The article describes the introduction of a collaborative partnership model in initial teacher education at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. The model has led the way for professional training closely related to the field of practice and meets the need for 'hands-on' oriented teacher education program. The author suggests that educational theory should precede autonomy in the teaching profession, and that only after acquiring educational theory should students be exposed to other teacher education fundamental issues such as control, an important element of the school system.