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Teaching Integer Programming by Scheduling the Belgian Soccer League

Author

Listed:
  • Dries Goossens

    (Department of Business Informatics and Operations Management, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; FlandersMake@UGent – core lab CVAMO, 9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Jeroen Beliën

    (Research Centre for Operations Management, KU Leuven, Campus Brussels, 1000 Brussels, Belgium)

Abstract

This paper presents a didactic approach for teaching integer programming starting from a real-life case on scheduling the Belgian soccer league. We share our experiences as well as didactic resources for two teaching formats. The first format involves hands-on exercises and is more appropriate for small student groups (up to 40 students). The second format is an interactive lecture that focuses more on current research challenges and is better suited for large student groups. During the last decade, both formats have been used repeatedly with consistent, positive feedback from students. The combination of a hands-on, interactive approach that actively involves students with the particularities and experiences of solving a real-life case makes our approach unique and positively affects students’ attention.

Suggested Citation

  • Dries Goossens & Jeroen Beliën, 2023. "Teaching Integer Programming by Scheduling the Belgian Soccer League," INFORMS Transactions on Education, INFORMS, vol. 23(3), pages 164-172, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orited:v:23:y:2023:i:3:p:164-172
    DOI: 10.1287/ited.2022.0269
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    References listed on IDEAS

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