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A column generation approach for solving the examination-timetabling problemAuthor-Name: Woumans, Gert

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  • De Boeck, Liesje
  • Beliën, Jeroen
  • Creemers, Stefan

Abstract

In this paper, we approach the Examination-Timetabling Problem (ETP) from a student-centric point of view. We allow for multiple versions of an exam to be scheduled to increase the spreading of exams for students. We propose two Column Generation (CG) algorithms. In the first approach, a column is defined as an exam schedule for every unique student group, and a Pricing Problem (PPs) is developed to generate these columns. The Master Program (MP) then selects an exam schedule for every unique student group. Instead of using branch-and-price, we heuristically select columns. In the second approach, a column consists of a mask schedule for every unique student group, and a PP is developed to generate the masks. The MP then selects the masks and schedules exams in the mask slots. We compare both models and perform a computational experiment. We solve the ETP at KU Leuven campus Brussels (Belgium) for the business engineering degree program and apply the models to two existing datasets from the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • De Boeck, Liesje & Beliën, Jeroen & Creemers, Stefan, 2016. "A column generation approach for solving the examination-timetabling problemAuthor-Name: Woumans, Gert," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 253(1), pages 178-194.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:253:y:2016:i:1:p:178-194
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2016.01.046
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    2. Mats Carlsson & Sara Ceschia & Luca Gaspero & Rasmus Ørnstrup Mikkelsen & Andrea Schaerf & Thomas Jacob Riis Stidsen, 2023. "Exact and metaheuristic methods for a real-world examination timetabling problem," Journal of Scheduling, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 353-367, August.
    3. Jorge M. Cruz-Duarte & José C. Ortiz-Bayliss & Iván Amaya & Yong Shi & Hugo Terashima-Marín & Nelishia Pillay, 2020. "Towards a Generalised Metaheuristic Model for Continuous Optimisation Problems," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-23, November.
    4. Pasquale Avella & Maurizio Boccia & Carlo Mannino & Sandro Viglione, 2022. "Practice Summary: Solving the External Candidates Exam Schedule in Norway," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 52(2), pages 226-231, March.
    5. Ceschia, Sara & Di Gaspero, Luca & Schaerf, Andrea, 2023. "Educational timetabling: Problems, benchmarks, and state-of-the-art results," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 308(1), pages 1-18.

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