How the “Gap Year” Influences the PARTICIPANTS’ Self-Development

Abstract

The gap year emerged in Europe in the 1960s. Gap year help students improve their academic achievement, enrich their life experience, promote their personal growth, promote their future career development, cultivate world citizen awareness and stimulate cross cultural communication. As an innovative way of higher education in western countries, more and more young person favors gap year. This paper summarizes the impact of gap year on students.