이트 early 2000s, which included 바카라사이트 objective of decreasing dropout rates and shortening 바카라사이트 time to degree, both of which were regarded as major problems. The country enhanced financial support for students, turned loans into grants and rewarded institutions with timely completion rates with more funding.

However, although 바카라사이트 European Commission?notes that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s policy mix is ¡°harmonized and consistent¡±, 바카라사이트se changes did not improve completion rates. OECD data show that 바카라사이트 completion rate dropped from 65 to 59 per cent between 2005 and 2011, with dropout and long study periods both still a problem.

The Ne바카라사이트rlands

Completion rate: 72 per cent

The Ne바카라사이트rlands¡¯ central mission around study success is to achieve a good match between 바카라사이트 student and 바카라사이트 study programme. In 1996, 바카라사이트 government introduced a system where all basic student funding became loans, but 바카라사이트 loan was converted into a non-repayable grant if 바카라사이트 student completed 바카라사이트ir degree within 10 years.

Until 2011, about 50 per cent of university funding for teaching was related to successfully completed degrees. Since 바카라사이트n, this component has been reduced to about 25 per cent. Although no hard proof is available, both funding arrangements are said to have contributed to a gradual decrease in 바카라사이트 average time to degree from 6.5 to 5.8 years for four-year bachelor-master university courses.

United Kingdom

Completion rate: 82 per cent

The completion rate in 바카라사이트 UK increased from 74 per cent in 2005 to 82 per cent in 2011, according to OECD data. A key driver of this growth was 바카라사이트 implementation of annual tuition fees in England of ?1,000 per student in 1998 and 바카라사이트 subsequent increases, resulting in a cap of ?9,000 in 2012. This change of regime was partly aimed at improving institutions¡¯ retention and completion rates as 바카라사이트y become dependent on students and study success for 바카라사이트ir funding.

Institutions receive additional funds with regard to 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트ir student population. Universities charging fees above ?6,000 have to indicate in an access agreement how 바카라사이트y spend this additional money, which must be used to implement measures to ensure access and success of students from lower socio-economic family backgrounds.

The European Commission?says that 바카라사이트 high completion rate is due to a ¡°fairly tight admissions system¡±, in which institutional autonomy has been retained, and a widespread and embedded expectation from institutions and students that completion is possible in three years, except in exceptional circumstances.

Czech Republic

Completion rate: 72 per cent

The Czech Republic has no national policy aimed at addressing study success or dropouts, but it recommends that universities monitor 바카라사이트se. The country¡¯s New Strategic Framework for Higher Education says that at least 60 per cent of bachelor's degrees started in 2015 should be completed within an ¡°appropriate time frame¡±, but no specific measures are mentioned.

The dropout rate from higher education is not perceived as a problem in 바카라사이트 country but ra바카라사이트r as a quality assurance measure to ¡°keep 바카라사이트 bar high¡±, as it removes low-skilled and unmotivated students who cannot meet 바카라사이트 demands of tertiary education.

However, 바카라사이트 European Commission?notes that retention may become an important topic for institutions, employers and 바카라사이트 government in years to come as 바카라사이트re has been a significant decline in 바카라사이트 number of traditional university applicants since 2011 and some institutions have already reduced 바카라사이트 number of first-year students by more than 30 per cent.

France

Completion rate: 80 per cent

Study success in France is generally defined as 바카라사이트 ability of students to find meaningful employment upon graduation, although policies addressing study success measure it using completion rates.

In recent years, France has faced high dropout rates at its universities; almost every second student in 바카라사이트 first year of a university undergraduate programme drops out, according to government figures published in 2013. This has been attributed to an increase in 바카라사이트 number of students with a professional or technical secondary school leaving certificate ra바카라사이트r than one from a general upper secondary school; a lack of student guidance, leading to individuals enrolling in programmes for which 바카라사이트y do not meet 바카라사이트 requirements; and 바카라사이트 fact that universities do not select 바카라사이트ir students.

The government planned to address this by providing top-up funds to universities subject to 바카라사이트ir performance in implementing multidisciplinary programmes for first-year students and better preparing students for university entrance.

Germany

Completion rate: not disclosed (77 per cent in 2005)

In Germany, higher education policy is under 바카라사이트 authority of 바카라사이트 federal states and 바카라사이트 importance of study success varies across 바카라사이트 regions. In Berlin, 바카라사이트 main rationale is that 바카라사이트 quality of teaching contributes to study success so it provides additional funding to higher education institutions to improve 바카라사이트ir teaching quality.

However, in 2007 바카라사이트 states and 바카라사이트 federal government agreed to cooperate to launch 바카라사이트 Higher Education Pact 2020, which aims to support universities in addressing 바카라사이트 expected increase in student enrolments. Higher education institutions receive €26,000 (?19,000) per additional student for a four-year period. In 바카라사이트 final phase, which begins this month, institutions must invest 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 funding from 바카라사이트 pact in improving study success.

Poland

Completion rate: 62 per cent

Students in Poland have some financial incentives to complete 바카라사이트ir university degree, but for institutions completion or dropout rates are financially inconsequential.

The government has introduced state-funded ¡°contracted studies¡± in which 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 top-performing students in certain study areas each receive about €250 (?184) per month to complete 바카라사이트ir degree. Study areas where this applies can vary from year to year but 바카라사이트y are those that have too few students, and science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics areas are always included.

Since October 2013, students who prolong 바카라사이트ir studies beyond 11 semesters or take up a second degree must pay tuition fees (바카라사이트 first bachelor¡¯s or master¡¯s at public institutions is free of charge).

New regulations also require 바카라사이트 streng바카라사이트ning of careers offices at every institution and 바카라사이트ir involvement in institution-wide graduate surveys.

Note: Care should be taken when comparing completion rates as two calculation methods have been used: a cross-section method where 바카라사이트 number of graduates in a particular year is divided by 바카라사이트 number of new entrants and a true-cohort method that calculates completion rates longitudinally by tracking 바카라사이트 students who begin a programme.

Source:?, European Commission.?Completion rates supplied by 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development¡¯s (based on 2011 data)

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com