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Modeling and solving the problem of scheduling university exams in terms of new constraints on the conflicts of professors' exams and the concurrence of exams with common questions

Author

Listed:
  • Saeedeh Bazari

    (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

  • Alireza Pooya

    (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

  • Omid Soleimani Fard

    (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

  • Pardis Roozkhosh

    (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

Abstract

The problem of scheduling final exams is a type of educational planning in which the goal is to find a suitable schedule for the exams of an educational institution in a way that makes optimal use of available resources. The purpose of this study is to find and solve a suitable mathematical model for the problem of scheduling final exams. The model presented in this research is integer linear programming with zero variables, which has obtained a justified and satisfactory solution. In addition to observing the educational rules, such as the limited period for holding exams, non-conflicts of each student's exams, optimal use of classroom capacity, etc., this model tries to minimize the penalties due to the proximity of consecutive exams of students. Also, the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad is considered the case study, and the model is tested on its data. Finally, to evaluate the accuracy of the model and the quality of the answers, the results of solving the proposed mathematical model are compared with the university examination schedule, which is prepared manually. Computational results show the superiority of the proposed model in terms of using an optimal number of available classes, non-interfere of exams that have common students, reducing the number of students who take several exams in one day, and minimizing the number of students whose exams are smaller than one day.

Suggested Citation

  • Saeedeh Bazari & Alireza Pooya & Omid Soleimani Fard & Pardis Roozkhosh, 2023. "Modeling and solving the problem of scheduling university exams in terms of new constraints on the conflicts of professors' exams and the concurrence of exams with common questions," OPSEARCH, Springer;Operational Research Society of India, vol. 60(2), pages 877-915, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:opsear:v:60:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s12597-023-00638-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s12597-023-00638-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. P. Senthil Kumar, 2020. "Algorithms for solving the optimization problems using fuzzy and intuitionistic fuzzy set," International Journal of System Assurance Engineering and Management, Springer;The Society for Reliability, Engineering Quality and Operations Management (SREQOM),India, and Division of Operation and Maintenance, Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, vol. 11(1), pages 189-222, February.
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