No. 1038 - Enhancing university students' retention: the role of faculty members

Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional papers)
by Francesca Modena, Giulia Martina Tanzi, Marco Tonello and Antonio Veronico.
July 2026
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High dropout rates in higher education entail significant individual and social costs. This study analyses the effect of university faculty members' demographic characteristics, in particular age and gender, on student retention within the Italian university system during the early stages of their academic path. 

The presence of younger faculty is associated with a reduction in the probability of both dropping out and switching degree programs in the first year of study for all students. The presence of female faculty has a positive effect mainly on female students. A greater presence of female professors and younger faculty, compared to the current situation, would particularly benefit students who are initially more disadvantaged, in terms of abilities measured by national standardized tests and the socio-economic background of their families.

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  1. 24 July 2026
    No. 1038 - Enhancing university students' retention: the role of faculty members
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