Mind the gap: is having a gap year a privilege of the elite?

Absztrakt (kivonat)

In recent years, an increasing number of young people have postponed their education, some immediately after completing upper-secondary school. It is reported that students from higher-income families often defer their entry to university, as it will provide them with more time to consider what type of education and career they wish to pursue (Heath, 2007). Furthermore, with the job market being more and more competitive, many are opting for a paid position or an internship to broaden their horizons while developing core skills in preparing for the future. On the other hand, students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to take a gap year due to financial struggles or out of necessity. They tend to take on more responsibilities to cover academic and other expenses. As a result, it is imperative to comprehend the effect of the gap year phenomenon and how it affects these individuals’ long-term prospects. With the concept of a gap year recently introduced to Vietnam, it has since gained popularity and is gradually becoming a trend (Tường, 2022). The research will provide the viewpoint of Vietnamese young people from different socioeconomic backgrounds regarding the choice to defer education and its impact on the youth’s future outlooks. Through semi-structured interviews, the research indicates that young Vietnamese people experienced two main types of gap years: “career exploring” and “self-reflecting”. The majority of the participants acknowledge the positive influence of the gap period on skills accumulation and providing clarity to their aspirations.