CRITICAL THINKING: THE BASIS OF INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS IN TODAY'S UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and deep international integration, critical thinking has become an essential skill in higher education, playing a key role in training high-quality human resources. However, developing critical thinking in university teaching still faces many challenges and limitations. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the fundamental role of critical thinking in innovating teaching methods in universities today, while proposing breakthrough solutions to enhance the development of this skill. Through a combination of theoretical research and practical surveys, including questionnaires administered to 400 subjects (50 lecturers and 350 students) at 5 universities, the study collected data that was processed using statistical methods combined with content analysis to assess the current situation and propose solutions to strengthen critical thinking in university teaching. Based on the analysis results, the research proposes three core groups of solutions: for lecturers, for students, and for the learning environment. These solutions aim to improve the quality of higher education, working towards the goal of training human resources that meet the development requirements in the digital era.