An investigation on the high dropout rate in Lund Formula Student Course

Abstract

Lund Formula Student Course is designed to make the students to use their previously acquired knowledge to build a car in the form of a small formula racer. It belongs to Problem-based Learning, which is a modern and effective method, and can make the students to connect theory or the knowledge they have to the practice utilization. However, this course has a high dropout rate at 40%. The main reason for the drop out can be a too high work load based on our survey on the students who have took this course before. Several suggestions are proposed for helping the students to finish their projects successfully and lowering the dropout rate. These include increasing the ETCS points, having monthly status meetings or more strict deadlines.