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Real-life curriculum-based timetabling with elective courses and course sections

Author

Listed:
  • Tomáš Müller

    (Purdue University)

  • Hana Rudová

    (Masaryk University)

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative approach to curriculum-based timetabling. To capture complex relations of real life curriculum-based timetabling problems, curricula are defined by a rich model that includes optional courses and course groups among which students are expected to take a subset of courses. In addition, courses may contain alternative course sections. A transformation between the proposed curriculum model and student course enrollments is formalized and a local search algorithm generating corresponding enrollments is introduced. While the proposed curriculum model is too complicated for existing curriculum-based solvers, the transformation enables curriculum-based timetabling in any existing enrollment-based course timetabling solver. The approach was implemented in a well established enrollment-based course timetabling system UniTime. The system has been successfully applied in practice at the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University for about 7,500 students and 260 curricula and at the Faculty of Sports Studies at Masaryk University for about 1,400 students and 25 curricula. Experimental results related with these problems are demonstrated for two semesters.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomáš Müller & Hana Rudová, 2016. "Real-life curriculum-based timetabling with elective courses and course sections," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 239(1), pages 153-170, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:239:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1007_s10479-014-1643-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10479-014-1643-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Burke, Edmund Kieran & Petrovic, Sanja, 2002. "Recent research directions in automated timetabling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(2), pages 266-280, July.
    2. Hertz, A., 1991. "Tabu search for large scale timetabling problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 54(1), pages 39-47, September.
    3. Alex Bonutti & Fabio Cesco & Luca Gaspero & Andrea Schaerf, 2012. "Benchmarking curriculum-based course timetabling: formulations, data formats, instances, validation, visualization, and results," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 194(1), pages 59-70, April.
    4. Gerhard Post & Samad Ahmadi & Sophia Daskalaki & Jeffrey Kingston & Jari Kyngas & Cimmo Nurmi & David Ranson, 2012. "An XML format for benchmarks in High School Timetabling," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 194(1), pages 385-397, April.
    5. Tomáš Müller & Keith Murray, 2010. "Comprehensive approach to student sectioning," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 181(1), pages 249-269, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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