What question did this study set out to answer?

This review aims to identify barriers hindering the development of critical thinking skills in higher education.

May 21, 20260 citationsOpen Access

Barriers to Learning Critical Thinking Skills in Higher Education

LHLam Quoc HuyHanoi University NDNguyen Tien Dung TNTran Nguyen Nhung

Key Points

This review aims to identify barriers hindering the development of critical thinking skills in higher education.
Synthesized literature on critical thinking in higher education
Identified barriers across lecturer limitations, instructional design, student resistance, and systemic constraints
Evaluated potential pedagogical interventions for improvement.
Found four main barriers: lecturer-related limitations, inadequate instructional design, student resistance, and systemic educational constraints.
Proposed pedagogical interventions, such as problem-based learning, but noted their effectiveness reduced by a lack of specialized educator training.
Recommended curriculum reform and professional development to align academic goals with workforce expectations.

Abstract

Abstract: Critical thinking is recognized as a hallmark of higher education and a vital competency to successfully navigate the complexities of the 21st-century workforce. Yet, a significant gap persists between the theoretical importance of critical thinking and the actual proficiency levels of university graduates. This article reviews the multifaceted barriers to the development of critical thinking skills in higher education. By synthesizing the current literature, the study identifies four primary areas of obstruction: lecturer-related limitations, inadequate instructional design, student resistance, and systemic educational constraints. The findings suggest that pedagogical interventions like problem-based learning and constructivist environments can be effective but their success is often neutralized by insufficient specialized educator training and a cultural reliance on rote memorization. The article concludes with recommendations for curriculum reform and professional development to bridge the gap between academic objectives and industrial expectations. Keywords: Barriers; critical thinking; pedagogical interventions; higher education. Title: BARRIERS TO LEARNING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN HIGHER EDUCATION Author: Lam Quoc Huy, Nguyen Tien Dung, Tran Nguyen Nhung International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 14, Issue 2, April 2026 - June 2026 Page No: 50-54 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 19-May-2026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20284378 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/barriers-to-learning-critical-thinking-skills-in-higher-education

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