International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development

Educational lag in higher education is a complex phenomenon that can affect academic progression, persistence, and terminal efficiency. This study analyzed factors associated with educational lag among eighth-semester Industrial Engineering students at the Instituto Tecnológico de León, from the perspective of faculty members. A qualitative approach was used, with an explanatory design and thematic content analysis. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 15 faculty members of the Industrial Engineering Department. The analytical process included transcription and organization of responses, exploratory reading and initial coding, construction of thematic categories, and interpretive analysis. Findings indicate that educational lag is multifactorial and emerges from the interaction of socioeconomic, personal and socioemotional, academic, and process-related conditions. In the socioeconomic dimension, 73.3% of participating faculty estimated that at least half of the students work while studying. In the personal dimension, 73.3% reported that family or partner problems affect academic performance, while 66.7% perceived anxiety or attention-related difficulties and all respondents considered such conditions harmful to performance. In the academic-process dimension, 93.3% evaluated the faculty-student relationship as good and considered it influential on motivation, whereas the tutoring system showed limited visibility and perceived effectiveness. The findings support an integrated institutional response that combines socioemotional support, academic-work flexibility, early risk detection, and strengthened tutoring.

Margarita Sarabia Saldaña, "Factors Associated with Educational Lag among Eighth-Semester Industrial Engineering Students at the Instituto Tecnológico de León" International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development, V9(4): Page(1461-1465) July-August 2026. ISSN: 2581-7175. www.ijsred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.