Academic performance evaluation incorporating applied research within the ITIC Degree Program

Abstract

Academic performance and student dropout are widely recognized as key indicators for assessing educational quality in higher education institutions. This study examines academic records from the Information and Communication Technologies Engineering program at the Instituto Tecnológico de Tlalnepantla for the 2021–2023 period to identify trends in approval, failure, and dropout rates. A mixed-methods approach with a convergent design and a descriptive-analytical scope was adopted. The quantitative phase involved the analysis of approximately 2,475 institutional academic records covering 15 courses offered over six academic semesters, while the qualitative phase incorporated questionnaires and semi structured interviews to enrich the interpretation of the findings. The results revealed a progressive increase in course approval rates and a decline in student dropout. In addition, programming, mathematics, databases, and communication systems were identified as the subjects with the highest academic difficulty. These findings provide evidence to support institutional decision-making aimed at strengthening tutoring programs, academic monitoring, and student retention strategies in engineering education.