Perhaps times have changed since you were a student because the way you described the lack of realistic and practical assignments does not sound like an up to date description of Shenkar. The department is transforming extremely fast and is integrating a completely different curriculum across the board for every year.
First year students now learn Animation and animation programs. I just finished my second year at Shenkar and a couple examples of end-of-year assignments were to design and print a book and to design and prototype a responsive website. You could also argue that the pace at which we're being taught is too fast but I think that is just the type of field we work in.

The approach that I have the proyect gmar is that it is a *part* of those 10k hours that Gladwell was talking about. It is more "the way" than it is "the destination".
I agree that there should be A LOT of mentor involvement, and the brief should be flexible (experimental/real-life) because certain people learn differently. I think at the end of the day teachers are not paid well enough for the amount of involvement most people would agree is ideal.

Despite all of this I think you should talk/suggest these things to the dept. because these discussions are important to be had, that is how things change for the better most of the time:)