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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Thinking of taking a gap year? Here's how students can make it count
In a world calibrated to the rhythm of entrance exams, placement rounds, and constant career preparation, the idea of pressing pause might sound like rebellion. But for a growing number of students in India and across the globe, a gap year is not a detour; it's a recalibration. If you're standing at the crossroads after school or college, wondering whether to jump into the next academic sprint or take a strategic breather, a gap year might be worth your consideration. The catch? It's only as valuable as you make it. Why are more students taking a gap year in 2025? The post-pandemic academic landscape has normalised flexible education paths. With international universities like the University of Oxford, Harvard University, and Stanford University acknowledging and even encouraging gap years, Indian students too are warming up to the idea. Undergraduate aspirants globally are now considering gap years, citing reasons ranging from mental health and skill development to travel and internships. A surge in students choosing structured gap years after Class 12 or undergraduate degrees, especially those aiming for competitive exams, study abroad plans, or startup exploration is also visible. But before you hop on a plane with a backpack or start making vision boards, let's break down how to make your gap year meaningful and future-ready. Begin with a plan While the term 'gap' may sound like freefalling into nothingness, universities and employers are increasingly looking for structured intent. Start with a basic framework: What do you want to explore? What outcomes do you expect? For example, if you want to switch streams, use this time to build foundational knowledge. If you're considering studying abroad, focus on language proficiency, standardised tests, and volunteering experiences that boost your Statement of Purpose (SOP). It is also important to have a backup plan because that coding bootcamp may get cancelled or your internship may fall through. Have two to three alternatives that align with your larger goal. Upskill 2025 is a great year for digital learning. Platforms like Coursera, edX, Google Grow with Google, and even the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) offer industry-recognised certifications. From artificial intelligence and blockchain to climate policy and digital marketing, pick something that complements your long-term academic or career goals. Want to be a journalist? Learn data visualisation. Thinking of design school? Explore UX design courses. Planning to become an entrepreneur? Financial literacy and Excel basics will help more than you realise. Try different internships You don't need to be a full-time employee to get industry exposure. Short-term virtual or in-person internships can give you the vocabulary and confidence you need for your next chapter. In India, various platforms offer student-specific roles in startups, think tanks, content firms, and NGOs. Try different domains if you're undecided. You might discover that you like product marketing more than advertising, or edtech more than finance. The only rule: Pick something where you're not just observing but doing. Try volunteering Gap years give students the flexibility to support causes they care about, free from the constraints of academic calendars. You could volunteer with local NGOs, or explore structured global opportunities through programs like AIESEC or the United Nations Youth Volunteer initiative. Not only does this build empathy and organisational skills, but it also adds credibility to your college application or CV, especially for liberal arts, social work, and international relations pathways. Travel smart While Eurotrips may dominate social media feeds, purposeful travel doesn't have to involve international flights. Explore your own state or country through heritage walks, language immersions, and community stays. Trekking in Himachal, learning Urdu in Lucknow, or assisting in wildlife conservation in Assam could be as enriching as a foreign internship if you reflect on it right. Consider journaling your experiences or creating a portfolio if you're inclined towards writing, film, or design. It could double as supplementary material for college admissions. Prepare for competitive exams Many students use the gap year to prepare for exams like the Common Admission Test (CAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), or law entrances. A year off can provide the calm needed for long-hour study routines, mock tests, and coaching classes. However, it's crucial to maintain balance. Add physical activity, mental wellness routines, and hobbies into your timetable. A burnt-out topper doesn't outperform a focused, well-rested peer. Build a project Have a niche interest? A gap year is your chance to turn it into a project. Launch a podcast, build a YouTube channel, create an application, write a blog, or organise a student-led event. Even a three-month micro-project demonstrates initiative and self-direction — two qualities universities and employers respect. Reflect and document Whether it's a bullet journal, or a vlog, keep a record of what you're learning, unlearning, and rethinking. These reflections will help when you write your SOP, face interviews, or simply look back at your year and connect the dots. Remember, growth isn't always linear. Small things like learning to network, handling rejections, discovering what does not interest you are just as crucial as the big wins. A well-used gap year can give you direction, maturity, and a stronger narrative when you return to formal education or step into the job market. The key lies in treating it as a structured opportunity, not an indefinite vacation. If planned with intention and honesty, this 'gap' might just be your biggest leap. And if you're unsure where to start, start small. One course, one internship, or one conversation can set off a chain of discoveries. Just keep moving with purpose. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
King Charles III opens new wing at Oxford Islamic Studies Centre
OXFORD: The United Kingdom's King Charles III has officially opened a new wing named in his honour at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, in celebration of the institution's 40th anniversary. Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday, His Majesty paid tribute to the Centre's enduring contributions to global scholarship and intercultural understanding. "In this milestone anniversary year, I can only say that it is with enormous pride and admiration that I join you all here today to pay tribute to this remarkable centre," the King said. "The Islamic Centre's ongoing commitment to objective scholarship and international co-operation, underpinned by principles of dialogue, deep understanding and mutual respect, is more imperative than ever in today's world." King Charles has served as the Centre's Patron since 1993, the same year he delivered a landmark lecture in Oxford that underscored the West's intellectual debt to Islamic civilisation. At that time, he remarked, "If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilisation owe to the Islamic world. It is a failure which stems, I think, from the straitjacket of history which we have inherited." Founded in 1985, the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is an independent academic institution affiliated with the University of Oxford. It promotes the advanced study of Islam and Muslim societies and serves as a hub for dialogue between the Islamic world and the West. The newly inaugurated wing is expected to expand the centre's capacity for research, academic exchange, and public engagement. It will house the new King Charles III Programme, consolidating various initiatives inspired by the monarch, including the King Charles III Fellowship, Young Muslim Leadership Programme, and conferences addressing global challenges such as environmental sustainability.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Breakthrough study uncovers biological trigger that forces the brain to sleep
We spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping, yet the biological trigger behind sleep has remained elusive. Despite decades of research, scientists have struggled to identify a concrete, physical reason why the brain demands rest. A new study from the University of Oxford might have changed that. Researchers have found that the pressure to sleep may come from deep inside our brain cells, from the tiny power plants known as mitochondria. These structures, responsible for converting oxygen into energy, appear to sound an internal alarm when pushed into overdrive. The team, led by Professor Gero Miesenböck and Dr. Raffaele Sarnataro, discovered that a build-up of electrical stress inside mitochondria in specific brain cells acts as a signal to trigger sleep. The research, carried out in fruit flies, showed that when mitochondria become overcharged, they leak electrons. 'When they do, they generate reactive molecules that damage cells,' said Dr. Sarnataro. This electron leak produces what are known as reactive oxygen species, byproducts that, in high quantities, can damage cellular structures. The brain appears to respond to this imbalance by initiating sleep, giving the cells a chance to reset before damage spreads further. The findings open a new chapter in how scientists think about energy metabolism's role in brain health. Switch in the brain The researchers found that specialized neurons function like circuit breakers. These cells measure the electron leak and trip the sleep response when the stress crosses a threshold. By manipulating the energy flow in these neurons, either by increasing or decreasing electron transfer, the scientists could directly control how long the flies slept. They even bypassed the system's normal inputs by replacing electrons with energy from light using microbial proteins. The result remained the same: more energy, more leak, more sleep. 'We set out to understand what sleep is for, and why we feel the need to sleep at all,' said Professor Miesenböck. 'Our findings show that the answer may lie in the very process that fuels our bodies: aerobic metabolism.' He explained that when the mitochondria in certain sleep-regulating neurons are overloaded with energy, they begin leaking electrons. When this leak becomes too great, the neurons trigger sleep to prevent damage from escalating. Ties to aging and fatigue The findings may help explain why metabolism and sleep are so closely linked. Small animals that consume more oxygen per gram of body weight tend to sleep more and live shorter lives. Meanwhile, people with mitochondrial disorders often experience extreme fatigue even without physical exertion. This new mechanism offers a potential explanation. 'This research answers one of biology's big mysteries,' said Dr. Sarnataro. 'Why do we need sleep? The answer appears to be written into the very way our cells convert oxygen into energy.' These insights could reshape not just sleep science, but also how doctors understand chronic fatigue, neurological disorders, and the aging process itself. The study is published in the journal Nature. Solve the daily Crossword
ITV News
4 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
Parkinson's drug could treat depression following promising Oxford trial
An Oxfordshire man, who suffered with depression for 20 years, says he's got his life back after taking part in a ground-breaking drug Harvey was given Pramipexole, a drug traditionally used to treat Parkinson's disease, as part of research by the University of Oxford. He saw an improvement in just a few weeks and three years later the 72-year-old is still reaping the benefits."Oh it's fantastic, I'm enjoying life again. When I think I've missed 20 years of enjoyment, I'm making up for it now. "I got myself a motorbike, I go out on once a week. I try and play a guitar, I've built a couple from kits, I love cooking. It's all come back." For two decades Phil suffered with depression. He says he tried every kind of treatment going but nothing worked."I was in a very dark place. If I got up in the mornings it was a bonus. If I got up and went downstairs I sat in a chair and was just nowhere. "I had no motivation, no interests, I lost interest in doing all the hobbies and things like that. Nothing, nothing at all would pull me out of it."But that all changed when he was invited to take part in a drug trial for treatment-resistant depression. He was given Pramipexole, which is traditionally used to treat Parkinson's Disease. It boosts dopamine which affects our experience of enjoyment."There was less tiredness, more motivation, less feeling emotional. "I mean, you get very emotional when you're depressed, believe me, because you sit there sometimes with tears streaming down your face for no reason. "And all that started to pick up. Probably within about six to eight weeks I was living a reasonably normal lifestyle again."The idea of trialling the drug came from Professor of psychiatry at the University of Oxford, Michael research involved 150 patients. Over the course of a year, half were given Pramipexole and half a drug was discovered to be about twice as effective as other treatments. Professor Browning said: "I run a clinic for people with difficult to treat depression, also that's the only sort of patient that I see. "I have to say, I used this drug for a bit and it isn't subtle how effective this drug is. "Compared with the other treatments I use it's obviously a lot better, so I wasn't surprised at how effective it was in this study. "I was worried that maybe I hadn't done the study well enough to measure it so I was quite relieved to see the study was so positive. "But this chimes with my clinical experience. This is what I see when I use this drug to treat patients. It is really an effective treatment." "It's given me my life back," said Mr Harvey, "That's the sheer simple factor, it's given me a life back again which I hadn't got."However, Pramipexole can cause side-effects. Once more research is done to reduce these, it's hoped prescriptions could be made available from from GPs.
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Sovereignty of the Scottish people is a chimera that we must make real
And I entirely subscribe to Jim Murphy's notion (Letters, Jul 15) that 'until this movement stops confusing theory with force, and starts acting like a people denied their nation – not petitioners in someone else's parliament – we will never be taken seriously, at home or abroad'. The only difficulty I have is, what does a people denied their nation actually look like? If we're to believe the views of Professors Crawford and Boyle as set out in Annex A, Opinion: Referendum on the Independence of Scotland International Law Aspects: 'Scotland certainly was extinguished as a matter of international law, by merger either into an enlarged and renamed England or into an entirely new state.' Follow that with the views of Ciaran Martin, Professor at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford but in a previous incarnation as Constitution Director (2011-2014) within the Cabinet Office and at the centre of the Edinburgh Agreement negotiations: 'Ultimately there are no constraints on what Westminster can do to block a lawful path to Scottish independence if it's so minded. There are, in effect, only two things that matter. One: The law is in [[Westminster]], Two: The votes are in Scotland. So if these two forces clash, one has to give way to the other'. READ MORE: Will John Swinney surprise us with a courageous election manifesto? So the choice would appear to be between social disruption (not easy to control in the highly likely instance that the UK deployed agents provocateurs) and the alternative that we make real the chimera that is the sovereignty of the Scottish people. That it exists is well established with the Claim of Right of 1689 and subsequent iterations in the Scottish Constitutional Convention 1989, Holyrood and [[Westminster]] debates. The only problem is, we can't find the switch to flick or handle to pull to bring it to life as the lawyers tell us it's not justiciable. What would make the chimera real is the incorporation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) into Scots law. Jim Murphy is anxious that 'constitutional change in states founded on parliamentary sovereignty cannot be achieved through legal argument alone. It requires political authority that transcends existing legal limits – exercised by the people themselves, not their parliamentary proxies – through actions that alter the facts on the ground'. READ MORE: Legal rights without enforcement are merely political ornaments This is precisely the power of Article 25(b) of the ICCPR, which would allow for a 'home grown' referendum of Scotland's citizens and the emancipation of direct democracy in our country. It's good to talk. If it so happens to follow on from a majority of independence-minded MSPs being elected to the new Holyrood Parliament in May, so much the better for undisputed validation of the sovereign will of our nation by 'actions that alter the facts on the ground'. All the more reason, then, to support PE2135: Implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in Scottish legislation' at the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee in our 'pretendy parliament'. Iain Bruce Nairn REGARDING the government admitting that the previous government released details of Afghan supporters and that this was done by a "defence" civil servant. Firstly, none of the newspapers reporting this mention if he/she has been dismissed, and secondly, would you be happy with your defence in such hands? Paul Gillon Baintown, Leven
