The X factor: employability, elitism and equity in graduate recruitment

Abstract

Knowledge acquisition, processing and transfer are given central importance in today's knowledge economy in the belief that the structure and reproduction of personal capacities require permanent updating of the human commodity workforce. These complex requirements are often encoded in the concept of employability. One consequence of the policy emphasis on employability is pressure on higher education to produce an increasing range of desired personal capacities. A further pressure is on graduates to demonstrate a range of norm-related ‘soft skills’ and dispositions. Employability has equity implications. Educational experiences and processes can contribute to the development of employability skills and socio-economic privilege can be transferred on to the production and codification of qualifications and competencies.

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to thank the Quality Assurance Framework Group at HEFCE for funding the project and for providing constructive critical feedback. Thanks are also due to Michael Eraut, Sarah Aynsley, Daisy MacDonald, Jacqui Shepherd, Kim Forbes and Sylvie Lomer for their work on the project.

Notes

1. Universities and Colleges Admissions Service—The UK central organisation through which applications are processed for entry into higher education. UCAS has a tariff system, known as UCAS points. For example, an A grade at A level is worth 120 points.