IMPACT OF THE SERVICE-LEARNING METHODOLOGY ON STUDENT RETENTION

University dropout in Chile is close to 30% in engineering majors in the first year (SIES, 2019). This work aims to interpret the perception of students and teachers regarding how the application of the Learning and Service methodology affects the permanence of students in the first engineering training cycle. Given the qualitative nature of the research, the descriptive-interpretive ethnographic paradigm was chosen, around the variables: university dropout and methodologies, using the semi-structured interview and discourse analysis, by means of the Atlas. TI software, taking into account the assumption that the application of said methodology in engineering subjects improves the retention rate. This study also seeks to contribute to the investigation of student dropout, showing the need to generate educational interventions and policies aimed at influencing retention to ensure the quality of education and public spending in this scenario.