Recent changes on lecture attendance and study time in higher education in Spain

Eurostudent 8 Final Conference Viena 10 July 2024

1. Eurostudent 8 Final Conference
Vienna, Austria, 10 July 2024
Recent changes on lecture attendance
and study time in higher education in
Spain
Ernest Pons
University of Barcelona

2. We envision the EHEA as an area where students, staff and graduates can
move freely to study, teach and do research (...)
It will ensure that our higher education systems offer all learners
equitability of opportunitiesin accordance with their potential and
aspirations.
(…) Learners with diverse socio-economic, professional, cultural and
educational backgroundsmust have the possibility and the tools to seek
out and avail themselves, at any time of life, of the educational options
most useful for them.
Whenever possible, external quality assurance systems should address
how the social dimension, diversity, accessibility, equity and inclusion are
reflected within the institutional missions of higher education institutions,
whilst respecting the principle of autonomy of higher education institutions
Higher Education, quality and equity

3. Higher Education, quality and equity
•How well do we know our students?
•Is necessary to know the way students study to propose a
successful teaching and learning process?
•Is necessary to take into account your expectations, living
conditions and study conditions to organize courses?
Some questions

4. Research objective
•We have signs of a significant decrease in class attendance.
•We have indications that there is a change in students' study
patterns.
•But it can be for different reasons: change of generation,
digitalization, economic conditions, preferences...
Some hypothesis

5. 3
d
week
Lecture attendance (I)
Bachelor Response N % In classEnrolledMin.Mean Max.
Bussiness 135 238 56,7% 5774 9815 9,2%59,0%100,0% 58,8%
Economics
53 112 47,3% 2006 3429 25,0%59,9%88,2% 58,5%
Int. Economics
12 24 50,0% 472 673 42,4%66,0%90,9% 70,1%
Statistics
7 19 36,8% 332 435 69,4%76,8%83,3% 76,3%
Sociology
31 44 70,5% 1087 1903 17,7%58,5%90,0% 57,1%
238 437 54,5% 967116255 60,0% 59,5%
Groups Students Lectures attendance
Source: Own elaboration. Survey data from Faculty of Economics and Business (course 22- 23).
Some data

6. 9
th
week
Lecture attendance (II)
Bachelor Response N % In classEnrolledMin.Mean Max.
Bussiness 99 238 41,6% 3512 7174 4,6%49,8%100,0% 49,0%
Economics
43 112 38,4% 1208 2717 9,9%46,5%84,8% 44,5%
Int. Economics
10 24 41,7% 353 500 34,8%63,5%100,0% 70,6%
Statistics
10 19 52,6% 343 622 33,9%54,4%79,2% 55,1%
Sociology
21 44 47,7% 559 1121 15,9%50,4%75,9% 49,9%
183 437 41,9% 597512134 49,9% 49,2%
Groups Students Lectures attendance
Source: Own elaboration. Survey data from Faculty of Economics and Business (course 22- 23).
Some data

7. 13
th
week
Lecture attendance (III)
Bachelor Response N % In classEnrolledMin.Mean Max.
Bussiness 83 238 34,9% 2654 5748 4,6%47,7%100,0% 46,2%
Economics
36 112 32,1% 1185 2554 17,9%47,8%95,3% 46,4%
Int. Economics
12 24 50,0% 435 719 38,6%68,2%100,0% 60,5%
Statistics
11 19 57,9% 350 726 5,7%46,8%70,8% 48,2%
Sociology
15 44 34,1% 408 812 7,7%54,9%81,0% 50,2%
157 437 35,9% 503210559 49,6% 47,7%
Groups Students Lectures attendance
Source: Own elaboration. Survey data from Faculty of Economics and Business (course 22- 23).
Some data

8. Lecture attendance (IV)
Source: Own elaboration. Survey data from Faculty of Economics and Business (course 22- 23).
Some data

9. Survey “VíaUniversitaria” -Xarxa Vives d’Universitats
https://www.vives.org/programes/estudiants/viauniversitaria- 2/
Data
Population Sample % Error
2015 350136 20510 5,8% 0,7%
2018 344851 41502 12,0% 0,5%
2021 359201 49291 13,7% 0,4%

10. Work field (2021)
University Population (2021) % error
Andorra 543 9417,3% 9,20%
Universitat d'Andorra 543 9417,3% 9,20%
Catalunya 219615 2980613,6% 0,53%
Universitat de Barcelona 44591 634114,2% 1,14%
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 29953 2777 9,3% 1,77%
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya 25324 430117,0% 1,36%
Universitat Pompeu Fabra 11544 205017,8% 1,96%
Universitat de Girona 11396 243221,3% 1,76%
Universitat de Lleida 9129 176619,3% 2,09%
Universitat Rovira i Virgili 13636 149310,9% 2,39%
Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de C7454 82411,1% 3,22%
Universitat Ramon Llull 663 12118,3% 8,06%
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya 59839 628410,5% 1,17%
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya 4507 116925,9% 2,47%
Universitat Abat Oliba CEU 1579 24815,7% 5,71%
Illes Balears 12485 228018,3% 1,86%
UIB 12485 228018,3% 2,46%
Pais Valencià 126558 1711113,5% 0,70%
Universitat de València 43409 554712,8% 1,23%
Universitat Politècnica de València 24763 480119,4% 1,27%
Universitat d'Alacant 24726 273711,1% 1,77%
Universitat Jaume I de Castelló 12922 206316,0% 1,98%
Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche 12365 941 7,6% 3,07%
Universidad Cardenal Herrera - CEU 8373 102212,2% 2,87%
Total 359201 4929113,7%0,41%
Sample 2021
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

11. 6. Patrones de aprendizaje
40 hours1 hour
Students time budget (2021)
Taught studies (hours per week)
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

12. 6. Patrones de aprendizaje
Taught studies (hours per week)
40 hours
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.
Students time budget (2021)
Study time (hours per week)
Paid jobs (hours per week) Total hours per week
80 hours
60 hours 90 hours

13. 6. Patrones de aprendizaje
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Eurostudent Spain.
Students time budget (2023)
Total hours per week
40 hours 80 hours
60 hours 90 hours
Taught studies (hours per week) Study time (hours per week)
Paid jobs (hours per week)

14. 6. Patrones de aprendizaje
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària and Eurostudent Spain.
Students time budget
Total hours per week
Total hours of weekly activityXV - 2015 XV - 2018 XV - 2021 EU8 - 2023
Taught studies 19,0 21,3 21,8 18,0
Study time 33,9 37,4 36,4 36,3
Paid jobs 19,7 16,5 19,2 21,5
Total 37,4 43,1 42,5 44,0

15. No work <=15h/week >15 & <35h/week>= 35h/week Mean
1 year 30,0 29,6 29,1 26,3 29,7
2 years 40,0 39,7 38,7 35,0 39,5
3 years 44,8 44,7 43,6 38,5 44,0
Mean 34,6 34,6 35,0 30,6 34,5
ECTS by year
No work <=15h/week >15 & <35h/week>= 35h/week Mean
1 year 29,9 29,6 29,2 26,6 29,6
2 years 40,1 40,0 39,4 35,5 39,8
3 years 45,3 44,9 44,7 40,1 44,7
Mean 35,1 35,1 35,4 31,2 35,0
No work <=15h/week >15 & <35h/week>= 35h/week Mean
1 year 30,2 29,6 29,1 25,9 29,7
2 years 39,8 39,1 37,2 34,3 39,0
3 years 44,0 44,3 41,8 36,7 42,7
Mean 33,8 33,6 34,2 29,8 33,6
Women
Men
Academic results (2021)
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

16. Variables selected
1.Aged of student.
2.Credits passed per course.
3.Credits enrolled in this course.
4.Lectures attendance percentage.
5.Grade.
6.Percentage of income from family.
7.Percentage of income from scholarships.
8.Percentage of income from work.
9.Feeling about integration into my degree.
10.Reasons to go to university.
11.Feeling about the university experience.
12.Total hours of weekly activity.
13.Hours of lectures.
14.Hours of dedication to studies.
15.Hours of work dedication.
16.Ratio of hours of study and credits.
17.Modality of dedication to studies.
18.Lives with his parents.

17. Cluster analysis
5 students patterns
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

18. Cluster analysis
5 students patterns
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

19. Results cluster analysis
Survey sample (2021)49291
Master students 6246
Virtual students 6284
Selected 38456
Missing data 11596
Cluster analysis 26860
AIntegrated769728,7%
BMisplaced 4798 17,9%
CVocational8613 32,1%
D Workers 4202 15,6%
EScholarship1550 5,8%
26860100,0%
5 students patterns
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

20. Results cluster analysis
29% 18% 32% 16% 6%
IntegratedMisplacedVocationalWorkersScholarship
Age -0,07 0,24 -0,03 2,41 -0,08
Credits passed per course 0,12 -0,02 -0,04 -0,88 0,21
Credits enrolled in this course 0,11 -0,11 -0,02 -1,20 0,13
Lectures attendance percentage 0,14 -0,20 -0,18 -0,40 0,13
Grade 0,16 0,02 -0,06 -0,16 0,32
Percentage of income from family 0,56 -0,67 0,61 -1,18 -1,16
Percentage of income from scholarships-0,39 -0,25 -0,45 -0,44 1,77
Percentage of income from work -0,32 1,25 -0,34 2,04 -0,32
Feeling about integration into my degree0,05 0,01 -0,04 0,03 0,09
Reasons to go to university 0,39 0,53 0,35 0,73 0,31
Feeling about the university experience0,08 0,03 -0,06 0,06 0,11
Total hours of weekly activity 0,81 0,33 -0,80 0,43 -0,03
Class hours per week 0,92 -0,22 -0,60 -0,84 0,06
Study hours per week 1,07 -0,26 -0,69 -0,83 0,07
Work hours per week -0,33 1,15 -0,36 2,41 -0,28
Ratio of hours of study and credits 0,36 -0,07 -0,27 0,26 -0,06
Modality of dedication to studies -0,32 1,23 -0,28 1,95 -0,21
Lives with his parents -0,10 0,11 0,01 -0,80 0,20
Variable
5 students patterns
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

21. Temporal evolution
2015 2018 2021
A Integrated 26,2% 25,1% 28,7%
B Misplaced 12,1% 14,2% 17,9%
C Vocational 36,9% 33,5% 32,1%
D Workers 14,0% 17,0% 15,6%
E Scholarship 10,8% 10,2% 5,8%
100,0% 100,0% 100,0%
Main conclusions
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

22. Main conclusions
Men (2021)Women (2021)
A Integrated
26,0% 30,2%
B Misplaced 16,6% 18,6%
C Vocational 34,7% 30,5%
D Workers 15,5% 15,7%
E Scholarship 7,2% 5,0%
100,0% 100,0%
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.

23. Main conclusions
Source: Own elaboration based on data from Via Universitària.
HumanitiesSocial SciencesSciences Health Engineering
A Integrated
21,0% 21,6% 36,6% 35,8% 32,1%
B Misplaced 22,5% 19,3% 18,9% 15,8% 15,6%
C Vocational 33,9% 34,0% 31,4% 30,1% 30,7%
D Workers 14,9% 19,0% 10,3% 13,2% 15,3%
E Scholarship 7,7% 6,1% 2,8% 5,0% 6,4%
100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 100,0% 100,0%

24. Main conclusions
•There’s a high number of students who do not take advantage of
the classes
•There’s no evidence of a significant decrease in class attendance.
•We identify 5 different patterns of students in Spain: a) integrated,
b) misplaced, c) vocational, d) workers, and e) scholarship.
•These patterns do not appear to have changed.
•We detect evidence that the proportion of students of each pattern
may be changing.

25. Questions

26. Eurostudent 8 Final Conference
Vienna, Austria, 10 July 2024
Recent changes on lecture attendance
and study time in higher education in
Spain
Ernest Pons
[email protected]