A formulation of critical thinking framework in undergraduate interior design program: a case study of Universiti Teknologi MARA

Critical thinking is a crucial skill in the higher education system. Despite MOHE highlighting critical thinking as one of the soft skills in Malaysian higher education, there are many complaints from employers about the deficiency of this skill among higher education graduates. As this skill is an essential competency in architecture, it is also important in interior design education, as it enables students to address complex design problems, make informed decisions, and justify design outcomes. Since RMK- 12 highlighted that MARA education institutes will be leveraged to equip Bumiputera human capital with future skills, including critical thinking, to boost creativity and competency. This study aims to formulate a framework for critical thinking by investigating how it is perceived, practiced, and fostered in the interior design program at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).