D.Ed. (Adult Education) / A Programme for the professional development of Academic staff at Technikon SA. This research has been undertaken against the background of the contribution that the academic staff at Technikon SA can make in lowering the high drop-out rate of students, delivering high level manpower to the community and the effectiveness of this tertiary distance education institution. After an in-depth study of literature study it became evident that: It students dropping out in distance education is a complex matter and a great number of reasons exist why students do not successfully complete their studies: the responsibilities of lecturers have drastically in distance education; the professional role of distance education lecturers is undefined; professional development of Technikon SA academic staff is neglected; and lecturers have certain needs for professional development which must be identified and addressed. The problem addressed in this study has been to probe into the desirability and the nature of a programme for the professional development of Technikon SA lecturers. The objectives of this study are: It the literature exploration of the nature of and reasons for student drop-out and the professional role of distance education lecturers; the empirical identification and analysis of the developmental areas of Technikon SA lecturers; and to design a programme for the professional development of Technikon SA academic staff. The most important findings of this study are the following: Student drop-out rates can probably be reduced if the necessary student supporting structures are created and established within a distance education institution. Technikon SA as a tertiary distance education institution has developed rapidly over the past 14 years with the emphasis on scientific practice, co-operative education and training, technological practice and rendering of service to the community by delivering high level manpower. The professional role of Technikon SA lecturers comprises: teaching, research. community service and managerial tasks, For effective and efficient execution of these tasks, lecturers should have the necessary skills. There is a definite need for professional development amongst academic staff of distance education institutions which should be addressed by the institution. Empirical research. by means of a questionnaire. as to the importance and frequency of appearance of the tasks was launched amongst the full-time lecturers at Technikon SA and revealed that: lecturers regard teaching and managerial tasks as very important. while research and community service were regarded as not important: and more than 96% of programme for the staff in the form programmes. the group favours the design of a professional development of academic of shorter workshops and self study Findings of the empirical research together with the findings of the sources studied. result in the design of a programme for the professional development of academic staff. After taking various developmental conditions and possible restraining factors into consideration, the programme. based on the QDen systems approach, was developed in five phases. The most important conclusions drawn at the completion of this study are as follows: a definite need for the professional development of academic staff in distance education has been detected: job description of Technikon SA lecturers must be defined and outlined: Technikon SA must deliberately strive to create and establish a research cuIture: and a diplomatic approach towards professional development must be adopted in order to overcome resistance to change