New Strait Times: Gap year option: Varsity students to get a year off from study The Higher Education Ministry will implement the Gap Year 2017 programme starting September to allow undergraduates to take a year off from studying to pursue their interests. Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the practice, which was common abroad, would affect eight universities. “These students can take a year off to gain industrial work experience or pursue their interest in arts. The universities can also make it as their programme. It can be a part of the National Service Training Programme,” he said after delivering a speech during the Amanat 2017 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. Idris said the ministry was looking into working with the police, army or the Immigration Department on the programme. He said among the universities that would take part in the programme were Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malays...