Title: Modularising school timetabling problems in different types of classes for Taiwanese elementary and junior high schools

Authors: Ping-Shun Chen; Wen-Tso Huang; Nai-Chun Peng; Gary Yu-Hsin Chen

Addresses: Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li District, Taoyuan City, 320, Taiwan ' Business School, Minnan Normal University, No. 36, Qian Zhi Street, Xiangcheng District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China; Analysis and Application of Business Big Data in Key Laboratory of Universities in Fujian Province, No. 36, Qian Zhi Street, Xiangcheng District, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, China ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li District, Taoyuan City, 320, Taiwan ' Department of Logistics Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science & Technology, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung City, 82445, Taiwan

Abstract: School timetabling problems (STPs) stem from difficult decisions related to assigning teachers and class sessions to various class time slots, subject to different scheduling, event and resource constraints. This research focused on how to efficiently construct a mathematical model of the STP subject to more than 40 class combinations for Taiwanese elementary and junior high schools. Based on the investigation, this study adopted the concept of modularity to classify class constraints into five modules: fundamental constraint, regular program, special education program, gifted performing and visual arts program and talented athlete program. This research proposed the methodology to apply the modularity concept to construct a customised class combination affected by STPs. Using the numerical data shows that the corresponding school timetable could be generated based on the customised class combination of the STPs. In addition, the scenarios with an objective function or with an infeasible solution were analysed and discussed. Finally, a framework of the automated school timetabling system based on the modularity concept was presented for future school timetabling system development.

Keywords: educational timetabling problem; high school timetable; multiple class types; modularity; school timetabling problem; STP; integer programming.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMOR.2020.109055

International Journal of Mathematics in Operational Research, 2020 Vol.17 No.1, pp.110 - 152

Received: 27 Aug 2019
Accepted: 31 Dec 2019

Published online: 17 Aug 2020 *

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