Innovation in VET: networks and niggles

This article draws upon research funded by the National Council for VocationalEducation Research (NCVER) on trends in teaching and learning in vocationaleducation and training (VET) in Australia and internationally in the UnitedKingdom and Europe and from a series of workshops on innovation in teachingand learning in VET which the authors conducted in March 2009 in Australia. Wediscuss attitudes and perceptions held by Australian VET practitioners aboutinnovation in VET that emerged from the workshops and the research and drawattention to the central role that networking plays in the process of innovation.These findings then serve as a lens for examining innovation theories and modelsof innovation that are applicable to change and improvement in education. Weargue the focus should be shifted from leading edge innovation and ‘natural'innovators to environments in which mainstream VET professionals work. Weconclude that innovation ecology is a more helpful model to understandinnovation in VET teaching and learning practices.