Deserción y retención: retos en la educación superior

This work reflects on the desertion of university students, an evident problem in all universities in the world, since it is associated with a series of variables that influence the university student's decision. From a socioformative perspective in which the improvement of the quality of life in harmony with the environment and the context intervenes, the objective is to reduce dropout through the progressive reduction of the rates of academic lag, increasing the graduation rates and terminal efficiency in based on better didactic strategies and tutoring processes that allow entering and contributing to the knowledge society. Compares the different definitions around dropout and socioformation and establishes a new conception of permanence or retention within the framework of the knowledge society and determine actions to improve these rates, since the students come from different contexts by both the factors that drive dropouts may be associated with unequal knowledge, academic formal skills, little interest in training projects, problems in the academic trajectory, psychological and personal problems and financial concerns. To reduce dropout rates and academic lag and increase permanence from socioformation, it is necessary to implement socio-educational strategies that address accompaniment, follow-up, guidance and tutoring processes. Keywords: university dropout, permanence, retention, degree.