A Mathematical Model for Rationality in Timetable Planning

Abstract

The preparation of a study timetable (or schedule) depends on the school or university for which it is made and on the specific work practices applied in this educational institution. The preparation of a school timetable in a school or university aims to plan for the conduct of classes in certain academic disciplines for a certain period of time, while optimally engaging the classrooms and professors available for the relevant period. The aim of this paper is to provide a mathematical model for rationality in planning a study timetable. This mean to make forecast on whether the accepted number of students, organised in groups, could be instructed during defined period of time in the available classrooms in the educational institution. The developed model aims to make better use of available classrooms and places for students in them. Calculating a rationality ratio will give the educational institution an idea of the:  Need for more classrooms;  Need to extend the study period (number of days for the planned semester)  Need for more optimal planning of the study timetable and better use to the rooms. The prepared model also includes a coefficient of specific rationality, in case the educational institution has classrooms of different capacities - for lectures and practical exercises. The developed mathematical model can be useful to higher education institutions for the purpose of planning their educational activity and it can be applied before the actual process of planning a study schedule. The data used and calculations results serve as the basis for an in-depth analysis related to the requirements for the educational process and the opportunities provided by the educational institution.