Modelling the Process to Access the Spanish Public University System Based on Structural Equation Models

Currently, one of the challenges of universities is attracting talent in students, researchers, and teachers. The transition from high school to college requires a student to take a succession of decisions that will shape their future. For this reason, knowledge of the motivations of the students, their family, and their personal environment, to choose a particular degree and/or university to pursue their higher studies, would allow universities to efficiently adjust their recruitment strategies. In this article, a study was developed based on a structural equation model of the access to the Spanish Public University System (SUPE), which can help with supply and demand problems, recruitment actions and policies, and other strategic decisions. This was done through an extensive survey of first-year students of Spanish universities. The results allowed us to obtain the parameters of the model, which showed that the fit between the model and the data obtained were excellent at a global level and acceptable as well in all knowledge areas. The objective of the structural model was to provide a general view of the behavior of the students when deciding the degree and university in which they are going to study, and can help in the decision making of university leaders and to understand some behaviors of the Spanish Public University System.