Modern society is in constant dynamic movement, it is subject to various changes, including global ones. In this regard, requirements are increasing not only for himself, but also for his subjects - people. The development of the intelligence of an individual contributes to the effective development of mankind through the creation of an international labor market. The focus is on the fact that it is the intellectual potential as a resource that will become the main source of wealth in the near future. Intellectual potential and its development, as presented in the article, are inextricably linked with critical thinking, which is formed in the educational process in schools, colleges, universities. The study examines the essence of the concept of “critical thinking”, analyzes the relationship between critical thinking and the educational process in a university, identifies the basic principles for the development of critical thinking in modern youth.