Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm

University course timetabling problem (UCTP) is a scheduling problem that requires courses to be assigned to the limited time slots, classrooms, and lecturers, while adhering to a set of predefined constraints. Due to the effectiveness of genetic algorithm (GA) in optimisation problems, it has...

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Main Author: Foo, Yao Heng
Format: Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
Published: 2025
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Online Access:http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7101/1/fyp_CS_2025_FYH.pdf
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7101/
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author Foo, Yao Heng
author_facet Foo, Yao Heng
author_sort Foo, Yao Heng
building UTAR Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
content_source UTAR Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description University course timetabling problem (UCTP) is a scheduling problem that requires courses to be assigned to the limited time slots, classrooms, and lecturers, while adhering to a set of predefined constraints. Due to the effectiveness of genetic algorithm (GA) in optimisation problems, it has been widely discussed in numerous research to address UCTP. Nonetheless, the performance of GA in terms of operation techniques has not been studied enough, as the researchers have often focused on using a single GA combination or hybrid approaches to solve UCTP case studies. Therefore, this project aims to analyse the performance of different combinations of GA operation techniques and identify the best GA model. A flexible GA framework is developed, which allows alternative techniques to be integrated and executed easily. 64 combinations, involving 4 selection, 4 crossover, 1 mutation, and 4 replacement techniques, are evaluated on a partial mock dataset. In addition, this project proposes a new soft constraint, which requires consecutive classes for a student to be held in the same building. This constraint targets to reduce students’ travel distance, thus producing a more student friendly timetable. Experimental results shows that GA44 model which comprises of binary tournament selection, uniform crossover, swap mutation, and weak chromosome replacement is the best GA combination. In conclusion, the proposed constraint demonstrates clear benefits to student experience on campus and offers a fresh idea for future research with alternative approaches.
format Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis
id my-utar-eprints.7101
institution Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman
publishDate 2025
record_format eprints
spelling my-utar-eprints.71012025-12-28T15:54:58Z Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm Foo, Yao Heng T Technology (General) University course timetabling problem (UCTP) is a scheduling problem that requires courses to be assigned to the limited time slots, classrooms, and lecturers, while adhering to a set of predefined constraints. Due to the effectiveness of genetic algorithm (GA) in optimisation problems, it has been widely discussed in numerous research to address UCTP. Nonetheless, the performance of GA in terms of operation techniques has not been studied enough, as the researchers have often focused on using a single GA combination or hybrid approaches to solve UCTP case studies. Therefore, this project aims to analyse the performance of different combinations of GA operation techniques and identify the best GA model. A flexible GA framework is developed, which allows alternative techniques to be integrated and executed easily. 64 combinations, involving 4 selection, 4 crossover, 1 mutation, and 4 replacement techniques, are evaluated on a partial mock dataset. In addition, this project proposes a new soft constraint, which requires consecutive classes for a student to be held in the same building. This constraint targets to reduce students’ travel distance, thus producing a more student friendly timetable. Experimental results shows that GA44 model which comprises of binary tournament selection, uniform crossover, swap mutation, and weak chromosome replacement is the best GA combination. In conclusion, the proposed constraint demonstrates clear benefits to student experience on campus and offers a fresh idea for future research with alternative approaches. 2025-06 Final Year Project / Dissertation / Thesis NonPeerReviewed application/pdf http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7101/1/fyp_CS_2025_FYH.pdf Foo, Yao Heng (2025) Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm. Final Year Project, UTAR. http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7101/
spellingShingle T Technology (General)
Foo, Yao Heng
Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm
title Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm
title_full Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm
title_fullStr Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm
title_full_unstemmed Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm
title_short Evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm
title_sort evaluate the performance of university course timetabling problem with different combinations of genetic algorithm
topic T Technology (General)
url http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7101/1/fyp_CS_2025_FYH.pdf
http://eprints.utar.edu.my/7101/
url_provider http://eprints.utar.edu.my