The ability to think critically is crucial in modern society, where the amount and accessibility of information is constantly increasing. The purpose of this study is to reveal the importance and application of critical thinking in higher education. In addition to imparting professional knowledge, the role of higher education institutions is to develop students' critical and analytical skills in order to enable them to evaluate reliable information, make decisions and find creative solutions. In addition to the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills, education should enable the full development of students. It should help eliminate inequalities, meet needs and develop students' potential to the greatest extent possible. In addition, higher education institutions should contribute to the development of new knowledge and culture. In addition, education should prepare its students for future success in private, professional and civil life. The study is based on secondary data processing, which identifies and summarizes the good practices found as a result of the in-depth analysis. The study presents the pedagogical methods and tools that effectively help the development of critical thinking, as well as summarizes in detail and analyzes their application in higher education practice at a theoretical level, with particular regard to the situation in Slovakia. Thanks to good practice, a proposal will be formulated, with the help of which the integration of elements of critical thinking into education contributes to raising the standard of education.

Keywords: Critical thinking, competences, higher education system, Slovakia.