"Overall, the Gap Year companies were generally pleasantly surprised by our scholars. They saw dynamic, creative, outgoing and driven future public sector officers, contrary to their stereotype image of civil servants. On the scholars' part, all of them have learned new things from their private sector experience, both locally and overseas, and are eager to put them to good use when they join the service.
I hope that the new scholars, like their seniors, will make use of opportunities like the Gap Year to understand the business environment, and more importantly bring back new ideas to the public sector."
- Minister Teo Chee Hean
The Gap Year Programme is an initiative under the Management Associates Programme (MAP) launched in 2002. It gives MAs the opportunity to experience first-hand and better understand the business operations, challenges, and corporate ethos of private sector companies. Such exposure will give the MAs a more rounded development and a better understanding of the private sector. This will allow them to be more effective in policy development when they subsequently return to the public sector.
The Gap Year programme aims to:
(i) Build a sound relationship between the company and the government;
(ii) Acquaint the Management Associate (MA) with the private sector's concerns and corporate ethos;
(iii) Provide an opportunity for the MA to contribute towards business outcomes;
(iv) Broaden the MA's horizons so that they will make more informed considerations in the development of public policies.
Under the Gap Year programme, Management Associates (MAs) have the option to take up an attachment in private sector organisations, either locally or overseas, for a minimum period of 6 months up to a maximum of 1 year. MAs are encouraged to look for Gap Year attachments with private sector organisations that allow them to gain a broad strategic perspective of issues, e.g. Multi-National Corporations or other large firms. Up to 6 months of the Gap Year Programme will count towards the scholarship bond. MAs proceed for their Gap Year attachments after graduation but before they are appointed to the Civil Service.
