Factors Contributing to Academic Underachievement among Students in Higher Education Institutions A descriptive analytical study from the perspective of a sample of academically underachievement students

Abd Raboo, Magdy; Farouk, Emad; Saeed Al-Qassabiyya, Khlas; Khamis Al-Fahdiya, Hessa; Khaled Al-Hatemiya, Ahoud

doi:10.21608/dss.2025.355375.1381

Factors Contributing to Academic Underachievement among Students in Higher Education Institutions A descriptive analytical study from the perspective of a sample of academically underachievement students

Document Type : Applied

Authors

Sultan Qaboos University

10.21608/dss.2025.355375.1381

Abstract

Academic underachievement poses a significant challenge for students in higher education institutions, with a sweeping impact that extends to students, families, academic institutions and society at the same time. The present study aimed to identify the factors leading to academic underachievement from the perspective of academically struggling students and to collect their suggestions to address it. It also sought to test the relationship between academic underachievement and variables such as gender and year of study. Applying a descriptive analytical approach, the study used the social survey method with a sample of fifty academically underachievement students, comprising both males and females. The sample represented about 23% of the total number of underachievement students within a specific university college. To collect the necessary data, an electronic questionnaire was used. The study reached several findings, indicating that academic underachievement is caused by a spectrum of factors, with personal factors being the primary cause, followed by academic, social, and economic factors, respectively. The results also emphasized the urgent need to establish a social guidance office within each academic institution in which social workers help students address academic underachievement and other challenges they face in the university space, intervening when necessary. The study also puts forth various recommendations to overcome the problem, such as enhancing the role of faculty members, establishing experimental centers for social work within some academic institutions, as well as leveraging artificial intelligence and its applications, information technologies, and communication networks to effectively address academic underachievement.

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