There are a number of benefits of not going to university immediately.
The last thing on a matriculant’s mind will probably be to become more mature and turn into a responsible adult. Yet for some learners, having the opportunity to mature and develop emotional skills during a year after school boosts their academic success later on, especially in their first year at varsity.
For those matriculants who do not know what to study, it might be wise for them to choose a structured academic bridging year or ‘gap year’ in the general field of study they are interested in. This way, they will know more about what they want to do and be once they enrol at a university for a degree of their choosing
Using the year after matric to enrol in an academically structured alternative allows matriculants to gain valuable experience, develop useful skills, explore a wide selection of opportunities, build interpersonal skills, and learn more about themselves.
A transformative year in the making
The gap between school and tertiary education is huge, causing thousands of students each year to fall by the wayside. Many first-year students experience problems adapting to the university workload and tempo.
For some students, attending university immediately after high school is not the right choice – they might just not be ready.
Some students take a ‘gap year’ (before entering university). But the reality is that you really have to plan for it in a structured way to get the most out of it, educational experts point out.
For those matrics who are uncertain about their study choices or did not fare as well as they hoped for in matric, enrolling in an accredited, industry-specific higher certificate or diploma course could serve as a valuable first step towards higher education.
Such courses afford students a better idea of where their interests and talents lie while earning them a form of certification. It also allows a matriculant a chance to mature and, in the process, become a more responsible student.
Bridging the gap between matric and varsity
The Academy for Environmental Leadership’s (AEL) higher education certificate in conservation ecology (NQF-level 5) allows matriculants time to develop life skills and perhaps make a more informed career choice if they have been struggling up to now.
The AEL’s academic offering is unique – it allows graduates to enter the world of work after a year with an accredited qualification. As such, the AEL provides the first building blocks for professional development in various possible careers to our students.
It is a fully-fledged tertiary qualification on the grounds of which students can, after only one year of study, be employed in the workplace.
Building skills and creating more career options
Thanks to our unique approach to teaching and learning, the AEL offers students an excellent chance at academic success. It is also a space where prospective students explore environmental leadership with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, ultimately increasing student retention in these fields.
Students can bolster their subject knowledge when they study at the AEL, and can hone a host of transferable skills, such as critical thinking.
In some cases, the programme gives matriculants time to rethink their original goals and make a complete change in their intended career direction. On the flip side, it helps them narrow their focus. For example, instead of wanting to be a conservation ecologist, they may choose a specialisation like environmental law or pursue a career in agricultural economics after completing the AEL’s academic offering.
The AEL’s focus on experiential learning outside of the lecture hall is combined with a well-structured theoretical offering to secure learning outcomes. Eight out of every ten of the AEL’s students pursue further studies. Moreover, its student success rate is consistently above 90 per cent, providing an excellent return on investment.
With a higher education certificate under their belts, students can either undertake further studies or enter the job market to start building a career in their specific field.
The first-year success rate of the AEL’s students who study further after completing our course is also excellent. The AEL’s students have an excellent first-year success rate, compared to one in every three students enrolled at public tertiary institutions.
While benefits come with attending university directly after school, skipping a year before enrolling could make a marked difference in academic outcomes. Our unique academic offering – a useful bridge between school and a university degree – can help matriculants maintain a competitive edge and become more well-rounded individuals.