Administrative structures for Distance Education

Abstract

The detailed planning of a new distance-teaching institution has often been the responsibility of a planning committee which is at its most effective if it combines prestige and expert knowledge. Plans generally need to consider the goals and purposes of the proposed institution, its educational activities, a possible constitution, its organisation, finance, staffing and phasing. While the staff structure will depend on the organisational model chosen, a distance-teaching institution is likely to need staff with skills in education, in materials production and in administration, some of whom may work in a central location but some of whom may be decentralised. In the development phase it is then necessary to recruit staff, work on the detail of educational programmes, and put in place the structures outlined at the planning stage. Pressures to start a new institution quickly may be met by running pilot activities but a lead time of about two years is likely to be needed between the appointment of senior staff and the launching of regular programmes.