Students Taking Leave from University to Gain an Edge

Lianhe Zaobao, 实况报道：大学生暂别校园 休学出征寻找更大舞台

(Translated summary)

Applying for a leave of absence for medical recovery or personal development has become a “new normal” among local university students in recent years. From extending internships to gain an edge in their résumés to pursuing entrepreneurial dreams, students are pausing their studies for increasingly varied reasons. Amid a subdued job market and intense competition for talent, taking leave has also become a strategy for some young people to trade time for experience and future opportunities.

Mr Jonathan Kua, SUTD’s Chief of Staff (Student Experience & Transformation), noted that about 2% of SUTD students apply for leave of absence each year, a figure that has declined slightly over the past five years.