Influence of academic engagement in graduate students' loyalty: A Structural Equation Modelling approach

This study focused on measuring the beliefs of academic self-efficacy, the affective commitment to the university and the impact of academic engagement on the loyalty of graduate students while providing educational services for which an empirical research (not an experimental one) was conducted of cross-explanatory nature. The analysis unit consisted of graduate students in the engineering, business and social sciences areas. The non-probabilistic sample was applied in the area of graduate programs in a private university in Mexico, obtaining 484 valid surveys. The results show that loyalty increases as the engagement of students in their academic process gets higher. In turn, both perceived academic self-efficacy beliefs and affective commitment are predictors of loyalty, through academic engagement. (C) 2016 Universidad ICESI. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.