Abstract
In the context of rapidly changing educational paradigms and the increasing digitalization of learning, the development of students’ research competence has become one of the key challenges in higher education. Traditional teaching methods often fail to foster inquiry-based thinking and independent problem-solving, making it necessary to explore innovative approaches that combine human creativity and technological support. The use of heuristic AI technologies in teacher education is highly relevant, as such tools stimulate exploratory thinking, support research-oriented learning, and help future teachers develop analytical and digital skills required in modern educational practice. This article presents the analytical results of a student survey aimed at exploring the role of heuristic and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in developing research competence among university students. The study involved undergraduate students from the pedagogical faculty who participated in an online questionnaire assessing their attitudes toward research activities, understanding of research competence, and experience with heuristic and AI-based learning tools. The findings reveal that most respondents show a positive attitude toward research, acknowledging the effectiveness of heuristic methods such as creative inquiry, problem-based learning, and guided discovery. Students also reported that AI tools assist in data analysis, information retrieval, and generating feedback that supports autonomous learning. The results highlight the relevance of integrating heuristic and AI-driven technologies in higher education as a way to enhance students’ motivation, reflective thinking, and independent research skills—critical components of professional and academic growth in the modern digital era.