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Gap year travel on the rise as university applications hit a low

1st February 2012 Print
Mix work and travel in Japan

With a drop in university applications, as revealed by UCAS this week, gap travel experiences could once again be on the rise. UCAS figures earlier this week revealed that there has been a 9% drop in university applications in England and 8.7% across the whole of the UK. The figures published by the UCAS admissions service show that by the 15th January deadline there were 462,507 applications for courses beginning in September 2012.

Those who decide not to attend university will no-doubt be looking for work enhancing skills they can learn and enjoy to have a more rounded experiences. Real Gap Experience understands that the drop in university applicants demonstrates the need for a well-planned and structured type of travel. To cater for the predicted growth in demand for internships and work experience overseas, Real Gap has introduced 3 new work-while-you-travel trips to accommodate student’s needs this year.

Future employers will be looking to their perspective employees to show their worth and that they used their time away in a constructive manner. Real Gap now offers more work experience travel including the new internships in Australia, the Namibia medical internship and paid work in Japan, this offers young people the opportunity to get on the career path from the start.

Sam Cox, Managing Director of Real Gap Experience comments “Some youngsters are realising that a university degree is not the "be-all-and-end-all" and that an internship will give them a good head start with practical work experience that can be immediately translated into the trade or job for which they have been apprenticed. What's more if the youngsters gain other skills on a trip abroad, these can then be used in a constructive way when they return”.

This style of travelling incorporates the changing face of the Gap Year, with youngsters considering more work experience related trips that offer an experience to learn. A-level students, and even their future employers recognise the cultural and experiential benefits of stepping out from an all too familiar comfort zone and heading off on an adventure that will test necessary skill sets needed in adult life.

Top 3 Paid Trips from Real Gap Experience:

Namibia Medical internship:
Squeezed between the Kalahari and the South Atlantic, Namibia enjoys a striking diversity of cultures and national origins, boasting wild seascapes, rugged mountains, remote deserts, stunning wildlife and colonial cities.

This medical internship based in Eastern Namibia will appeal to those keen for a career in the medical field or the health care profession. The valuable work experience in the field provides vital care and treatment to patients in the San Bushman Community, many of whom live in extreme poverty. Interns will work alongside the resident doctor and nurse at the clinic, learn how to work in a remote rural health clinic, learn about common diseases and ailments that affect the local community and the most effective ways of treating them. They will also have the chance to assist in patient care with lessons on basic clinical skills, taking of patient history, observations, weighing babies and recording their growth etc. In addition to the day to day work there are opportunities to undertake research projects to benefit the clinic and help to further improve the services provided to the local community.

Once the internship comes to an end, it’s possible to incorporate caring for orphaned, abused or injured animals at the Namibian Wildlife Sanctuary near the country’s capital, Windhoek.

Prices start from £3,149 per person for 8 weeks land only, including: airport transfers, accommodation in a volunteer house alongside the doctor and nurse from the clinic, three meals a day, transfers to and from the clinic, orientation and internship placement. 12 weeks are available from £4049 per person.

Internships in Australia:
There are plenty of incredible sights and amazing wildlife in Australia; it’s one of the best places to try out an authentic outback experience or enjoying the surf styled lifestyle. Finding work and living life the Aussie way is high up on most youngsters bucket lists and Australia is an essential stop when planning to work abroad for a year. To gain work experience in Engineering, Information Technology, Human Resources, Marketing, Business Administration or Accountancy and Finance, Real Gap has partnered with 500 host-company partners across Australia with tailored internship to meet training needs and career aspirations. A mentor in Australia is provided to guide through the placement to get the best from the experience with a high proportion of internship participants going on to secure full-time employment within six months of completing their placement.

Prices start from £1,399 per person for 8 weeks including: a quality internship placement with an Australian company, airport transfers on arrival, orientation with a personal mentor on arrival, a UK and Australian mentor, a professional training plan, full support throughout and an International Career Readiness Certificate.

Japan Paid Work:
Japan conjures up thoughts of kimono-clad geisha girls, ancient temples, futuristic cities, mist-shrouded hills, traditional ryokans, cherry blossom and lightning-fast bullet trains. But for the first time traveller it can be challenging settling in and living amongst a new culture whilst finding work. Real Gap has arranged an introductory programme to help get started in Japan. This programme offers a perfect way to not only work and immerse in a new and unique culture, but also there is the prospect to set aside some of the money earned to see more of the country.

Based in cosmopolitan Tokyo, the work on offer in Japan includes teaching at language schools, English assistant teachers at kindergarten, waiter/waitress, hotel clerk, actor, interpreters, translators, factory workers, web designers and researchers. If there is knowledge of Japanese, restaurant and Language School work can also be obtained.

Prices start from £599 per person for 3 months land only, including: arrival airport transfer, seven nights’ accommodation in a funky Tokyo hostel in the centre of Shitamachthree on B&B, city tour of Tokyo’s highlights, cultural orientation session and introduction to the Working Holiday Office and 3 months of in-country support.

For more information visit realgap.co.uk.

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Mix work and travel in Japan