Davinia Hernandez Leo

Davinia Hernandez Leo is a Full Professor and Serra Húnter Fellow at the Department of Information and Communication Technologies, School of Engineering, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona. She serves as the head of the Interactive and Distributed Technologies for Education (TIDE) research group and is the Commissioner for research in educational innovation at UPF. She is also currently an ICREA-Academia fellow (2019-2024).

Dr. Hernandez Leo received her Telecommunications Engineering degree and Ph.D. from Universidad de Valladolid, Spain, in 2003 and 2007, respectively. She has held visiting positions at Open University of the Netherlands (2006), Virginia Tech as a Fulbright Scholar (2012), and University of Sydney (2015). She previously served as Vice-Dean of the UPF Engineering School and head of its Unit for Teaching Quality and Innovation.

Her research lies at the intersection of human-centered computing, network and computer applications, and learning sciences. She focuses on Learning and Collaboration Technologies, with specific interests in learning design technology, computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), community platforms, learning analytics, and architectures and devices for learning. Currently, she is investigating the interplay of learning design with data analytics, with an emphasis on CSCL. Her work often addresses social inclusion through technology, particularly with vulnerable populations including adults without academic degrees.

Dr. Hernandez Leo's recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward integrating ethical considerations with learning analytics, supporting teacher communities through design tools, and exploring collaborative learning environments in both formal and informal settings. Her work bridges theoretical research with practical applications, particularly evident in her collaborations with organizations like Àgora.

• Best Paper Awards at ICALT2004, ID+TIC2009, and CAE2010
• Finalist Best Papers at EDEN2015 and ICALT2020
• Best Demo Recognitions at ECTEL2013, ECTEL2018, and ECTEL2021
• European Award for Excellence in CSCL Technology
• ICREA Academia Prize (2019-2024)
• Multiple teaching recognitions from UPF and Catalan Government

Dr. Hernandez Leo is very active in research supervision of PhD students and visitors, and has led numerous European and national research projects including METIS Integrated Learning Design Environment. She has served as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions of Learning Technologies, Vice-President of the European Association for Technology-Enhanced Learning, and chair of the IEEE ICICLE SIG on Learning Technology Data Standards. Currently, she is an elected member of the CSCL Committee within the International Society of the Learning Sciences and a member of the steering committee of the European Conference on Technology-Enhanced Learning.

She leads the Interactive and Distributed Technologies for Education (TIDE) research group, which has established a significant collaboration with Àgora, a non-profit organization supporting adults without academic degrees. Through this partnership, her team has developed technologies for active aging, digital literacy programs, and platforms for community engagement, demonstrating a strong commitment to applying learning technologies for social inclusion and community empowerment.