In this article we investigate the problem of the balance of fundamental and applied training in technical colleges through the lens of a historical analysis of the development of the Soviet school of engineering. We demonstrate that the Soviet school of engineering became overreliant on fundamental education due to historical features of its formation. Now, it has created a psychological barrier to finding a new balance between fundamental and applied training that is needed in order to enhance the innovative productivity of engineering schools. We identify the basic causes that are complicating the search for a new acceptable balance between fundamental and applied training with an eye to finding ways to enhance the innovative productivity of technical colleges. The conclusion that proper quality control is needed for engineering studies conducted by the industrial (business) sector is grounded. [This article was translated by Kenneth Cargill.]