The Department of English, Faculty of Languages and Literature, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), conducted its first workshop for postdoctoral research fellows and PhD scholars on the theme of “Literature Review.” The initiative aimed to orient postdoctoral researchers to the academic environment of IIUI, build research capacity, and foster a collaborative culture of critical inquiry.
The workshop brought together faculty members, resource persons, and researchers, providing a platform for academic engagement, knowledge sharing, and practical learning. The opening session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Fauzia Janjua, Dean, Faculty of Languages and Literature, while Dr. Saiyma Aslam, Chairperson, Department of English, also attended the proceedings. Dr. Nighat Shakur, Coordinator of the Workshop, welcomed the participants and outlined the objectives and structure of the programme.
The first day featured an online session on review of literature by Prof. Dr. Maria Isabel Maldonado García, who highlighted critical reading, thematic organization, synthesis of sources, and the development of analytical frameworks. This was followed by postdoctoral seminars on annotated bibliographies, allowing researchers to engage with key scholarly sources.
The second day included capacity-building activities, notably a workshop on AI-assisted literature review conducted by Dr. Salma Kaleem. Participants were introduced to digital research tools, AI-supported platforms, and automated techniques for literature searches and synthesis. The afternoon session featured a workshop led by Prof. Dr. Raja Nasim Akhtar, who emphasized structured approaches to literature review, including description, evaluation, and synthesis. He discussed strategies such as hierarchical structuring and guided questioning to strengthen analytical depth and coherence in academic writing.
On the final day, participants received hands-on training in developing research problem statements under the guidance of Dr. Khurram Shehzad. PhD scholars later presented concise reflective summaries of their term projects. The workshop concluded with closing remarks from the coordinator, reaffirming the Department’s focus on promoting rigorous, interdisciplinary, and research-driven academic development.