ENS666 Advanced Research Methodologies and Design
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Amal Mersni
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of research methodologies. It aims to develop an understanding of various research approaches, data collection and analysis techniques, and the ethical conduct of research. The course prepares students to craft research proposals and design research projects effectively, suitable for Master’s and PhD levels.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
TBA
Additional Literature
Teaching Methods
Lectures and discussions
Own presentation
Guets presentation and others.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Introduction - Philosophy of Science | supplementary course material |
| 2 | Logical Reasoning and the influence of philosophy | supplementary course material |
| 3 | Forming a Hypothesis | supplementary course material |
| 4 | Scientific Measurement | supplementary course material |
| 5 | Literature survey and reviews, paper reviews, research proposal | supplementary course material |
| 6 | Design of Experiments | supplementary course material |
| 7 | Design of Experiments | supplementary course material |
| 8 | Data collection, analysis, modeling and simulation | supplementary course material |
| 9 | Data collection, analysis, modeling and simulation | supplementary course material |
| 10 | Testing of hypothesis | supplementary course material |
| 11 | Intellectual property, ethics, sponsered research, projects calls | supplementary course material |
| 12 | Presentation, conferences, journals, and research writing | supplementary course material |
| 13 | Program specific research topics | supplementary course material |
| 14 | Program specific research topics | supplementary course material |
| 15 | Final Course Presentations and Research Results | supplementary course material |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS666.1 | Course | Monday 17:00 - 19:50 | A F1.10 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 14:00 - 16:00 | A F1.6 | |
| Thursday | 13:00 - 14:00 | A F1.6 | (Internship consultations , internship application forms) |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Report and Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
In Term Reports and Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 12 ECTS credit course corresponds to 300 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Presentation Preparation
60 hours ⏳ (6 week × 10 h)
Home Study
75 hours ⏳ (15 week × 5 h)
Final Presentation
120 hours ⏳ (12 week × 10 h)
300 Total Workload Hours
12 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ENS666] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ENS666 | Advanced Research Methodologies and Design | 1 | 2 | 12 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Amal Mersni | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 14:00-16:00 Thursday: 9:00-11:00 , 13:00-14:00 (Internship consultations , internship application forms) |
|||||||
| amersni@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of research methodologies. It aims to develop an understanding of various research approaches, data collection and analysis techniques, and the ethical conduct of research. The course prepares students to craft research proposals and design research projects effectively, suitable for Master’s and PhD levels. | |||||||||
| Textbook | TBA | |||||||||
| Additional Literature | ||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures and discussions, own presentation, guets presentation and others. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | General Introduction - Philosophy of Science | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Logical Reasoning and the influence of philosophy | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Forming a Hypothesis | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Scientific Measurement | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Literature survey and reviews, paper reviews, research proposal | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Design of Experiments | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Design of Experiments | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Data collection, analysis, modeling and simulation | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Data collection, analysis, modeling and simulation | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Testing of hypothesis | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Intellectual property, ethics, sponsered research, projects calls | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Presentation, conferences, journals, and research writing | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Program specific research topics | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Program specific research topics | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Course Presentations and Research Results | supplementary course material | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Report and Presentation | 1 | 40 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| In Term Reports and Presentation | 3 | 60 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Presentation Preparation | 10 | 6 | 60 | |||
| Home Study | 5 | 15 | 75 | Final Presentation | 10 | 12 | 120 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 300 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 12 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 17/02/2026 | |||||||||