米国の教育サイトeducationusaで、日本の高等教育でのギャップイヤー制度の現状とJGAPの啓発活動が紹介される！
米国の教育サイトeducationusaの「高等教育（Higher Education）」欄でJGAPの日本での活動が紹介された。
その記述は、以下の通り。
In other examples, students themselves may design their own unique gap year projects entirely on their own, rather than following something that has been proposed by the university. Kaoru Sunada, representative director of the Japan Gap Year Organization(JGAP) -- which helps promote the gap year system through initiatives such as introducing various examples of previous gap year experiences via its website -- points out that students who have participated in gap years have higher levels of motivation for their studies compared to students lacking such an experience.
He also says that human resources representatives at companies tend to regard students with gap year experience quite favorably. Universities in Japan, as elsewhere, are beginning to put into place the criteria for implementing gap year systems on their campuses. One example in this regard is the change in the entrance system in which universities may freely decide when their academic year begins, as opposed to the April admission which was standardized across all universities.
(educationusa)
http://educationusa.cf/we-want-them-to-have-an-exciting-time-and-then-to-give-feedback-about?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
この記事の母体は、毎日新聞6月01日付東京朝刊「くらしナビ・学ぶ＠大学」欄で特集された「ギャップイヤー～休学し、社会経験や旅」だ。日本の大学でのギャップイヤーの導入と進展・加速化する環境が取材されていたが、それが紹介されている。
大事なことは、comfort zone（日常性）から抜け出して、自分を見つめる時間を確保すること。「ギャップイヤーを経験した学生は、未経験の学生に比べて勉強中のモチベーションが高く、企業の人事担当者からも評価される傾向にある」とJGAPは指摘している。
文部科学省は今年度、ギャップイヤー制度をスタートさせる１０大学１短大１高専（３８機関の応募）への補助金制度を始めるが、そのことも最後に以下のようにまとめられている。（英文にはunder way選考中とあるが、既に決定している）
The criteria for receiving the funds include offering the gap year opportunity to more students; clearly positioning the gap year within the university's overall educational curriculum; and offering effective guidance prior to and following the gap year itself. A total of 12 universities were eligible to receive the support, and selection is now underway among the 38 public and private universities, junior colleges, and specialized vocational high schools that have applied for the funding.
（関連記事）
2015年8月1日付
「今秋から新たに10大学で"ギャップイヤー制度"が誕生する！」（砂田 薫）-JGAP代表ブログ http://japangap.jp/blog/2015/08/10.html
2015年1月29日付
「ついに大学に、文科省の"ギャップイヤー予算"が付く！」-JGAP代表ブログ
http://japangap.jp/blog/2015/01/-27-httpwwwkanteigojpjpsingisouseikihonseisakudai2s6pdf.html
2015年6月1日付
本日付毎日新聞朝刊で、ギャップイヤーが特集～ＪＧＡＰが取材協力
http://japangap.jp/info/2015/06/post-181.html
「ＪＧＡＰ海外ギャップイヤー事情」（130記事以上）：http://japangap.jp/info/cat44/
Source: Higher education on Sunday 16 August 2015
Gap year programs may run anywhere from a few months up to a year, and are aimed at encouraging students to think proactively regarding the reasons why they engage in a particular field of study. The gap year system is widespread in the United Kingdom, and is also beginning to increase in the United States. Eight first-year University of Tokyo students who had utilized the gap year policy in 2014 school year stood up at the podium at the university's Komaba campus on May 9 and gave presentations regarding their year-long experiences. "This was a huge opportunity for me," one student commented. "It opened up more possibilities for me to take action on my own." Science student Ryoichi Hibino, 19, gave a presentation during the session that he titled "The leave of absence that changed my life!
" During spring and summer of his gap year, he studied English and saved up money by doing part-time jobs such as cleaning a cafeteria, working at a karaoke establishment, and working as a security guard. In September, he then set off for countries including Estonia, Turkey and India, where he engaged in activities such as teaching about Japanese culture at local language schools, as well as spending time with children in slums. "It was hard saving up money, but that half-year spent traveling helped me realize what I want to do in the future," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Liberal arts student Akihiro Nakamura, 20, spent almost all of his gap year in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, and the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture. There, he completed an internship with a nonprofit organization active in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami -- where his tasks included helping with the educational needs of junior high school students.
"I gained a lot of experience with creating a learning atmosphere and searching for new opportunities," he commented. "I'd like to go on to formally study education as an academic subject, and to eventually implement a large-scale (educational) system." According to the University of Tokyo's gap year policy, students take one year off just after enrolling in order to volunteer, gain work experience, engage in international exchange, or get involved with other such initiatives outside of the university setting. The program began in 2013 academic year, with the stated aim of cultivating students who are both tough and global-minded. Students who wish to participate in the program first submit an action plan to the university, which is followed by an interview. In addition, they are required to hand in periodic reports to their adviser. A total of 11 students participated in the program in 2013 school year, which was followed by eight in 2014, and five that are scheduled for this academic year. "These students need to have the fortitude to be able to deal with those times when things don't go according to plan," notes professor Hisashi Nakamura with the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, who is a member of the committee implementing the gap year program. "We oversee participating students' experiences, and prioritize their safety while they are abroad," he added.
"We want them to have an exciting time -- and then to give feedback (about the gap year program) to others around them." In 2008, Akita International University in the city of Akita started a gap year program in which successful applicants are required to participate in activities between the months of April and August following their acceptance to the university. They start their first year at the university in September. Ten applicants are permitted to apply to the program each year, for which a comprehensive evaluation is conducted on such criteria as their action plan, an English-language essay, and the results of their interview. Applicants must shoulder all costs on their own during the gap year, and they receive three internship-based credits once they enter the university based upon an evaluation of their final report. Since 2005, Nagoya University of Commerce and Business has been offering a gap year program whereby students spend around 70 days in Europe undertaking solo research or engaging in volunteer-related activities.
Prior to their departure, participants draw up proposals and attend seminars on the English language and overseas life. After carrying out their specific individual projects in various regions across Europe, they attend post-program workshops and write reports following their return to Japan. Students are permitted up to 10 recognized credits for the program in the field of liberal arts education. Scholarships of around 400,000 yen are available to help cover expenses including a portion of lodging, airfare, and insurance, and loans of up to 300,000 yen with no interest are also available. First - and second-year students are eligible to apply for the program, for which slightly more than 10 students have participated in recent years.
In some countries, the gap year system does not take place exclusively just after entering university. Rather, universities may propose various program options such as studying abroad or work-related experience -- respecting students' individual autonomy in the process. In other examples, students themselves may design their own unique gap year projects entirely on their own, rather than following something that has been proposed by the university. Kaoru Sunada, representative director of the Japan Gap Year Organization -- which helps promote the gap year system through initiatives such as introducing various examples of previous gap year experiences via its website -- points out that students who have participated in gap years have higher levels of motivation for their studies compared to students lacking such an experience. He also says that human resources representatives at companies tend to regard students with gap year experience quite favorably. Universities in Japan, as elsewhere, are beginning to put into place the criteria for implementing gap year systems on their campuses. One example in this regard is the change in the entrance system in which universities may freely decide when their academic year begins, as opposed to the April admission which was standardized across all universities.
The Education Rebuilding Council recommended in 2007 that universities promote September admission and the implementation of gap year systems, citing "enhanced opportunities for achieving diverse experiences. " This resulted in revised enforcement regulations for the School Education Act promoting increased discretion on the part of universities, wherein "university presidents decide when the academic year will begin and end." In addition, the 2013 revision of university establishment standards provided individual universities with the flexibility to determine their own academic schedules -- newly permitting a quarterly system rather than a semester-based calendar, for example. Such changes are all understood to be effective for increasing available options in terms of the length and the time of taking leave of absence and participating in studying abroad programs. For the first time this year, moreover, the education ministry set up a budget of 240 million yen for financial support to be given to universities that newly launch gap year programs, with each institution eligible to receive a total of 20 million yen yearly for up to five years.
The criteria for receiving the funds include offering the gap year opportunity to more students; clearly positioning the gap year within the university's overall educational curriculum; and offering effective guidance prior to and following the gap year itself. A total of 12 universities were eligible to receive the support, and selection is now underway among the 38 public and private universities, junior colleges, and specialized vocational high schools that have applied for the funding.
