Cognitive rhythms and evolutionary algorithms in university timetables scheduling

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to design a methodology based on evolutionary algorithms to university timetable scheduling. This methodology will consider the students’ cognitive rhythms, which establish that teaching certain subjects in specific time intervals is much better than other techniques. This project takes place in three phases. First of all, there is a description of the different techniques used to solve this problem. Then, a new methodology based on cognitive rhythms and evolutionary algorithms is proposed, and finally, different methodologies are compared to determine the best. It is concluded that evolutionary algorithms are more efficient than other techniques in the university timetable scheduling. Future lines of research will determine the impact of these techniques within the students’ learning process.

Keywords

• scheduling
• university timetables
• genetic algorithms
• fitness