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Should 'Bridging Years' Replace 'Gap Years'?

This week UCAS has suggested that ‘bridging years’ should replace ‘gap years’ in order to make candidates more attractive for universities
Home, Leisure, Lifestyle - 19 August 2010   Download IconContent available for download:  
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250,000 young people aged 16-25 are estimated to take a gap year of some kind each year but Mary Curnock Cook, (Chief Executive of UCAS) made a statement this week suggesting that ‘bridging years’ should replace ‘gap years’, thereby implying that a young person should actively use their time-off to make themselves more attractive candidates for universities rather than chasing a good time.

80% of employers value volunteering on a CV and 54% rate travel as an important activity. 73% of employers would employ a candidate with volunteering experience over one without and more than half (58%) said voluntary work experience can be more valuable than experience gained in paid employment.

65% of young volunteers give their time to improve their skills with the majority stating that they learnt teamwork (91%) and communication skills (56%) this way. Volunteering had some less expected implications too. 60% of 18- 24 year olds said it had improved their fitness, 22% found it helped them to cut down on their alcohol consumption and 30% on their smoking, yet only 44% of this age group formally volunteer every year.

. Introduction:

Over a quarter of a million young people are estimated to take gap years every year, yet the university body UCAS announced this week that youngsters should use this time off to make themselves more attractive university candidates, instead of chasing a good time. The latest research reveals that employers and young volunteers are sold on the benefits of volunteering for strengthening professional and personal skills, yet less than half of this age group volunteer every year.

Why aren’t more young people considering volunteering?

Joining us to discuss this further is Gap Year Volunteering Expert, Anna Walker.

. Suggested Questions:

How many young people in our area are likely to be planning a gap year this year?

Why is UCAS suggesting so strongly that young people use their time off to strengthen their appeal for universities?

What are the benefits of volunteering?

How can young people combine increasing their skills base whilst seeing the world and helping communities?

Are such short term projects really beneficially to the communities they claim to help?

Where can we find out more information?