The last decade has seen radical changes in higher education. Long held assumptions about university and academic autonomy have been shattered as public and political interest in quality, standards, and accountability have intensified efforts for reform. The increased influence of the state and employers in the curriculum of higher education is exemplified by the increasing emphasis on so-called core or transferable skills; an emphasis supported by the Dearing Report which identified what is called key skills as necessary outcomes of all higher education programmes. However, there is little research evidence to support such assertions, or to underpin the identificaiton of good practice in skill development in higher education or employment settings. Further, prescription has outrun the conceptualisation of such skills; little attention has been paid to their theoretical underpinning and definitions, or to assumptions concerning their transfer.