A B S T R AC T This study investigates the relationships between students' confidence in their generic skills on entry to university, their learning styles and their academic performance in first year. Research based on a large cohort of Scottish undergraduates found that students generally entered university feeling very confident that they already possessed good skills, and there was a suggestion of over-confidence in that those who failed the year entered with slightly higher confidence than other students. However, those students who withdrew during the year had significantly less confidence. The most significant combination of factors in explaining success in first year were a low score on the activist learning style scale and high initial confidence in the skills of selfreliance, time management and teamwork, together with lower initial confidence in written communication skills. The implications of this research are discussed and some suggestions made for improving educational practice.K E Y WO R D S : academic perfor mance, business underg raduates, generic skills, lear ning styles, retention

This paper presents the findings from a study into managerial competence in the Scottish visitor attraction sector. It provides an insight into the range, diversity and perceived importance of current and future competences highlighting differences based on gender, age, size, level of training and location. Although the main findings reveal a focus on operation and self-management competences, with less emphasis given to strategic competences, significant differences were exposed between those managers who operated in medium-and larger-sized establishments than those in smaller sites, those who had received training for their current position as well as those who had no training and those under the age of 50. The paper concludes by discussing implications of the findings for strategic human-resource-development providers in Scottish tourism.