Abstract
It is often claimed that our tertiary educational institutions are subservient to industry and that their autonomy is severely limited. To discover the level and nature of influence that exists, or is seen to exist in one area of professional education (engineering education), surveys were carried out with employers, rank and file engineers, as well as academics in a university and a college of advanced education. Interests of industry are seen to be accommodated more in a C.A.E. than in a university, though non-academic engineers believe they are not being given a hearing in the educational bodies. The channels for the exertion of influence are mostly informal channels and the process is often not perceived by the actors as involving the exercise or exertion of influence.