How to Make the Right Decisions? Turan University Hosted a Master Class on Critical Thinking!

On October 31st, an important master class on “Critical Thinking” was held at Turan University. In a world saturated with information and diverse opinions, the ability to think clearly and independently is not just a skill—it’s a genuine necessity.

The guest speaker, Arna Karim—a certified psychologist, business trainer, and Deputy Head of the Personnel Development Department at the Centras holding—shared her experience and knowledge.

What Did Students Learn at the Master Class?

During the session, participants explored what critical thinking truly is. The speaker noted that it helps to:

• Make correct and well-considered decisions.
• Maintain composure in difficult situations.
• Clearly articulate one’s position.
• Avoid common mistakes and manipulations.

The Traps of Our Mind

One of the most interesting parts of the master class was the breakdown of mental errors (cognitive biases). It turns out our brain is inherently lazy and often resorts to deception to avoid admitting its mistakes.

Participants learned to recognize the most common “traps”:

• Confirmation Bias: The tendency to seek only information that confirms our existing beliefs and to ignore everything that contradicts them.
• Social Proof: The principle that “everyone is doing it, so it must be right.”
• Survivorship Bias: We only see the success stories and overestimate our own chances, forgetting the thousands who did not succeed.
• Authority Trap: The tendency to blindly trust the opinions of “experts” without analyzing their words.

The Main Takeaway

Critical thinking is not an innate talent but a skill that can and must be developed. And the simplest first step anyone can take is to start asking questions: of oneself, of others, and of the information we receive.

We thank Arna Karim for an incredibly useful, structured, and practical master class! We are confident that this knowledge will help our students be more successful both in their studies and in their future careers.

The master class was organized by: Centras, the Career and Leadership Center, and the Higher School of Economics and Management of Turan University.