Crafting impactful and relevant literature reviews

This interactive three-day workshop is designed to support PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in developing the skills required to conduct thorough, critical, well-structured and high impact literature reviews. Combining theoretical input with practical exercises, the course offers a structured approach to identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing academic sources within the context of one's research.

Learning outcomes

After attending this course, you will be able to...

• distinguish between different types of literature reviews and explain their roles in academic research, theory development, and scholarly positioning.
• analyze the rhetorical and structural features of high-impact literature reviews to identify what makes them relevant, credible, and influential.
• reflect on how literature reviews contribute to shaping academic fields, define research agendas, and signal theoretical and practical relevance.
• examine the relationship between problem framing, synthesis, and contribution in literature reviews across disciplines.
• identify and evaluate patterns, gaps, tensions, and schools of thought within a selected body of literature.
• compare alternative strategies for organizing and synthesizing literature, and assess their suitability for different review purposes.
• develop and begin drafting a literature review that is well-structured, conceptually grounded, and positioned to make a meaningful scholarly contribution.

Course Schedule

Monday, 17 November (half day)
Theme: Foundations of High-Impact and Relevant Literature Reviews
Objectives for the day:

• Understand the different types and roles of literature reviews in academic research
• Explore what makes a literature review impactful and relevant
• Learn how to critically analyze review articles
• Begin developing a clear problem framing and purpose for one’s own review

Tuesday, 18 November (morning session)
Theme: From Ideas to Draft – Structuring and Starting Your Literature Review
Objectives for the day:

• Explore different structures and rhetorical approaches to writing a literature review
• Learn practical strategies for moving from synthesis to text
• Begin outlining and drafting one’s own review using a structure that fits the purpose
• Work independently on a concrete section of the review (e.g., outline, intro, synthesis section)

Tuesday afternoon: Independent Work Session: Drafting Your Review
Location: Reserved workspace for all participants

• Develop a draft structure (outline or mind map) for your literature review
• Begin writing a selected section (e.g., introduction, one thematic cluster, synthesis paragraph)
• Prepare one draft element (structure sketch, section draft, or paragraph) for peer feedback on Wednesday
   

Wednesday,19 November (full day)
Theme: From idea to impact – sharpening the contribution and finalizing the review
Objectives for the Day:

• Develop stronger argumentation and contribution logic in literature reviews
• Practice giving and receiving constructive feedback
• Identify and avoid common pitfalls
• Leave with a concrete, revised output and clear next steps

The format will be a combination of lectures, group discussions, database tutorials, individual exercises, and peer feedback.

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:

• academic research competences
  • Information literacy
  • Critical analysis and synthesis
  • Scholarly writing
• interpersonal competences
  • Written communication
  • Research planning
  • Collaboration through peer feedback
    
    
    

For whom?

• PhD students and postdoctoral researchers across all disciplines, especially those in the early stages of their research project or preparing for a research proposal or manuscript.
• Max 15 PhD students

When and where?

• The workshop will take place on November 17-19, 2025 - 09:00 - 17:00.
• Participation on the three days is required.
• Campus Diepenbeek
• Participants will work on a draft structure and summary of their own literature review.

Registration?

• Please register here.
• As places are limited, registering does not automatically imply that you will be able to participate. You will be notified by email.
• Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).

Acknowledged as?

• DS BSH: category 'research management & communication skills' - workshop on general research skills