| Abstract: The study “Factors Influencing Enrollment Behavior, Academic Performance, and Graduation of UNED Students” was conducted at the request of the University Council (Session 2938-2022) with the purpose of analyzing the elements that affect these indicators during the pre-COVID, COVID, and post-COVID periods.
Using a descriptive and mixed-methods approach, interviews were conducted with 28 academic and administrative leaders, and surveys were completed by 71 program and course coordinators, complemented by a documentary analysis. The findings show that the virtualization of teaching and assessment was the main change resulting from the pandemic, generating both opportunities and challenges, including work overload and concerns about academic dishonesty.
Among the factors explaining the increase in enrollment are the absence of tuition increases, the virtualization of teaching, and the expansion of scholarship opportunities. Regarding academic performance, the main influencing factors were the virtualization of assessment activities and the potential for academic dishonesty. Finally, the increase in graduation rates is associated with the virtualization of thesis and graduation project processes, the maintenance of tuition levels, and the flexibility of evaluation mechanisms.
Based on these results, several areas for improvement were identified to strengthen academic management and educational quality, including: (a) evaluating the effectiveness of measures implemented to enhance virtual teaching delivery; (b) investing in mechanisms to prevent and mitigate academic dishonesty; (c) ensuring the support and updating of institutional regulations; (d) allocating adequate human, technological, and logistical resources; and (e) assessing educational quality comprehensively within the new post-pandemic context. |