Relationships between the cognitive skills of saber pro tests with emotional intelligence, results-oriented, leadership, interpersonal, cognitive, and intrapersonal competencies in industrial, process, and production engineering for REDIN central node, Colombia

Abstract

This study identified relationships between two sets of measurements: the cognitive skills assessed through the results of the Saber Pro State Exams, taken at the end of the engineering program cycle in Colombia, and the competencies related to workplace behavior measured by the SDX test—a behavioral development assessment system applied in participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

The reported data correspond to the pre-sampling stage, and therefore reflect a representative sample of the participating HEIs. The sample includes final-year students, graduates, and non-graduated former students who completed their studies within the past 36 months. All HEIs involved belong to the Central Node of the Network of Deans and Directors of Industrial Engineering Programs (REDIN), which is part of the Colombian Association of Engineering Faculties (ACOFI), and represent programs in Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, and Production Engineering.

The Saber Pro test includes a generic section covering five domains: civic competencies, written communication, English, critical reading, and quantitative reasoning. It also includes two professional-specific domains: design of production and logistics systems, and project planning. The exam is typically taken by students enrolled in each HEI and follows standardized protocols that comply with psychometric testing norms under the framework of Item Response Theory (IRT).

From the SDX occupational characterization test developed by Psigma Corporation, aggregated results were obtained in the domains of cognitive skills and emotional intelligence, as well as five types of competencies: intrapersonal, cognitive, managerial, interpersonal, and results-oriented. Notable correlations were identified, offering valuable insights for curriculum design within HEIs, occupational profiling, and other related applications.