Forbes was speaking at a seminar "Academic autonomy to engineering institutions" arranged by the DTE in association with Vishwakarma Institute of Technology (VIT). Forbes stressed up on the need to develop quality of faculty. "The gap of demand and supply is hampering the quality of education," he said.

"One of the important reasons for the quality people not turning to teaching profession is they don't get handsome salary," he said. "In recent years the scene is somewhat changing but more needs to be done," he added.

Stressing the need to develop research culture in the faculty members, Forbes said more funds should be allocated to the research at the level of educational institutes. "At present 70 per cent of the research and development funding goes to the autonomous R and D institutes. This fund should be diverted to the educational institutes," he said.

Forbes said autonomy to the institutes would provide the opportunity to develop the curriculum that would be responsive to the changes in the industry. At the same time, he however said that the institutes should not go for autonomy unless they have good students, faculty and an internal structure receptive of various market changes.

Director of VIT Hemant Abhyankar and dean of academics Rahul Jalanekar made a presentation on how VIT prepared itself before going for autonomous status. Former UGC chairman Arun Nigvekar and former Pro-vice chancellor of Mumbai University V N Gupchup spoke about quality assurance for acquiring academic autonomy. A A Ghatol of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technical University and Balasaheb Wagh, chairman, Association of Private Engineering Colleges also participated in the seminar.