Academic careers and educational strategies to contrast dropout: an analysis of Physics, Astronomy and Physics and Optometry bachelor degree courses at University of Padua

We studied the development of the academic careers of Physics, Astronomy and Optics and Optometry Bachelor Degree students. Groups of students from 2001/02 to 2014/15 were analysed in terms of secondary school attended, final mark obtained, geographic origins and gender, to collect results about enrolment, dropout, transfer, and graduated students. We found that increasing enrolment was accompanied by growing dropout rate. To contrast this phenomenon, a programme of formative tutoring has been activated. Weekly meetings with senior students and professors of the degree course and the university student services allow for orientation and empowerment of first-year students.