ABSTRACT
The issue of staff development for the planning, design, development and management of distance and open programmes and appropriate applications of technology are crucial in developing countries. In developed countries, such staff development can readily draw upon existing exemplars, knowledge and skills but, in many countries around the globe, open and distance education are unfamiliar forms of delivery and there is little infrastructure or support for staff development activities in the many new or existing institutions that are now expected to provide these services. The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has sought to assist this process in developing Commonwealth countries and this chapter describes the process and progress to date.
