Critical thinking is the ability to analyze ideas and concepts objectively and rationally while

considering different perspectives to reach a logical conclusion. It is a process of questioning

information or data and it may encompass cognitive functions such as the ability to synthesize
process and analyze information, evaluate tasks and recommend solutions. Regarded as a skill,
employers need candidates who have the capacity to think effectively, and offer solution to their
challenges. However, many of them believe that graduates lack these skills.

Why Employers make the statement

Employers say so because many graduates they employ are not able to reason properly, for
example, they may graduate and join organizations without the ability to read and interpret
scatterplots, graphs and charts, make a constructive and cohesive argument or identify a logical
fallacy. This takes an organization another time in training the candidates in what they believe
should have been equipped in them from the time they joined colleges or universities.

If Employers are justified

They are justified, since workplace environment is dynamic unlike our education system that has
remained so unresponsive to the ever- changing needs in the workplace in terms of technology,
approach to challenges, as well as the operations.

If colleges should be responsible for teaching critical thinking

Yes, college coursework should include creative and critical thinking in order to teach students
the concepts in critical thinking in order to allow them to practice and develop their own. The
coursework should also be designed to include case studies whereby students are given real life
challenges faced by organizations, are asked to think objectively and provide solutions to them.
This can allow students to prepare for confronting work challenges through logical reasoning.

Whose Job?
However, all stakeholders have a role to play in ensuring that students are equipped with logical
thinking to counter the challenges, from universities, to the employers especially when training
candidates during internship, and most importantly, the students themselves ( Brookfield, 1991).
Students should strive to develop their critical thinking skills to help them become valuable
members of any organization by bringing creative solutions to the table and helping the business
to innovate and remain profitable and competitive.

Reference
Brookfield, Stephen D. (1991). Developing Critical Thinkers, Reprint Edition, San Francisco, CA:
Jossey-Bass, Inc.