Institutional Strategies to Improve Postgraduate Graduation Rates: The Case of the MBA at UES21

Introduction: postgraduate programs face a growing demand for accountability, where graduation rate becomes a key quality indicator. This study explores strategies to increase the graduation rate in the MBA program at UES21.Methods: a mixed-method design was applied, combining a descriptive cross-sectional analysis of the 2018 cohort graduation rate with surveys and interviews of students and faculty.Results: only 8.58 % of students graduated within the expected timeframe. Main barriers identified include difficulties in academic writing, weak theoretical frameworks, and low engagement with thesis advisors.Conclusions: institutional actions such as mentorship programs, writing workshops, and flexible assessment criteria are recommended to improve graduation outcomes.