University dropout: A case study

The aim of this study is to determine university dropout reasons and experiences in dropout process of the individuals who dropout from faculty of education between 2008 and 2018. The study is designed with case study, one of the designs of qualitative research methods. Study group is composed of 10 individuals who dropout from the faculty of education of a state university in Aegean region between 2008 and 2018 and 8 academicians who work in the faculty in the same period. Study group is selected by criterion sampling technique which is a purposeful sampling technique. Data of the study is collected by semi-structured interview forms developed by the researcher and content analysis is used for data analysis. According to the results of the study it can be said that pre-enrollment factors (I), which are guidance factors, personal factors, system factors, family factors, vocational factors and city factors, play important roles in university admission process. These factors can determine the levels of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of the individuals before university admission process. After the admission, university process factors (II), which are psychological situation, academic situation, social situation, organizational situation, appointment factors, military service situation, familial situation and financial situation, are found as determinant factors on individuals' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. All these factors may lead individuals to university dropout by affecting their adaptation factors (III), which are academic integration, social integration and organizational commitment. After dropout decision, individuals either dropout from the system or change department/institution. In the frame of findings, suggestions for future research are given towards vocational guidance, student selection for education faculties, shifts among programs and universities, organizational commitment, practices for academic and social integration, teacher appointment system, and university-city collaboration. KEYWORDS: University Dropout, Faculty of Education, Dropout Experience, Case Study.