The professional training programme organised for university curators and departmental staff focused on increasing student satisfaction, supporting academic progress, and exploring opportunities to prevent and reduce student dropout. The aim of the training was to equip university staff who work directly with students with more up-to-date approaches and methods for identifying academic difficulties and providing more effective support to students throughout their university studies.
The training was delivered by Prof. Dr. Róbert Bacsó, Head of the Department of Accounting and Auditing, who presented the issue of student dropout in connection with the latest results and experiences of the DROP project. The programme therefore addressed not only general methodological issues, but also drew on research and institutional experience directly related to supporting student retention and successful academic progress at University of Rákóczi . Student dropout is one of the complex challenges facing higher education today. A wide range of factors may lie behind a student’s decision to discontinue their studies; therefore, addressing this issue cannot be limited solely to the statistical analysis of dropout cases that have already occurred. Equally important is examining what signs, circumstances and processes may precede the interruption of a student’s academic pathway and how institutions can respond to them in a timely and effective manner.
In this context, the DROP – Data-Driven Retention and Outcome Predictor project represents a particularly important professional opportunity. As part of the professional training, the current student dropout rate and its trends at Rákóczi University were presented, along with student opinions and experiences identified through interviews regarding the activities and initiatives they consider useful and worth further developing and strengthening within the university community. The programme also included the presentation of a new Curator’s Handbook, which serves as a practical supplement to the responsibilities of university curators and provides guidance on supporting students’ academic progress and successful continuation of their studies at the university. In addition, participants were introduced to further documentation and professional materials developed within the DROP project, aimed at preventing and reducing student dropout and contributing to a more conscious and effective institutional support system.
The project is particularly important for Rákóczi University, as student success and retention are key elements of the institution’s long-term professional and institutional development objectives. DROP provides an opportunity to examine students’ academic progress not only at the level of individual cases, but also systematically, based on research findings and reliable institutional data. From this perspective, the professional training established an important connection between research, institutional data and everyday educational practice. Preparing university curators and departmental staff is particularly important because professionals who work directly with students can play a decisive role in identifying difficulties at an early stage. Changes in students’ academic performance, motivation or participation, when properly observed, can serve as important indicators that enable the necessary support to be initiated in a timely manner.
In this respect, the DROP project is not simply an international project for Rákóczi University, but part of a long-term institutional learning and development process. Comparing the experiences of participating higher education institutions, sharing research findings and examining data-driven solutions can create a valuable knowledge base that can also support the future development of university operations. For the Department of Accounting and Auditing, it is therefore particularly important that the results of the project do not remain solely within research documentation, but are translated into practice in teaching and student support. Professional training is one of the important tools in this process, as it provides an opportunity to transfer the knowledge and experience accumulated through the project directly to university staff.
The professional training and the DROP project share a common message: supporting student success requires data-driven, professionally grounded and student-centred institutional work. Rákóczi University and, within the institution, the Department of Accounting and Auditing are committed to continuing to prioritise the support of students’ academic progress, the reduction of dropout rates and the continuous improvement of the quality of education.
Student success is our shared responsibility. Knowledge, support and timely decisions together can create the conditions for a successful university journey and a strong professional future.
Department of Accounting and Auditing
