LUCET’s test development laboratory TD_Lab regroups the centre’s core methodological expertise. The TD_Lab primarily ensures the development of culture-fair large-scale competency tests for the Luxembourg school monitoring programme ÉpStan. Every ÉpStan competence test is typically developed by a working-group of content experts (i.e., practicing teachers) under the coordination and guidance of TD_Lab specialists. Crucially, the TD_Lab also explicitly serves as an internal peer review platform to assure and continuously develop the scientific quality of all LUCET assessment instruments. Notably, the LUCET TD_Lab is consulted on a regular basis for University internal and external assessment enterprises.

LUCET’s optical mark and character recognition laboratory OMCR_Lab is the centre’s only non-virtual lab structure. Occupying about a quarter of the surface area in the basement of the University of Luxembourg’s Maison des Sciences Humaines, the OMCR_Lab is among the Faculty’s biggest and most secure research facilities. The impressive specifications of the OMCR_Lab include high-capacity printing and packing lines, industrial-grade cutting-machines, high-performance scanners, state-of-the-art design stations and ergonomically conceived workspaces for dozens of assistants. LUCET’s OMCR_Lab can be shared on request and depending on availability for University-of-Luxembourg-based research projects and surveys.

LUCET’s large-scale statistics laboratory LSS_Lab regroups the centre’s expertise in advanced statistical methods. The LSS_Lab primarily ensures the state-of-the-art analysis and reporting of cross-sectional and longitudinal large-scale assessment data from LUCET’s commissioned research endeavours. Naturally, full GDPR compliance is imperative for all processing of personal data. Importantly, the LSS_Lab also hosts and administers LUCET’s unique longitudinal database emerging from the Luxembourg school monitoring programme ÉpStan. For the purpose of original research and high-impact scientific publications, LUCET researchers have privileged access to the aforementioned database—however, access is not limited to in-house scientists. Notably, the LUCET LSS_Lab’s data analytical expertise is consulted on a regular basis by University internal and external researchers.

LUCET’s computer-based testing laboratory CBT_Lab is the home and birthplace of the centre’s in-house online assessment system OASYS. The CBT_Lab administers LUCET’s server structure, and deploys the centre’s mobile testing units. All CBT_Lab products are planned, documented, developed and maintained according to high industry standards. Notably, whenever possible, CBT_Lab products are designed in close collaboration with the University’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research group, thus ensuring optimized user experience. LUCET’s CBT_Lab products can be shared on request and depending on availability for University-of-Luxembourg-based research projects and surveys.

LUCET’s in-house online assessment system OASYS can be considered the centre’s technological backbone. OASYS is a multi-platform and multi-device digital testing and assessment system built around state-of-the-art web-technologies. In close collaboration with the University’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research group, OASYS has been carefully designed around business processes, following a research-based HCI approach, thus ensuring optimized user experience. To assure secure data collections and best-possible service, OASYS offers powerful live monitoring for test administrators. Every response is communicated and logged instantaneously on LUCET servers, which minimizes the loss of data even during potential client side computer crashes. Speaking of security, OASYS developers undergo regular security training, and OASYS underwent state-of-the-art penetration testing and code review by external security consultants. OASYS collects timestamps of every action, thus making the platform an ideal choice for behavioural analysis and data mining. A load balancing solution allows for around 20K simultaneous client connections in the current server setup. Notably, all OASYS servers are hosted in-house, thus facilitating GDPR compliance. Although OASYS has been designed primarily as an online assessment system, the client can also run in an app with a server installation on a laptop and a mobile Wi-Fi access point, thus allowing for digital testing in areas with poor or no internet connection. Since 2010, OASYS is used successfully in the Luxembourg school monitoring programme ÉpStan. Moreover, since 2014, OASYS is also the platform of choice for student course evaluations and various in-house surveys at the University of Luxembourg.