Bhinneka Framework: A Holistic Approach to Enhance Critical Thinking in Engineering Education

The 21st Century has witnessed innovations in educational methodologies because of global interconnectivity, digital advancements, and the increased availability of online learning resources. Such innovations have impacted on the engineering educational approaches towards problem-solving and knowledge creation. Contemporary educational practices place a premium on self-directed learning and the academic environment that fosters critical engagement with materials. An interdisciplinary approach that integrates pragmatic and entrepreneurial competencies with advanced technologies is also emphasized. The Bhinneka Framework proposes a solution. This research work illustrates how interdisciplinary approaches promoting student entrepreneurship, coupled with critical analysis, can bolster students’ order thinking skills. The variables considered in this research proposal include smartphone use, greater collegiate exposure, and an entire school philosophy. The research substantiated that the internet and entrepreneurship skills significantly promoted higher-order thinking skills. These positive interrelationships further led to a considerable increase in the levels of entrepreneurship, R 2 = 67.8 %, and digital assets utilization = 47.1 %. The key social contribution of the Bhinneka Framework is that it encourages children to move from passive perception to active criticism through entrepreneurship, HOTS-based education, and formulating questions based on their research rather than pre-phrased questions provided by educators. By adopting an organized approach to its implementation, this framework can enhance the quality of engineering education graduates, increase international competitiveness, and genuinely assist in transforming higher education.