Public Relations of UPNVJ – Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) strengthens the critical thinking skills of new students through Critical Thinking material in the PROSPEKTIV 2026 program. In the process of producing learning videos for the program, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering UPNVJ, Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Teguh Firmansyah, ST, MT, IPM., ASEAN.Eng., emphasized the importance of the ability to reason, examine information, and make decisions based on evidence amidst the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). The material prepared for students in the 2026/2027 Academic Year connects critical thinking skills with the ability to innovate, collaborate, and maintain academic integrity in facing global challenges.

In his presentation during the production of the PROSPEKTIV 2026 video, Teguh explained that critical thinking skills are increasingly needed as the world of work evolves. According to The Future of Jobs Report 2025 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), 69 percent of companies list analytical thinking as a core skill for workers. The same report estimates that around 39 percent of workers' core skills will change by 2030.

These findings demonstrate that mastering technical knowledge alone is insufficient to navigate changing times. Students need the ability to analyze problems, evaluate information, and adapt to change to make informed decisions.

To illustrate the importance of critical thinking, Teguh presents a simple illustration of a stick and a ball, each worth Rp110,000. If the stick costs Rp100,000 more than the ball, the spontaneous answer is often Rp10,000 for the ball. However, the correct answer is Rp5,000.

This illustration, adapted from the Cognitive Reflection Test, demonstrates that intuitive answers aren't always correct without logical examination. This example encourages students to avoid jumping to conclusions before examining the information and underlying reasoning.

Teguh also outlined six key critical thinking skills: interpretation, analysis, evaluation, inference, explanation, and self-regulation. These skills help students understand information, assess the credibility of sources, construct arguments, and evaluate their own thinking.

Additionally, students are introduced to various cognitive biases that can influence decision-making. Confirmation bias, the tendency to follow the majority opinion, and even believing information because it's presented by a famous figure are examples of how someone can accept a statement without adequate scrutiny.

Critical Thinking Amidst the Development of Artificial Intelligence

One of the main concerns in Teguh's presentation was the use of AI in academic life. This technology makes it easier for students to obtain information, summarize references, and develop ideas. However, excessive reliance on technology has the potential to reduce student engagement in the process of thinking and evaluating information.

The material refers to Gerlich's (2025) study of 666 participants, which found a link between AI use and the tendency to delegate some thinking processes to technology. Another study by Lee and colleagues (2025) of 319 knowledge workers showed that levels of trust in AI were related to the frequency of critical thinking practices.

These two studies serve as a reminder that technology use requires awareness to maintain independent reasoning skills. However, the associations found in these studies do not directly prove that AI use leads to a decline in critical thinking skills.

In the context of higher education, students are encouraged to utilize AI as a supporting tool to develop and test ideas, not as a replacement for the thinking process. Information, data, and references generated by AI still need to be verified to ensure that their use does not compromise the quality of learning or academic integrity.

Teguh also introduced the SIFT approach, which stands for Stop, Investigate, Find, and Trace , as a practical step for examining digital information. This approach teaches students to be cautious about believing information, to investigate the credibility of sources, to seek comparative references, and to examine the original context of a statement or data.

Innovation and Collaboration Begin with Reasoning Skills

In addition to discussing technological challenges, Teguh emphasized that critical thinking is the foundation for producing innovations relevant to societal needs. Students need to develop divergent thinking skills to generate alternative ideas, then use convergent thinking to determine the best solution based on evidence and rational considerations.

These skills are also needed when students face complex issues that lack a single, definitive answer, such as climate change, health issues, social inequality, and the challenges of sustainable development. Solving such issues requires interdisciplinary understanding, collaboration, and ethical considerations.

Regarding collaboration, Teguh emphasized the importance of fostering open discussion spaces that welcome differing opinions. Group success isn't solely determined by the superior abilities of individuals, but also by social sensitivity, equal opportunities to speak, and each member's willingness to listen and evaluate shared ideas.

This material also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between criticism of ideas and personal attacks. Students are encouraged to build a culture of discussion that respects differing views, is open to input, and uses argumentation as a means to improve the quality of decisions.

Academic Integrity as the Foundation of Critical Thinking

Strengthening critical thinking in PROSPEKTIV 2026 is also linked to character building and academic ethics. Teguh explained the importance of intellectual honesty, openness to evidence, responsibility, and the ability to acknowledge the limitations of one's own knowledge.

Students are reminded to avoid various forms of academic integrity violations, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and unauthorized authorship. In preparing scientific papers, the appropriate use of reference sources is part of academic responsibility that must be established from the beginning of the course.

As a practical application, the material also provides guidance on reading scientific articles through three stages, namely understanding the general overview of the research, studying the main content and arguments, and testing the methods and conclusions presented by the author.

Through this approach, students are expected to not only be able to repeat information from reading sources, but also compare various views, evaluate the strength of evidence, and draw conclusions that can be accounted for.

Strengthening critical thinking skills is in line with the Regulation of the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Number 39 of 2025 concerning Quality Assurance of Higher Education, which places independent and critical thinking skills as part of the learning outcomes of graduates.

The briefing through the PROSPEKTIV 2026 video is also in line with the policy direction of the UPNVJ Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA., Comm., in encouraging student-centered learning transformation, competency strengthening, and responsible use of technology.

Previously, in the Coordination Meeting of Lecturers for Compulsory Curriculum Courses (MKWK) on August 13, 2026, the Chancellor emphasized that AI must be utilized to enrich the learning process without replacing students' thinking skills and character.

"We must position AI as a tool to enrich the learning process, not as a substitute for critical thinking, creativity, responsibility, and character development in students," Venus emphasized on the occasion.

Through the development of video-based learning materials in PROSPEKTIV 2026, UPNVJ is strengthening its commitment to providing learning that is relevant to technological developments and the needs of the younger generation. Strengthening critical thinking skills is expected to serve as a foundation for students to grow as innovative, collaborative, and self-reliant individuals capable of making real contributions to society while upholding the values of National Defense.