Starting in September, the programme, which is commonly practised in many countries, will give undergraduates the opportunity to take a year off from studying in order to pursue their interests.

“These students can take a year off to gain industrial work experience or pursue their interest in arts.

“The universities can make it part of their own programme if they want to. It can also be a part of the National Service Training Programme,” Higher Education Minister Idris Jusoh told the media after delivering a speech during the Amanat 2017 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday.

According to the daily, Idris said his ministry was also looking into working with the police, army or immigration department on the programme.

He named some of the participating universities as Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

Meanwhile, student leaders at two local universities expressed their approval of the Gap Year programme.

Universiti Malaya student representative council president Hazwan Syafiq Haznain called the move timely as it would help students gain industrial exposure.

“Students may use this as an opportunity to gain more work experience apart from just reading from books and learning things during lecture sessions. They will gain hands-on experience,” Hazwan, 21, said while adding he would like to know more about the programme’s standard operating procedures.

The third-year quantity surveying student also hoped the programme would allow for student exchanges, leadership programmes, or work so extra income could be earned.

“The industrial training session can be incorporated during this gap year.”

Universiti Putra Malaysia student representative council vice-president Shatesh Kumar Sangar, 22, said he believed the Gap Year programme would open the door for more volunteerism among students with the aim of gaining more real-world experience.

“Through volunteerism, participants are exposed to the real world, which will increase their awareness towards the needs of the world.

“Besides that, the experience, as well as the knowledge that they gain throughout the programme will be useful when conducting and carrying out their final year project,” Shatesh told the NST.