Leveraging mathematics to enhance critical thinking in technical universities / Nella Abayeva ... [et al.]

As the modern labour market increasingly demands professionals capable of complex problem-solving and analytical reasoning, the importance of developing these cognitive abilities during higher education has become paramount. This study investigates the role of mathematics education in fostering critical and analytical thinking skills among students in technical universities. The study was conducted over a five-year period (2015-2020) at the Karaganda Technical University, involving 275 students who were divided into control and experimental groups, with the latter receiving specially designed that students in the experimental group demonstrated a higher improvement in these cognitive abilities compared to their counterparts in the control group. Specifically, the average score for positive indicators of critical and analytical thinking increased by 210% in the experimental group, compared to 191% in the control group. Students in the experimental group achieved an average score of 4.05 (on a 5-point scale) in mathematics, compared to 3.60 in the control group. The study also explored various pedagogical strategies for enhancing interest in mathematics, including problem-based learning, reproductive methods, and heuristic approaches. The findings of this research have significant implications for curriculum design and teaching methodologies in technical universities. The research also highlights the need for a holistic approach to mathematics education that goes beyond mere subject proficiency to foster skills that are increasingly valuable in the modern workplace. Future research could explore the long-term impact of these enhanced cognitive skills on graduates' professional success and investigate the potential for applying similar approaches in other educational contexts.