The new curricula and their influence on the age of finalizing higher education. A case study of the University of Valencia

Abstract

The present work analyzes the influence that the new curricula have on the age of finalization of the studies of students enrolled in the University of Valencia. It analyses to what extent the new curricula have facilitated the obtention of the degrees based on the age of conclusion of the studies:  the easier the studies, the younger the students finish, given that the age of commencement of their studies is substantially  the same as the ge of commencement of the previous curricula.

The analysis  instrument used is essentially demographic, through its tabular model or of demographic tables, applied to the phenomenon F “successfully to finalize the studies”, that are analyzed through their characteristic event A "the student are no longer enrolled because of having finalized all the credits of their studies".  Several demographic tables referring to both academic years have been obtained:  1991-92, one of the last years of the old curricula;  1996-97, one of the first years with generations of students who finalized their studies with the new curricula; and 1999-2000, year of total implantation of the new curricula.  Given their different duration, the analysis distinguishes between the conducive studies to the obtaining of qualification of short cycle or first cycle, and of degrees (studies of long cycle or second cycle).

The work concludes with the fact that the introduction of the new curricula has not implied greater, for the students of the University of Valencia, rather has confirmed a greater facility to obtain the respective degrees.