The author discusses the discrepancy between the guiding principles of translation evaluation at university level as apposed to those in the translation market. Such principles are identified in the concepts of accuracy and usability (qualitative) view at university, and adequacy and acceptability (quantitative view) in the market. The author fully accepts that new competencies will have to be added to a professional translator's curriculum, but also stresses the crucial importance of the 'traditional' competencies of the translator. Thus the curriculum design should reflect both the practical skills requested by the translation market and the theoretical and methodological skills required for a balanced approach to the practice of translation itself.