The Swedish school where student-led innovation is delivering working solutions for real-world challenges
NTI Gymnasiet Johanneberg, a public secondary school in Gothenburg, Sweden, has integrated real-world innovation into student learning with an approach that places students at the centre of its technology programme, to entrench a highly experimental and entrepreneurial mindset and culture of creativity. Determined to provide education that is relevant, forward-thinking, and aligned with emerging technology, the hands-on learning model focuses on hardware-based projects and real-world experimentation from an early age, giving students a practical edge before they even reach university.
What characterises the school’s technology education and contributes to it being a leading school in innovation is its Makerspace, where students can experiment with different solutions and ideas using modern technology and equipment. Allowing students to explore technical innovation in a modern learning environment gives them the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to embrace opportunities in the technical field. The learning experience is made even more relevant because students have access to real engineers with technical expertise and educational skills who act as mentors and role models. The creative culture has intensified as new technologies have been introduced, with students now running the Maker Space themselves, making decisions about which machines and projects to develop, ensuring that even students with no prior experience before starting at the school graduate with advanced technical and creative skills.
NTI Johanneberg consistently achieves a 97 - 100% success rate in final-year diploma results, significantly higher than the national average. The school ranks at the top in external inspections and evaluations, particularly in student outcomes and teacher quality, and 62% of students go on to pursue engineering-related careers. Student-led projects have been recognised nationally and internationally, with one initiative, The Pancreatic Cell Project, in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, resulting in the development of a working solution. Students were asked to explore how cells function during the onset of diabetes to assist scientists in stimulating a specific protein. In response, they designed and built a specialised box to deliver a working solution that saved the scientists considerable time and effort. As a result, the research team published their findings in high-impact journals, with the students listed as first authors.
By reimagining its approach to one where practical experiences give students a technical grounding, the school is effectively building confident entrepreneurs ready to tackle globally relevant challenges.
