Innovation in vocational education – ways of reaching the tip of the iceberg

As innovation is a cornerstone for achieving the most dynamic knowledge-driven economy, we are facing a growing 'innovation' gap between EU and USA/Japan. One of the crucial parts of the Lisbon strategy is a Copenhagen process connected to Vocational Education and Training (VET). The article analyses the challenge posed to the students' innovation. It shows the roots of the problem and the reasons for low performance. Based on the research, the article shows the influential key success factors, where the role of the teacher remains essential. It also indicates the importance of the systemic approach and the important role of the economy and supporting environment. The results are useful for policy makers, school principals and teachers alike.