A FUZZY LOGIC DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR UNIVERISTY STUDENT DROPOUT ASSESSMENT

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/mjoc.v11i2.9374

Keywords:

Fuzzy Logic, Mamdani Method, Student Dropout, Fuzzy Inference System

Abstract

Student dropout continues to be an issue in universities, which has a negative impact on the academic performance of students and the reputation of educational institutions. Since the dropout decision is affected by multiple factors like academic performance, financial situation, stress, and self-motivation, the status of these factors can be highly uncertain, subjective, and conventional assessment methods cannot consider this impreciseness. This study designed a fuzzy logic–based decision support system approach to account for the risk of student dropout in a flexible and human-like way. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential risk of a student dropout decision by taking four key input variables: Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), Financial Stability, Stress level, and Self-motivation. The output variable of the system is Dropout Risk Level. A Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) using the Mamdani inference method was developed, which was implemented using the MATLAB Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. Each input variable was represented using three fuzzy linguistic terms (Low, Medium, and High) and triangular membership functions. Fuzzy IF–THEN rules were constructed based on the researcher’s expertise and assistance from experienced lecturers. Data were collected using structured questionnaires distributed to students.

References

Aggarwal, A., Chakradar, M., Bhatia, M. S., Kumar, M., Stephan, T., Gupta, S. K., Alsamhi, S. H., & Al-Dois, H. (2022). COVID-19 risk prediction for diabetic patients using fuzzy inference system and machine learning approaches. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, Article 4096950. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4096950

Agustin, D. R., Hidayatulloh, D. A., & Ridho’i, M. (2025). Mamdani fuzzy system for RPL student selection: A case study from a university in Jember. Griya Journal of Mathematics Education and Application, 5(3), 1471–1483. https://doi.org/10.29303/griya.v5i3.780

Anapalı Şenel, A., Göksu, B., Şenel, E., & Solmaz, F. İ. (2025). Predicting academic performance with fuzzy logic in prospective physical education and sports teachers. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 28241. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99124-3

Andrade Vera, A., Martinez, J., & Pachay Espinoza, A. (2026). Determinants of university dropout and educational quality improvement. In O. Gervasi, B. Murgante, C. Garau, Y. Karaca, M. N. Faginas Lago, F. Scorza, & A. C. Braga (Eds.), Computational science and its applications – ICCSA 2025 workshops (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 15891, pp. 337–354). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-97617-9_22

Buenaño, E., Beletanga, M. J., & Mancheno, M. (2023). What factors are relevant to understanding dropout? Analysis at a co-financed university in Ecuador and policy implications, using survival Cox models. Journal of Latinos and Education, 23(4), 1400–1415. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348431.2023.2271570

Carrasco-Garrido, C., Moreno-Cabezali, B. M., & Raya, A. M. (2025). New perspectives on university quality assessment: A Mamdani fuzzy inference system approach. PLoS ONE, 20(5), Article e0321013. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321013

Hanif, H. M., Mohamad, D., & Sulaiman, N. H. (2013). Solving decision making problems using fuzzy numbers with area dominance approach. AIP Conference Proceedings, 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4801128

Hanif, H. M., Mohamad, D., Sulaiman, N. H., & Batcha, S. R. (2024). The selection of preferred textbook based on the dominance method. Malaysian Journal of Computing, 9(2), 1879–1887. https://doi.org/10.24191/mjoc.v9i2.26053

Izzati, A. N., Latif, U. K., & Sintiya, E. S. (2025). Prediction of higher education student academic achievement using Mamdani fuzzy logic. Journal of Advances in Information and Industrial Technology, 7(1), 71–82. https://doi.org/10.52435/jaiit.v7i1.682

Luo, N., Yu, H., You, Z., Li, Y., Zhou, T., Jiao, Y., Han, N., Liu, C., Jiang, Z., & Qiao, S. (2023). Fuzzy logic and neural network-based risk assessment model for import and export enterprises: A review. Journal of Data Science and Intelligent Systems, 1(1), 2–11. https://doi.org/10.47852/bonviewjdsis32021078

Mouedden, N., Laalam, A., Rabiei, M., Merzoug, A., Ouadi, H., Boualam, A., Djezzar, S., & Mahmoud, M. (2022). A screening methodology using fuzzy logic to improve the well stimulation candidate selection. In 56th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association. https://doi.org/10.56952/ARMA-2022-0320

Na, L., & Jing, W. (2012). A new defuzzification method for enhance performance of fuzzy logic control system. In Y. Wu (Ed.), Software engineering and knowledge engineering: Theory and practice (Advances in Intelligent and Soft Computing, Vol. 114, pp. 403–409). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03718-4_50

Núñez-Naranjo, A. F. (2024). Analysis of the determinant factors in university dropout: A case study of Ecuador. Frontiers in Education, 9, Article 1444534. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1444534

Nurmalitasari, N., Long, Z. A., & Noor, M. F. M. (2023). Factors influencing dropout students in higher education. Education Research International, Article 7704142. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7704142

Palomino, J. C. V., & Ortega, A. M. (2023). Dropout intentions in higher education: Systematic literature review. Journal on Efficiency and Responsibility in Education and Science, 16(2), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.7160/eriesj.2023.160206

Pathak, B. K. (2025). Assessing student academic performance with fuzzy expert system. International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science, 17(2), 111–122. https://doi.org/10.5815/ijmecs.2025.02.05

Putri, S. N., & Saputro, D. R. S. (2021). Construction fuzzy logic with curve shoulder in inference system Mamdani. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1776(1), Article 012060. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1776/1/012060

Roslan, N. N., Jamil, N. J. M., Shaharanee, N. I. N. M., & Alawi, N. S. J. S. (2024). Prediction of student dropout in Malaysian’s private higher education institute using data mining application. Journal of Advanced Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering Technology, 45(2), 168–176. https://doi.org/10.37934/araset.45.2.168176

Saatchi, R. (2024). Fuzzy logic concepts, developments and implementation. Information, 15(10), Article 656. https://doi.org/10.3390/info15100656

Santos, C. A. D., De Queiroz Pereira, G., & Pilatti, L. A. (2024). Higher education dropout: A scoping review. Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental, 18(8), Article e07156. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n8-117

Sinval, J., Oliveira, P., Novais, F., Almeida, C. M., & Telles-Correia, D. (2024). Exploring the impact of depression, anxiety, stress, academic engagement, and dropout intention on medical students’ academic performance: A prospective study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 368, 665–673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.116

Tesi, A., Di Santo, D., & Aiello, A. (2025). Disentangling students’ dropout intentions: The role of person–environment fit and academic motivation. Psychological Reports. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941251340315

Valencia-Arias, A., Valera Aredo, J. C., Valencia, J., Cardona-Acevedo, S., Patiño-Vanegas, J. C., & Uribe Bedoya, H. (2026). Key determinants of university dropout: Academic, economic, and psychosocial factors in student retention. Frontiers in Education, 10, Article 1701644. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1701644

Xavier, M., & Meneses, J. (2020). Dropout in online higher education: A scoping review from 2014 to 2018. eLearn Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. https://doi.org/10.7238/uoc.dropout.factors.2020

Zając, T., Perales, F., Tomaszewski, W., Xiang, N., & Zubrick, S. R. (2023). Student mental health and dropout from higher education: An analysis of Australian administrative data. Higher Education, 87(2), 325–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01009-9

Downloads

Published

2026-10-01

Data Availability Statement

The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

How to Cite

A Hamid, A. A., Mohd Hanif, H., Batcha, S. R., Mohd Sidek, N. Z., Nordin, N., & Alwi, N. (2026). A FUZZY LOGIC DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR UNIVERISTY STUDENT DROPOUT ASSESSMENT. Malaysian Journal of Computing, 11(2), 2506-2518. https://doi.org/10.24191/mjoc.v11i2.9374