China, for First Time, Wants Students to Take Time Off

China's Education Ministry this week has urged universities to let some undergraduates to take some time off during their studies to start businesses, The South China Morning Post reported. The norm in China is for students to work straight through four-year programs, without time off before or during their undergraduate program. Proponents say that some students could start businesses, and that the delay in their graduation could relieve pressure on the economic system to provide permanent jobs for the ever-increasing number of university graduates.