This responsibility has to be taken into account when allocating work and demanding performance from them. If inducted properly, trained and supported well, they are a great asset to the institution. Failure to do so causes untold misery to learners and brings disrepute to the institution. An open university system requires staff with unusual and a wide variety of skills. There are less full-time academics and more administrative staff in an open university.
Provision also has to be made to use a lot of sessional and part-time workers.
The academic part of staffing itself presents a challenge. One is looking at individuals who are not only knowledgeable experts in their respective fields but also good at communicating in a variety of media. There will also be a demand to know beyond one's narrow field of expertise as well as skills to critically review the 'knowledge' contribution of one's peers to a common knowledge product. Training of academic colleagues for the demands and practices of distance education is an imperative 10. Management and Administration Committed leadership, effective management, sensible and efficient administration are vital to the well being of an open university.