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

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 (largesized 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.