Title: A tabu search approach to solve the capacitated examination timetabling in the new Faculty of Education of the University of Seville

Authors: Cristina Yanes; Pablo Cortés

Addresses: Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, University of Seville, C/Pirotecnia s/n, Sevilla 41013, Spain. ' Ingeniería de Organización, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería, University of Seville, C/Camino de los Descubrimientos s/n, Sevilla 41092, Spain

Abstract: Spanish university degrees have recently been adapted to the European Higher Education Area and this has meant that new teaching approaches have had to be implemented, requiring small-sized classroom groups among other aspects. This led to small classrooms and spaces adapted to this new teaching/learning approach being included in the new building design of the Faculty of Education of the University of Seville. However, old (large-sized groups) and new (small-sized groups) degrees need to coexist and share the same examination rooms for a short period of time. This has made it increasingly difficult to prepare the examination timetabling. In this paper, we present a tool based on a tabu search approach that schedules the examination timetabling while providing excellent solutions compatible with hard and soft constraints in the case study for the Faculty of Education.

Keywords: examination timetabling; exams; education; EHEA; European Higher Education Area; tabu search; Spain; exam scheduling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIOME.2011.044565

International Journal of Information and Operations Management Education, 2011 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.244 - 261

Received: 06 Apr 2011
Accepted: 22 Oct 2011
Published online: 07 Feb 2015 *

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