Reflective critical thinking skills of student leaders in higher education institutions for development

Abstract

The Higher Education plays an important role in the Financial Development, in Economic Growth and in the Environmental Science. The purpose of the study is to train student leaders to become reflective and critical thinkers in their environment. There is a need for an intervention by student leaders in higher education institutions on environmental education. Thus, a seminar-workshop that will improve student leadership and critical thinking capabilities is a smart approach. This research aimed to describe the strategies for the recognition and realistic implementation of reflective critical thinking skills to students in their studies, their families and the community or environment. It also aimed to bring out the general importance of environmental education in their life as students. This study uses a qualitative method using critical analysis and survey. Graphical, ranking, and tabular techniques were also used to present the results. This was attended by 40 student leaders who engaged in the intervention activity. The data obtained has been summarized and analyzed. As a result, the different methods were ranked accordingly when determining areas for development. In the end, the researchers have come up with a Reflective Critical Thinking Cycle in Environmental Education that can be used and extended to oneself, the family, and the society. The research findings based on the intervention should be consistently done to show students how to balance academic and extra-curricular activities and in dealing with their environment.