Progresses in the learnings, characteristics of the studies and motivations of the students

Abstract

This article analyses to what extent the perception of success in university studies by the students depends on the conditions in which they carry out their studies and on their own motivation. At the same time, it attempts to find out to what extent the students’ motivations are influenced by socio-professional category and sex. In its descriptive part, this paper shows how the various areas of the study are differentiated in three European regions: Baden-Württemberg, Catalonia and Rhône-Alpes; this is why it refers to the variables used to verify the two previous hypotheses. The data come from a survey carried out in the year 2000 in these three regions. This survey includes 4,029 university students halfway through their studies.