Critical thinking as a tool for professional and personal development of university students in higher education

The research is focused on the issue of formation of critical thinking among students as a leading criterion of readiness of a modern graduate of a higher educational institution for modern conditions of social life and professional activity. The concept of modernizing current education indicates the need to train a highly qualified specialist who has developed critical thinking, is able to work with large flows of information and has a high level of motivation to learn new things. The one who also has cognitive flexibility and a high level of reflexivity, and is ready for constant professional and personal growth. The main goal of higher education in the context of orientation of learning outcomes to the needs of employers and the trend towards continuing education is to prepare graduates who are able to use the acquired knowledge correctly, directing them to solve a wide range of issues that arise in their personal and professional life.