Peer assessment is increasingly recognized as an effective pedagogical strategy in higher education, as it fosters active learning, student engagement, and the development of essential soft skills. A broad body of research highlights its benefits in fostering critical thinking, autonomy, and self-awareness (Topping in Theory Pract 48:20–27, 2009) [1]. Through the critical evaluation of peers’ work, students enhance their cognitive and metacognitive abilities while simultaneously developing key social skills (Nicol et al. in Assess Eval High Educ 39:102–122, 2013) [2]. Gielen et al. (Gielen et al. in Learn Instr 20:2010, 2010) [3] demonstrate that peer assessment significantly improves the quality of learning compared to traditional methods by soliciting greater interaction and a heightened sense of responsibility among students. Moreover, the transparency and personalization inherent in peer feedback promote a deeper understanding of academic content (Berg et al. in Stud High Educ 31:341–356, 2006) [4]. Building on this foundation, the present study aims to analyze and compare the outcomes of two pilot experiences carried out within the framework of peer assessment workshops. These workshops actively engaged students in peer review and assessment processes using a dedicated digital platform. The research investigates the extent to which these experiences foster transversal and digital competences. Specifically, it examines the impact of providing well-structured examples—used as references—on students’ performance and competence development during the assessment process, comparing workshops where such examples were included with those where they were not. This contribution further delineates the methodologies employed, the features of the digital platform, and the assessment procedures implemented. The findings reveal that the inclusion of examples enhances the development of key competences, including critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. These results open promising avenues for further research in the field of peer assessment, underscoring its potential to enrich learning experiences and cultivate transferable skills essential for academic and professional success.