Traders and Thinkers

Slashdot is hosting an interesting thread on "Engineering School Grads - Tradesmen or Thinkers?" that is about what type of education should engineering school have (http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/07/01/18/2313232.shtml).

Some interesting thoughts in the discussion, especially, I like this one from alchemy101:
I think in Australia traditionally you had technical colleges (such as TAFE) and Universities providing a clear difference in the direction of things being taught. Technical colleges producing "tradesmen" and Universities producing "thinkers".
The problem has been that increasingly universities have been seen by consumers as a way of getting a job rather than as a pathway to higher learning as academia and thus there is expection by them, to be taught "practical" skills. I think a reason for this is there is a small stigma attached to technical and trade colleges as being "dumber" than their uni counterparts. I think in this way, the problem is that consumers do not really understand what the function of universities are.

This is actually what I feel that is happening in Germany, as well. We have (had) technical colleges (in German "Fachhochschule") and Universities. Currently I have the impression that Universities are trying to move more into the direction of technical colleges and vice-versa. In summary, I think the main drivers are: money (for Universities) and reputation (for the technical colleges).

Being at a University my main concerns obviously is the impression that we are producing fewer and fewer thinkers. For German Universities third party funding (i.e. "projects"), especially with industry involved, is a very important monetary resource - and of growing in importance. But of course, it is hard to produce thinkers, when you are tightly working together with industrial partners. because industry focuses on their products.

On the other hand, it is "cool" to have good industry contacts, if you are an University. Being theoretical and abstract is kinda out. I'm not sure, what the reason for this is, but it might have something to do with the job market (as quoted above) and the funding depending on the number of students that you have.

Maybe, a diversification is needed? Maybe one day, there will be Universities that find the slogan "we produce the most abstract thinking theorists" appealing? But the current development to equalize the engineering schools and university degrees (to some extend) by introducing the master and bachelor degree is not in favor of this development.

I have the hope that over time, maybe industry accepts bachelor as an engineering degree - THE engineering degree. Maybe it would be feasible then to have the lecture for master to be far more theoretical?