We start by contrasting two current European expert views on the role of learning in the emerging innovation societies and reflecting on them. Then, to gather momentum, we look back into a few classics of the modern work-based learning theory to argue for promising ways forward. We base our discussion on contemporary debates as well as on our vast experience in taking part in tackling the challenges of developing the complex interfaces and joint learning environments between academia and work places.

Globalisation has brought systems intelligence to the core of the success factors, and working life will experience a prominent shift towards an emphasis on new visionary knowledge creation. We strive to address the whole continuum from generic global traits and trends down to a specific training concept piloted by a university outreach programme. Our main concern is that the decisive importance of learning as the vehicle for pulling the contemporary societies out of the current crises has been identified, but not yet fully recognised by the policy-makers, with their mindsets constrained by past policies and beliefs. We suggest that taking off from traditional thinking is necessary for equipping the emerging knowledge economies with the mastery of systemic innovation.