Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking - the self-assessment of Algebra University College students

During the twentieth century, it became clear that national economies can make progress only by investing in human capital. Knowledge increases human productivity and creativity, and society can prosper only through human self-awareness, understanding of the world around them and by increasing the quality of their lives. In the information age, progress was made through information and technology, with particular emphasis on critical thinking. But in the conceptual economy of the 21st century, influenced by three key developments; over-supply, outsourcing, and automation, it has become clear that critical thinking, even with the help of high technology, is no longer sufficient to make a living or to be competitive in the labor market. In the 'Value age,' these capabilities need to be complemented by highly conceptual and highly sensitive traits. The integration of critical and creative thinking is a fundamental factor in personal productivity and the essential condition for achieving sustainable economic development. The self-assessment of Algebra University College students was designed to investigate the extent to which students integrated critical and creative thinking into their own circumstances and to explore whether there is a correlation between the type of thinking they are more inclined to and their study programs.