The Proximity of Hybrid Universities as a Key Factor for Rural Development
Abstract
1. Introduction
- An increase in university education can slow down the process of depopulation.
- You could apply the acquired knowledge in a professional activity in your place of residence.
- There is a real concern about the problem of depopulation.
2. Literature Review
2.1. The Migration of University Students
2.2. The Blended University Learning as a Driver for Rural Development
3. Case Study
3.1. Region of Castilla y León
3.2. The Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia (UNED)
3.3. Sample Space and Analysis Method
4. Results
4.1. First Hypothesis: An Increase in University Education Can Slow Down the Process of Depopulation?
4.2. Second Hypothesis: You Could Apply the Acquired Knowledge in a Professional Activity in Your Place of Residence
Development of Professional Activity at the Place of Residence
Variable | Frequency | Percentage |
---|---|---|
No | 103 | 26.6% |
Doubt | 105 | 27.2% |
Yes | 178 | 46.1% |
Total | 386 | 100% |
Area of Study | Variable | Frequency | Percentage |
---|---|---|---|
Humanities area | No | 38 | 28.7% |
Doubt | 37 | 28.0% | |
Yes | 57 | 43.1% | |
Total | 132 | 100% | |
Science–Engineering | No | 31 | 26.5% |
Doubt | 37 | 31.6% | |
Yes | 49 | 41.8% | |
Total | 117 | 100% | |
Social Science and Law | No | 34 | 24.8% |
Doubt | 31 | 22.6% | |
Yes | 72 | 52.5% | |
Total | 137 | 100% |
4.3. Third Hypothesis: There Is a Real Concern About the Problem of Depopulation
Concern Depopulation | Percentage |
---|---|
Economic | 40.20% |
Political | 65.80% |
Real concern | 41.50% |
Environmental awareness | 32.90% |
Nostalgic and origins/others | 22.00% |
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
Limitations and Further Lines of Research
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
UNED | Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia |
MITECO | Ministerio para la Transición Ecologica y el Reto Demográfico |
ESOMAR | European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research |
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Variable | Categories | Frequency | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Increased training prevents depopulation | Yes | 227 | 58.80% | |
No | 159 | 41.20% | ||
Age | Between 18 and 39 years | 185 | 47.90% | |
Between 40 and 59 years | 180 | 46.60% | ||
60 years or more | 21 | 5.40% | ||
Sex | Man | 164 | 43% | |
Woman | 222 | 57% | ||
Labor activity | Yes | 288 | 74.60% | |
No | 98 | 25.40% | ||
Causes of depopulation: | ||||
Lack of job opportunities | Yes | 350 | 90.70% | |
No | 36 | 9.30% | ||
Lack of infrastructure | Yes | 306 | 79.30% | |
No | 80 | 20.70% | ||
Lack of social services | Yes | 324 | 83.90% | |
No | 62 | 16.10% | ||
Lack of leisure | Yes | 230 | 59.60% | |
No | 156 | 40.40% | ||
Ageing population | Yes | 284 | 73.60% | |
No | 102 | 26.40% | ||
Interest perception (index) | Low or none | 45 | 11.70% | |
Medium | 201 | 52.10% | ||
High | 140 | 36.30% |
Variable | Cramer’s Phi/V | Odds Ratio | Observations |
---|---|---|---|
Age | 0.138 * | N.A. | There are differences between Age: higher prevalence among those between 40 and 59 years old. |
Sex | 0.034 | 1.15 | There are no significant differences between men and women. |
Labor activity | 0.02 | 1.1 | There are no significant differences if you work. |
Undertaking the End-of-Degree Project | 0.250 *** | 2.87 | There are differences between those who have considered the possibility of directing their end-of-study work towards some activity that can be carried out in rural areas and those who have not. Higher prevalence in those who can guide you. |
Lack of job opportunities | 0.184 *** | 3.66 | There are differences between those who believe that one of the reasons is the scarcity of job opportunities. Higher prevalence among those who consider that job opportunities are lacking. |
Lack of infrastructure | 0.208 *** | 2.86 | There are differences between those who believe that one of the reasons is the lack of labor infrastructure. Higher prevalence among those who say there is a lack of infrastructure. |
Lack of social services | 0.136 *** | 2.09 | There are differences between those who believe that one of the reasons is the lack of social services. Higher prevalence among those who say that social services are lacking. |
lack of leisure | 0.062 | 1.29 | There are no differences between those who consider that the cause is because there is a shortage of leisure and those who think that it is not. |
Population aging | 0.155 ** | 2.02 | There are differences between those who believe that one of the reasons is the aging of the population and those who do not. Greater prevalence among those who think that it is a reason. |
Interest perception (index) | 0.129 * | N.A. | There are differences between the level of interest in unpopulated areas, with a higher prevalence among those who consider that interest is low or null. |
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Núñez-Martínez, J.; Rodríguez-Fernández, L.; Rodríguez, L.F. The Proximity of Hybrid Universities as a Key Factor for Rural Development. Soc. Sci. 2025, 14, 467. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14080467
Núñez-Martínez J, Rodríguez-Fernández L, Rodríguez LF. The Proximity of Hybrid Universities as a Key Factor for Rural Development. Social Sciences. 2025; 14(8):467. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14080467
Chicago/Turabian StyleNúñez-Martínez, Jacobo, Laura Rodríguez-Fernández, and Luisa Fernanda Rodríguez. 2025. "The Proximity of Hybrid Universities as a Key Factor for Rural Development" Social Sciences 14, no. 8: 467. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14080467
APA StyleNúñez-Martínez, J., Rodríguez-Fernández, L., & Rodríguez, L. F. (2025). The Proximity of Hybrid Universities as a Key Factor for Rural Development. Social Sciences, 14(8), 467. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14080467