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The 'Gap Year' phenomenon
22 September 2007
Education Queensland recently released its Next Step publication for 2007. This reports on what happened to the year 12 graduates from 2006.
There are some fascinating statistics in there on the differences between our school leavers and those from elsewhere in the State. The University needs to be aware of these differences and trends if we are to optimise our interactions with these people.
The “gap year” phenomenon, a pattern where school leavers who receive a university offer don’t take it up, is becoming better understood in the community and is having quite an impact on the composition of the student body on Australian campuses. Our own enrolment data tell us that the proportion of new enrolments who are school leavers has decreased from about half in 2005 to 41 percent for the current year. However, the proportion of new enrolments less than 20 years of age is still around 70 percent. This suggests the gap year pigeons do come home to roost. Young people are increasingly taking a year or two break before returning to study. The Next Step report indicates that 47 percent of 2006 deferees simply wanted a break from study, with a further 23 percent working to finance further study or qualify for Youth Allowance. Regardless of the reasons, we had just under 500 students defer their 2007 offer and the majority of these were school leavers.
For Queensland as a whole, 37 percent of year 12 graduates went to university but they were far more likely to do so if they were living in a metropolitan (41 percent) versus a non-metropolitan (26 percent) location. In our part of the state, around 44 percent of the Brisbane year 12 group went to university compared to 39 percent for the Gold Coast, 31 percent for the Sunshine Coast and 22 percent for Wide Bay/Burnett. The University’s mission is to see this participation rate steadily grow as we provide greater opportunities and the career aspirations of the community change in response to enhanced educational provision. Of course, the University is only one of the players involved in the Coast’s educational portfolio. We need to maintain and enhance partnerships with schools and TAFE if we are going to change the educational profile of the Sunshine Coast.
Educational opportunity is one part of the equation that produces a more highly qualified community. Another key component is the employment and professional career opportunities available. Tourism and hospitality, construction and the retail sector have traditionally provided the bulk of jobs on the Coast. However, this is changing and indeed must change if we are going to be in a position to meet future needs of the region. There is also the issue of highly qualified locals moving elsewhere if appropriate employment opportunities are not available to them. For a vibrant Sunshine Coast of the future, we just can’t afford to let this happen.
Professor Greg Hill is Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Sunshine Coast.