This paper presents a case study exploring a pedagogical strategy to improve the experience and outcomes of undergraduate students undertaking their Final Year Projects in Information Science at the University of Barcelona. The course had recorded a concerning dropout rate, reaching up to 40% in some cohorts. To address this challenge, an intervention was designed to enhance student engagement, reduce attrition, and support successful project completion through structured guidance, the integration of Open Educational Resources (OER), and other pedagogical strategies, such as reflective analysis, digital portfolios, and focus groups.

The main objectives of the intervention were to lower the dropout rate, provide ongoing support to students during the academic year 2024–2025, develop OER to assist students in key project tasks, and understand the difficulties they encounter. Additionally, the initiative sought to foster a more positive and productive student experience during the course.

The student cohort was diverse in terms of project type. Approximately 75–85% of students developed projects linked to institutional initiatives, 10–15% opted for practicum-based projects, and around 5% started without a defined topic. The methodology comprised several complementary actions: a diagnostic analysis of projects over the previous five years, focus groups at the beginning and end of each semester (17 participants in semester one and 32 in semester two), compulsory self-assessment forms at the start and end, reflective analysis sessions, and digital portfolios with explicit commitments to follow-up. OER were deployed through the virtual campus to guide students in defining topics and developing theoretical frameworks.

The results showed a remarkable improvement, with the dropout rate falling to 10% in the most recent semester. Students reported greater engagement with tutorials, stronger commitment to completing the project, and found the OER and additional resources particularly helpful in structuring their work.

In conclusion, sustained guidance, reflective tools, and accessible resources contribute significantly to supporting students in completing their final projects, improving retention rates and learning experiences.

Keywords: Undergraduate education, Final Year Project, Student engagement, Dropout prevention, Open Educational Resources, Digital portfolio, Reflective practice, Higher education pedagogy.