"Key-COM" (“Assessment of Key Competencies for Academic and Professional Success in Higher Education Students”) is a research project, developed in Universidad Loyola, and led by Dr. Milagrosa Sánchez Martín to improve how universities evaluate competencies and skills for academic and professional success such as logical reasoning, critical thinking, or communication.
The project combines traditional cognitive assessments with non-cognitive skills evaluation, such as self-regulated learning (SRL), to address biases in current evaluation systems and create fair opportunities for students. Key-COM also employs methodologies like Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of these evaluations.
The insights will help universities refine admissions processes and align education with labor market needs. Key-COM aims to prepare students for academic success and employability while supporting goals for quality education and inclusive societies.
Developing Assessment Tools |
The first objective focuses on creating tools to evaluate skills like self-regulated learning (SRL) and non-cognitive abilities (e.g., teamwork, motivation) during the university admissions process. It also aims to ensure these tools account for individual differences, such as gender. Key efforts include:
Adaptive Testing |
The second objective leverages technology to create Computerized Adaptive Tests (CATs), which adjust the difficulty of questions in real time based on the student’s performance. This approach makes testing faster and more accurate. Goals include:
Linking Skills to Employability |
The third objective focuses on identifying the skills that employers value most and aligning university training with labor market needs. To do this, the team will:
Predicting Academic and Professional Success |
The final objective aims to combine the results from the previous objectives to create a comprehensive assessment model. This model will help universities identify students’ strengths and areas for growth early on, providing tailored support. The objectives include:
Milagrosa Sánchez Martín
Project Leader. Universidad Loyola
Area of knowledge: Scientific and Behavioural Methodology
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7387-9971
Juan Francisco Plaza
Universidad Loyola
Area of knowledge: Audiovisual Media and Advertising
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7741-088X
Pedro Pablo Pérez Hernández
Universidad Loyola
Area of knowledge: Fundamentals of Economic Analysis
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5267-3117
Pilar Algaba Cenizo
Data Unit. Universidad Loyola
Ana Rodríguez Meirinhos
Universidad Loyola
Area of knowledge: Developmental and Educational Psychology
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1073-8151
Stephanie Carretero Gómez
Universidad Loyola
Area of knowledge: Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4692-2281
María Dolores Nieto
Javier García de Castro
Universidad Loyola
Area of knowledge: Scientific and Behavioural Methodology
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1851-423X
Juan Fernando Luesia Lahoz
Universidad Loyola
Area of knowledge: Scientific and Behavioural Methodology
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1017-6857
Scientific publications and conferences
Luesia, J. F., Benítez, I., Pérez, P. P., Plaza, J. F., Vilches-Cansino, R. M., & Sánchez-Martín, M. (2023, July). The relevance of creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration in university students: a longitudinal follow-up study in the first two academic years [Oral communication]. EDULEARN23, Palma, Spain.
García-Castro, F. J., Rodríguez-Meirinhos, A., Luesia, J. F., Gómez-Gómez, I., & Sánchez-Martín, M. (2024, September). Competencias clave del rendimiento académico en estudiantado universitario: un análisis de perfiles latentes. XVIII Congreso de Metodología de las Ciencias Sociales y de la Salud, Sevilla, Spain.
Sánchez-Martín, M., Luesia, J. F., García-Castro, J., Gómez-Gómez, I., & Rodríguez-Meirinhos, A. (2024, September). Supporting evidence for the relationship between cognitive and non-cognitive competencies in higher education. BERA Conference 2024 and WERA Focal Meeting, Manchester, England.
Nieto-Cañaveras, M. D., Luesia, J. F., Sanz-Cortés, A., & Sánchez-Martín, M. (2024, September). Diseño, construcción y estudio piloto de un test para medir razonamiento lógico en estudiantes universitarios. Diseño, construcción y estudio piloto de un test para medir razonamiento lógico en estudiantes universitarios. XVIII Congreso de Metodología de las Ciencias Sociales y de la Salud, Sevilla, Spain.
Sánchez-Martín, M., Luesia, J. F., & Nieto-Cañaveras, M. D. (2024, July). Development and calibration of a new item pool to measure logical reasoning ability in undergraduate students. ITC Conference. Granada, Spain.
Luesia, J. F., Nieto-Cañaveras, M. D., & Sánchez-Martín, M. (2024, July). Spelling competence in incoming university students: Creation of item pool based on current uses of Spanish spelling. ITC Conference. Granada, Spain.
Sánchez-Martín, M., Luesia, J., Plaza, J., & Sirecci, S. (2025, March). Assessment Instruments for Measuring Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Competencies in University Admission Processes in Spain. 19th annual International Technology, Education and Development Conference. Valencia, Spain.
Sánchez-Martín, M., Luesia, J. F., Pérez, P. P., García de Castro, J., Rodríguez-Meirinhos, A., & Gómez-Gómez, I. (2025, June). Academic Competencies in University Students: Perceived Relevance for Academic Training and Future Professional Success. The Jesuit University in the 21st Century: A Project of Hope for the World, Sevilla, Spain.
Carretero, S., Picazo, C., Gómez-Gómez, I. Luesia, J. F., Cinque, M., Trombetta, M., & Sánchez-Martín, M. (2025, May). Non-cognitive skills and professional career success: findings from a systematic literature review. 22 European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology. Prague, Czech Republic.
Carretero, S., Muñoz-Pino, I.,& Sánchez-Martín, M. (2025, May). Transversal Skills Are Not Just A Trend: Exploitation Of Job Databases in the Spanish Context. 22 European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology. Prague, Czech Republic.
Sánchez-Martín, M., Niessen, S., Luesia, J. F., Sireci, S. (2025, July). Analyzing construct validity of high school GPA and curriculum-sampling tests in university admission process in Spain. XI Conference – European Congress of Methodology, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. SEND
Sánchez-Martín, M., Flores, M., & Pérez Pérez, P. P. (2025, September). Competence assessment andundergraduateacademic performance: a multidisciplinary andcomparative study. BERA conference 2025, Sussex, England. SEND
Carretero, S., Sánchez-Martín, M., & Muñoz-del-Pino, I. M. (2025, April). Exploring transversal skills in online job advertisements: Insight from web data analysis in Spain. Paper presented at the Cedefop Research Conference: Using Data from the Web to Shape Next-Generation Labour Market and Skills Analysis, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Brussels.
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