Joana Heil

Papers

Total Citations

105

H-Index

About

Dr. Joana Heil is a leading voice in the emerging field of AI-enhanced higher education, with a sharp focus on how generative tools reshape student learning and academic integrity. Her research centers on AI-competence, digital literacy, and the psychological factors driving students’ adoption of technologies like chatbots and paraphrasers. In her landmark 2024 study, “First-year students AI-competence as a predictor for intended and de facto use of AI-tools for supporting learning processes in higher education,” which has already garnered over 105 citations, Heil demonstrated that students’ perceived AI competence strongly predicts both their intention to use and actual engagement with AI tools. This work provides critical evidence for universities designing support systems and ethical guidelines in an era of rapid technological change. Beyond this, Heil investigates the gap between students’ self-reported and actual AI use, offering nuanced insights into learning behavior and retention. Her contributions are shaping policy discussions across European higher education institutions, making her a key figure for anyone studying the intersection of pedagogy, technology, and student success.