ABSTRACT
Employability has been the subject of considerable debate in the British higher education sector for some time now. It is a controversial concept that is difficult to define (Harvey, 2001; Lees, 2002; Yorke, 2006). Employers, academics, students and government have struggled to agree on a definition. In Scotland, the new ‘Graduates for the 21st Century’ QAA Enhancement Theme has re-ignited the debate (QAA, 2009). Knight and Yorke’s (2003) understanding of the term is still the most commonly cited; they define employability as ‘a set of achievements, understandings and personal attributes that make individuals more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations’ (Knight & Yorke, 2003, p. 5). More recently, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) presented their definition of employability in their ‘Future Fit’ report on how graduates can be prepared for the workplace. It puts the emphasis on the needs of a ‘modern competitive economy’, which requires employable workers who can adapt their ‘skills, knowledge and attitudes’ continually to ‘prosper in a changing world’ (CBI, 2009, p. 8).
