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Gapyear History

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Gapyear History

In the UK, with the launch of the GAP YEAR system in the 1960s, programs such as overseas volunteer work, internships, travel, and working holidays began to be provided to students.

The GAPYEAR system, which was successfully established in the UK, was introduced and began operating under the name Transition Year (the Irish name for Gapyear) for students who were unable to find employment in Ireland. It has been a huge success in terms of student participation and satisfaction and has been widely accepted in European countries as well.

Many universities in the U.S. and Canada, where high-performing students dropping out of college had become a serious social problem, introduced the gap year system, and the college dropout rate of students who participated in the gap year dropped sharply. Afterwards, the Gap Year system was recommended and a conditional admission system to universities was created and operated.

It is being introduced and implemented on a pilot basis at some universities in Australia and New Zealand, and thanks to the high academic achievement of students participating in the gap year, universities across the country are also preparing to introduce the gap year system.

Effects of gap years: In countries such as Ireland, the UK, Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia, research results have been published showing that the academic achievement of students who took a gap year improved by more than 15% compared to students who did not. New Zealand has been implementing gap years for a long time. Educational papers are being published about its importance.

In Japan, a gap year system called ‘JGAP’ was introduced in 2011. Some universities provide various institutional and administrative support, such as deferring admission.

A Korean politician created a gap year system for second-year middle school students through the ‘Happy Middle School 2nd Project, Middle School 2nd Comma, etc.’