“…Rapidly evolving developments in e-learning, both within and beyond open and distance learning (ODL), have raised questions about the roles required of tutors, about the competencies which underpin those roles, and proposed professional development opportunities (Barker, 2002;Bennett and Marsh, 2002;Duggleby, 2000;Thorpe, 2002).The contribution that tutors make to the success of both online and distance learning opportunities centres on the personal link they establish between student and institution via a range of interactions offering guidance, assessment, support, and motivation (Berge, 1995;Fung and Carr, 1999;Lentell, 2003;McPherson and Nunes, 2004;Palloff and Pratt, 1999;J. Tait, 2004).…”