"Preparing the Italian university student of economics for the workplace: academic and professional perspectives on English language education"

This chapter is part of the proceedings, in volume form, of a collection of papers given at an international conference on the theme of the impact of foreign language-culture education on the world of work. The conference was held at the Faculty of Economics, University of Cassino, 27-28 October 2006. A fundamental platform in EU education policy initiatives is the closer link between university and the world of work and increased worker and student mobility. The study is an academic and professional foreign needs analysis for the students of the Faculty of Economics, Sapienza University of Rome, as they impact on foreign language education at tertiary level. The context is ongoing Italian university reform and the demands of the local Italian work-place. A case is made for a significant review of English language curricula, objectives, syllabuses and evaluation instruments.