Those aren't contradictory. Historically, the intended purpose of University education has always been scholarship, research, exchange of knowledge and ideas etc. If you didn't want that, you would go find an apprenticeship or enroll in trade school.
The whole "have to go to college to get a job" requirement is a very recent development, and that is what the article is speaking against.
The whole "have to go to college to get a job" requirement is a very recent development, and that is what the article is speaking against.