ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on student views of some of the recent trends, particularly their perceptions of an emphasis within their chosen subjects upon vocationalism and the definition of students primarily as future employees. In recent years, higher education has had to respond to a growing set of political and economic demands that increasingly identifies this level of learning with the competitive market and economic success both of individuals and states. As part of this 'new managerialism' in higher education a 'new vocabulary' has emerged which includes such buzz words as: skills, competencies, outcomes, enterprise, transferability, capability and vocationalism. This language of course, carries explicit links between degree level study and relevance in a graduate labour market and the assumption that 'fitness for purpose' means producing graduates who fill labour market needs. The dilemma of trying to find an appropriate balance between personal aims of students and the wider economic needs of society is ever present in the academic community.
