Heta Tuominen

Heta Tuominen is a Professor and Academy Research Fellow at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), affiliated with the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education under the Philosophical Faculty. Her research focuses on the interplay between motivation, well-being, and perfectionism in educational contexts, particularly among children and adolescents. She leads the Academy Research Fellow project (2022–2027), examining developmental dynamics of motivation and academic well-being in secondary education.

Education includes a PhD and Docent titles in Education (UEF) and Educational Psychology (University of Helsinki). She serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Finnish Journal of Education and coordinates the Educational Psychology and Learning Research Special Interest Group.

Her research interests span educational psychology, quantitative methods, and student welfare. Key findings emphasize the decline of motivation and well-being over time, with reciprocal links between academic performance and motivation. Recent work highlights pandemic impacts on student stress and coping strategies.

Awards include the 2024 Communicator of the Year Award (UEF) and the prestigious Academy Research Fellow title. Collaborations involve the Motivation, Learning, and Well-being (MoLeWe) research collective and the Learning, Everyday Life and Work in a Digitalized Society (DIGS) community.