I don't know what is the system of education in EU but I think it not defers much from Russian, so every task you are deciding demands critical thinking, like will it work or not, will I made it this way or not and so on. The doing anything is always demands to see, to probe the reality - I want to do this - is it possible? ... and the result of your efforts teach you more than books though the information is as necessary as the tools to change the reality around you. For example, corporations told you - "It is impossible to do this, you have to buy it". You - "Oh fuck off, I'll do it by myself and it will be better and cheaper than shit you are making at China, it will be more repairable because I would know this thing". And after you will get the results you see - is it possible to bend the reality the people are believing in around you or not.