Gap year
Gap year is an expression or phrase associated with taking time out to travel between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out, referring to a period of time (not necessarily 12 months) in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or work. They are most frequent among individuals who have ceased secondary education and intend to commence tertiary education.
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[edit] History
The practice of taking a deferred year developed in the United Kingdom in the 1960s.[citation needed] During this time, a student might travel, engage in volunteer work overseas or undertake a working holiday abroad.
In 1978, the Prince of Wales and Colonel John Blashford-Snell began what is now known as Raleigh International by launching Operation Drake, an expedition voyage around the world following Sir Francis Drake's route. In the United States, the deferred year idea was promoted by Cornelius H. Bull, in 1980.[1]
A year out has grown very popular among students in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. A trend for year out is to participate in international education programs that combine language study, homestays, cultural immersion, community service, and independent study.[citation needed]
In 2010, year out travel increased among school, college and university leavers, as this is seen as an attractive option for future career development.[2]
[edit] By country
[edit] Denmark
Denmark has sought to limit the number of students who take a year out, penalizing students who delay their education to travel abroad or work full time.[3] In 2006, it was announced that fewer students than before had taken a year out.[4] In April 2009, the Danish government proposed a new law which gives a bonus to students who refrain from a year out.[5]
[edit] Japan
The employment practice known as Simultaneous Recruiting of New Graduates matches students with jobs before graduation, and the practice of a sabbatical is unusual in Japan as a result.
[edit] United States
In the United States, the practice of taking a "year off" remains the exception. Taking a year out has recently become slightly more common for Americans, with prevailing reasons as a feeling of being burned out of classroom education and a desire to understand oneself better.[6] Universities such as Amherst College, Princeton University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Reed College have formal policies allowing students to defer admission.[6] In recent years there has been an increase in 21-23 year olds taking time off after completing their degrees.[citation needed]One of the oldest leading volunteer organizations for young people, Amigos de las Americas, opened up a gap year program in 2011.
[edit] India
In India, the practice of taking time out to travel after high school education, popularly called a drop year has been on a steep rise in recent years, primarily students deciding to enroll in coaching institutions to prepare themselves for rigorous college entrance examinations, including the IIT-JEE, the entrance test for the Indian Institute of Technology.
[edit] Ghana
In Ghana, all Senior high school leavers have a year out from August to the August of the following year although this is not mandatory. Brilliant students can avoid this one year break by taking the private high school final exam in their second year instead, before graduating in the third year.
[edit] Yemen
In Yemen, a defer year is obligatory between secondary school and University. Unless you attend a private University, you have to wait one year after secondary school before you can apply to University. It used to be obligatory to go to the army one year for men, and to teach in a school or work in a hospital for women (and for men who cannot attend the army for health reasons). Since the nineties going to the army ceased to be obligatory.
[edit] Australia
Australia is a popular destination for overseas gap year travellers as well as being a common source of gap year travellers. Usually, around 2% of Australians take a year off prior to attending tertiary education and choose to travel abroad (usually South East Asia or Europe) or within Australia backpacking.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ The Center for Interim Programs
- ^ Gap year travel
- ^ Andersen, Lars Otto (29 November 2004). "Sabbatår - sundt eller skadeligt?" (in danish). Berlingske Tidende. http://www.berlingske.dk/article/20041129/danmark/111290231/. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ Stadigt yngre studerende med færre sabbatår starter på universiteterne, Pressrelease, Universitet og Bygningsstyrelsen, Ministeriet for Videnskab, teknologi og Udvikling (Danish)
- ^ "Committee proposes cash incentives for speedy students". Jyllands-Posten. The Copenhagen Post. 5 May 2009. http://jp.dk/uknews/article1684210.ece. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
- ^ a b SHELLENBARGER, SUE (DECEMBER 29, 2010). "Delaying College to Fill in the Gaps". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203513204576047723922275698.html.
[edit] External links
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