Though open distance learning system is considered to be highly potential system to address many issues faced by higher education, it need to fully utilize this potential to bring out changes keeping with the emerging trends arising out of knowledge society and knowledge economy. The success of any system is to be asessed from this angle for its sustainability and relevance. We examine some of the issues what Yahspal committee highlighted relating them to some of the recent trends in higher education like outreach and engagement, corporate education etc. It is in this context we will be discussing the Open University system for defining and deriving the success.